Sunday, 17 August 2014

Hi I am a Cocker Spaniel. A golden one that looks very similar and just as beautiful as Lady in “Lady and the Tramp”. My main work is as a RECOVERY Assistance Dog looking after my beloved mistress Liz. We work together at RECOVERY Studio in Leicester. Whenever I have my orange Vis Jacket with “RECOVERY Assistance Dog for Wellbeing” written on I am really well behaved. Actually I am so well trained that I am always on my best behaviour and pure joy for my Mistress. Today I went to church with my co-worker Mimi and we did not move for one hour even when my Mistress went up for Holy Communion we stayed lying on the floor by the pew. I do quite enjoy church, as we have to go most days. It helps me to be holy and full of oneness and love. This is all in a doggy way of course!

I have been feeling really tired and a little stressed today. This was not because of the Fundraising that we did yesterday in Brent Cross because we do that most Saturdays. Although that is quite challenging it didn’t cause me much agro because I am so used to it. We talked to about 200 people and one person did stroke me without letting me smell my hand first. So I had to teach her a lesson as I am a bit of a teacher. I took hold of my hand in my mouth. I knew that she would like it but it was just to warn her that I prefer to smell her hand. My mistress was a bit concerned but I knew that she had a dog at home and that is what her dog does to her. Mistress explained that it was a love bite and she reassured her that her dog was a terrier and did that. She needn’t have worried I knew. Of course being a dog we know and understand many more things than humans do. But more about that later.

Anyway to get to the point why I feel stressed was because after getting back from London last night we went to a BBQ. We never do that and it was all a bit strange for Mimi and I. We had to sit in the garden with some guy doing the BBQ. After that we find a way out the garden through an open gate. Now that was fun as we went and played in the park opposite the house. Some children wanted to play with us but I know better that to have anything to do with them as they fall on top of you and put fingers in your eyes. Bless them they do not know any better. Anyway I said to Mimi that we must get back as we wouldn’t want Mistress to worry. So we went and sat on the doorstep of the house. Lo and behold the children had gone in to tell her that we had ‘escaped’. She was delighted to see us and explained to everyone what good dogs we are. We are of course the best dogs ever. All dogs are pretty good but because of our training we are really fabulous and have helped Mistress to keep well from her Mental Health problems for over 5 years now.

Anyway it was a bit traumatising, as we had to be tied to the radiator and sit still. We needed to be off checking for wild animals, demons, and naughty people. You may not know what we do but we protect Mistress so she feels safe and no fear or anxiety. She seemed to be coping so I was not too worried but I did want her to know that I could help if she needed me so whining helped her to understand this.

 

Sunday 14 September 2014

I had decided to write this blog once a week. Fat chance my Mistress is far too busy. So I will have to use my memory to tell you about all the most exciting things taking place in my life. I must tell you about the Sponsored RECOVERY Assistance Dog Walk that we had on September 6. It was fun planning it as Mimi, my Mistress and I went to the Abbey Park in Leicester to talk to the Park Rangers. I liked them he was called Mark. In fact they were both called Mark. You may think dogs don’t notice these things but we do. We are not all just about smells you know. Every person I have ever met I remember. Mistress has trained me so that I do not go up to someone I don’t know. This is because they may not want to talk to me. Well I definitely don’t want to talk to them unless I am allowed to. I love my Mistress so much all I want to do is to please her. I just live for those words “Good girl” or “Who\s a beautiful lady?” or “shall we go walkywindiles then?” Then those gorgeous cuddly moments when my Mistress cuddles me. She rolls me over and tickles me and makes me laugh inside. She laughs out loud and I gurgle inside. It sounds like growing but she knows that I am showing my pleasure and is not scared.

Anyway today is a special day for Catholics to do with the blood of Christ and the Cross. We went to the 11am service. We go to Mass most days. We don’t mind. I love to hear my Mistress singing she has a voice like a bird. We sit next to her chair and sometimes get into quite a tangle with the leads but she will notice soon and sort us out. I hope. Anyway we just put up with it because of the love. During the bit where they all disappear we sit quietly in the pew. We have been trained to do this. At the beginning I am sure the angels helped us to stay in our places but now we know what to do they just watch over us. The angels always help us in our training. Just recently my Mistress has taught us to bark on cue. This is because she needs to be protected. She has had a difficult life as humans do tend to. She needs special protection from ‘Men’. I have noticed this as they have such gruff voices that they can be scary even to us. We dogs know when to bark of course. Every time the lodger comes in, even though we love and trust him, we bark just to remind him to be nice to Mistress. She makes an attempt to stop us and we do eventually. However there are times when she would like us to bark for protection or to get someone’s attention and we haven’t noticed the need. Then Mistress will say “talk Milli” and make an upside down spider effect with her hand and after a few moments we will bark. Originally it was just me that learned to bark first. It took about 6 months to teach me. I was not going to catch on with just praise. I am not that silly. I knew that this skill would need treats. Mistress also used a clicker. This is an exciting device that reminds me to focus as treats are on their way. Well it was after we met up with Gan-Gan’s old carer who gave Mistress some special treats that tasted of bacon that I cottoned on. I will do anything for those bacon treats. Nowadays Mistress just says “talk Milli” and does the hand signal and I will bark. Eventually I suppose that we won’t need the treats anymore. But don’t worry there will be some other training that we will do that will need treats. I am a great learner. Mimi is a lot slower this could be because she is 12 years old or it could be because she has Special Needs. Anyway I do help with this as I learn first and Mimi copies. Genius eh?

 

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Today we had a day off. Mimi and I love days off as we can go for long walks with Mistress. The idea is that we have fun doing nothing. Mind you we do a little work as well. Mistress had some challenging phone calls today and just our presence helped her feel calm. She would never shout or get cross in front of us she knows how we don’t like that. We could feel how grateful she was to us for our stabilising support. Things have been difficult lately, as one of the Survivors that we support in the charity has ended up in a Psychiatric ward in a hospital. We have noticed we are not stupid. Well I am not anyway!

This can be scary when someone gets locked up and we have to work harder to help Mistress to feel comforted and safe. One of our main duties is to prevent Mistress from feeling anxiety or fear. We know when she is as it is fairly obvious. Then we look busy by checking under furniture and in dark corners to see what is lurking there. Mistress knows she is safe because otherwise we would be barking. So we just snuffle around in a comforting way until she feels settled. Another thing I can do is to jump on the sofa beside her and cuddle up. We both love that. Then she can tap her shoulders and I will climb up and put my paws around her neck as I have been trained to do. I give her a bit of a licking and we look deeply into eachother’s eyes. All this really makes life worth living. One of the most important things for Mental Health and wellbeing is to feel safe. We know this is a necessity because if Mistress feels safe we do too. So we work hard to keep her stable not too happy, not too sad but just right. It is all about the use of certain pheromones, called calming or appeasing pheromones, can sometimes help relieve stressed dogs and they can help humans too. This is a hormone that we release that helps us all stay calm. Everyone knows how just the presence of a dog can help humans feel better. I am sure it is because we can show humans how to be still in God’s presence because we are so good at it. Partly because we don’t talk like humans do. We practice stillness regularly.

 

We were wondering today what we would have been like had we been born human. Mimi would have had special needs almost definitely. I would have been really clever and been to University. Mistress is really grateful that we came to help her as dogs. Being a dog can be a really humbling experience. Mind you Mistress makes it all worthwhile. She treats us so well. We get this lovely ‘salmon and potatoe’ dog food made by Harringtons. I have to eat this, as I am allergic to meat. She talks to us with real love. When she wants us to move out the way, this is because we live in a small Victorian Terrace so we are often under her feet, she points and says ‘walk on.’ We live in peace and as one because we are not shouted out or ordered about but asked politely and with love. We make Mistress feel good too by doing what she asks and immediately. This shows that we love her and she shows that she loves us by rewarding us by saying ‘good ladies’ or with a treat or my favourite toy. Have I told you about my toy? It is a scruffy duck that I got after I had my ‘spayed’ operation. Us RECOVERY Assistance Dogs have to be spayed so that we don’t get distracted from helping our Survivors.

 

We had a lovely evening Mass today. Afterwards we stayed on for ½ hour to meditate on the blessed exposition. At one point during the Holy Communion my tail was wagging so hard that it was banging against the pew. I felt we should share some of the wafer but we have to stay behind in the pews. As Noel Moules says it should be ‘Dominion with not dominion over.’ It should be equality for women, men and dogs. No one should be lording it over anyone else. How can the Lorders expect to find shalom, heaven, nirvana or any place of peace if they do? Anyway enough for the moment. Do hope you are reading and enjoying this blog.

 

2 December 2014

I did want to write this in November but my Mum (I have decided to call her this rather than Mistress – as this is too formal) was too busy to put fingers to computer. So we are writing it now just before she goes on holiday to the Holy Land. I know she is going as she keeps praying that I won’t miss her and that I will remember that she is coming back. Of course Mimi and I will miss her and I hope that she will miss me. That is what love is about. We dogs understand love better than anyone. Look how faithful, silent, obedient and just loving we are.

Anyway to update you we have been busy as RECOVERY Assistant Dogs as usual. Oh and good news as a birthday present for my Mum I passed the Bronze Kennel Clubs Good Citizen Dog Scheme Award on November 14. It was the evening before Mum’s birthday and I knew she would be pleased. I sailed through and now I have to do my Silver and Gold. We all have to do the equivalent of this to be fully trained RECOVERY Assistance Dogs.

On November 19 we went to the Assistance Dogs Forum at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Breeding Centre in Warwickshire. It was fun meeting all the other Assistance Dog groups. We met 7 Assistance Dogs International and UK Members – Support Dogs (22 years old), Hearing Dogs (32 years), Dogs for Disabled (26 years), Canine Partners (24 years), Medicinal Detection Dogs (6 years old), Guide Dogs for the Blind (100 years) and Dog Aid.

We at RECOVERY Assistance Dogs started the project in July 2011 so we are only 3 years old although the charity RECOVERY started in July 2004 so you could say we are 10 years old. Anyway it is very little to do with age!

We have to become Candidates to become Members of Assistance Dogs International, Europe and UK. The other Organisations that need to do this with us are Seeing Dogs Alliance, Woofability, Hounds for Heroes, Assistance Dogs Northern Ireland, Veterans with Dogs and Ability Dogs for Young People. So it is a good idea to show Assistance Dogs Europe that our training of dogs is rigorous. This is why we are linking up with the Kennel Club GCAS as do Dog Aid.

I hope you all understand this as it is a bit beyond me. Please let me know if you need any other information and my Mum will help you. Meanwhile I will keep you dated when we get to be Candidates.

We now do STRAD (Survivors Training RECOVERY Assistance Dogs) Training every Tuesday at 3pm-4pm at Evington Park House. It is great fun as all the dogs can get together and have a bit of a social. It is about making sure that we can do all the things that make people say ‘good dog’. That is what I love to hear most. All the treats and toys are fine. But just some praise really makes my day and makes me feel that I am completing my mission to keep Mum happy. So I can sit and stay when asked for 5 minutes or more. I can sit for this length of time or l will stay lying down if asked. This is really useful if we go to a café as I will stay at a table and keep it for us as Mum gets the drinks. I have learned to walk closely when Mum says ‘stay close’ and don’t pull especially in crowds. I always let Mum go through doors first. I will stop when told when off the lead and lie down if asked. I will not fetch something if it is thrown until told ‘fetch’. Then I will bring it back to Mum. This is all Level 1 stuff and really easy. I practice it most days when out with Mum and so it is good!

As far as Level 2 is concerned I help Mum with anxiety and fear. These thanks to Jesus and with my help have all gone now. I stay close to Mum even when off the lead. When we get in the house I search for anything creepy and would bark if someone was in the house. This is the reason I bark at the lodger just to let her know that I know that he is here. Also so that he is good and polite to Mum. If Mum is about to feel anxious I know it and will jump on her lap and put my paws round her neck to kiss and lick her until she feels better. In fact it actually avoids the anxiety completely. Mum has taught us to bark on cue. This took about 6 months and we needed treats and a clicker for this. So now if someone nasty is near (very few of those around here in Leicester I hope) she says ‘talk Milli’ or makes an action with her hand and I will bark. Mimi has learned to do it too by copying me! Finally we have been taught to only approach people that we are allowed to. This is because us dogs are brilliant for social inclusion but not everyone wants to talk to us. This took a few months to teach as it is natural for us in our own territory to rush up to people we don’t know and sometimes bark. So we have stopped doing this, especially at the RECOVERY Studio, occasionally we need a reminder.

Don’t forget to get in touch with me if you need to ask anything or if you just want to let me know if you like my Blog.

 

December 27, 2014

Today is the day after Boxing Day. We have had the best Christmas ever! Not even a naughty little 2-year-old teenager Golden Retriever called Amber could spoil it. It was best because Joe, Mum’s son, came to stay. Now it is always the most fun when Joe comes for so many reasons. We go on long walks, Mum never stops laughing and being happy, we get special treats like chicken or nut roast and he is so cuddly. But back to Amber – she arrived when Mum got back from her Holy Land Holiday. She is staying with us to see if she could be a RECOVERY Assistance Dog. I could tell straight away that she does not fulfil the criteria. She is just too bouncy. As Mum says now: “You cannot train a character”. Although with the right training she will make a lovely pet that doesn’t barge everyone, through doors, into cars and everywhere. Even now Mum’s has trained her not to gulp her food like a stray’s last meal. She is trained to sit and stay until Mum says ‘fetch’ then she can go to her food. I can do that and I don’t eat until told either. Mum has bought her a ‘halti’ training halter to stop her pulling. She has stopped heading off when we go for walks in big parks. Mum always brings treats and we all get one before Amber is let off her leash. Then Mum blows the whistle and shakes the treats bag so that Amber keeps coming back. Miracles really all round. Actually I quite like Amber now and feel sorry for her as she must have had a challenging life before she met us.

Tomorrow we have someone coming to meet her to see if they want her for their family. We shall miss her but perhaps it is best as she just is not peaceful and gentle enough to be an Assistance Dog like Mimi and I. Bless her I hope she has a great success in her new life living with children.

 

18 January 2015

So we are staying for the weekend at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey. Mum is a Roman Catholic. This means most days we go to church for the Mass. Mimi and I love going as we love everyone we meet at the Mass. Everyone praises us for being such “good dogs” and sitting in the pew while Mum goes up for the bread and wine. We have had a lovely weekend going for walks in the woodlands around the monastery.

 

Poor Mum has had to put up with another ‘monster dog’ to train! But this one is easier than the last. She is called Lola and is a Yorkie, quite thin and a very fast runner. I liked her from the outset as she let me eat her food. This was until Mum noticed. She will make it as a RECOVERY Assistance Dog as she is obedient, loving and wants to help. Lola came as a yappy, moaning, bouncy rat like being. Now she is calmer rarely barks and fun to be with. We race around together through the woods and she comes back to Mum when called. I have helped by setting a good example. I round her up when Mum calls. I make sure that she doesn’t bark or yap by growling a reminder. She goes straight to her bed when asked now. Mum is looking for a new home for Lola with a Survivor. Us dogs do a great work helping Survivors with Mental Health problems to feel loved and have a purpose in life. By helping them to be free from fear and anxiety we keep them out of hospital. We love them with unconditional love, never argue, protect them with our lives and do anything to please them and make them happy. It seems to work. We get a warm bed, lots of loving cuddles, food, walks and full time companionship. Everyone wins. If you know anyone who wants a RECOVERY Assistance Dog let Mum and I know as Lola could be for you. We have a few people interested but it has to be the best home for her and the best dog for you. Contact Mum on 07581282899. She would love to help you and Lola to find the perfect partnership.

 

Also if you want to sponsor me, my name is Milli, Mimi or Lola. Please do ring Mum or fill in the ‘Sponsor a RECOVERY Dog form’ on the website. This would really help, as the Survivors do not pay for training their dog. Also once the RA Dog is fully trained food and vets bills are paid for with sponsorship.

 

Thanks so much for your help and look forward to hearing from you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 April 2015
Hi we have just had Easter. This is that funny time when we spend more time
in Church than usual during Holy week. The Mass during this time takes 2
hours rather than 1 hour so it is double for our trouble. I love hearing my
Mistress sing and gaze at her lovingly. When we share the peace she shakes
my paw that I lift for her when she taps my leg, and says “Peace be with you!”
I am sure this means that Jesus heals us and protects us. I know Jesus is the
Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world and gives us mercy and
peace. You can understand why Jesus is called a lamb. Yesterday we were
walking through a field of lambs and their Mother sheep. We were on the lead
to be on the safe side. I was a bit scared of the big Mummy sheep, as they did
look quite fierce and twice my size. My Mum really impressed me as this
Mother sheep looked like she was going to charge at us. I wanted to walk
away and for a minute we seemed about to do that. Then my Mum made a
loud ‘boooooo’ noise and strode our fearsomely towards the offending sheep.
I was just so proud of her. She can be so brave and appears to know what to
do. Of course the sheep turned tail and headed down the hill with little lambs
bounding along on tow. So Jesus is like a lamb not sheep. Lambs indicate to
us that the suffering, darkness and cold of winter is over and spring is with us.
Makes sense to me really.
Mum found Easter quite challenging this year. It can be a time when people,
especially if they have been estranged from family due to Mental Health, can
feel quite lonely. Mum’s best friend let her down and due to other
commitments refused to have lunch with her. We went to see him instead. I
wasn’t sure if they were arguing or rehearsing a play. Anyway there seemed
to be a lot of talking. I know I helped by standing between them and gazing
adoringly at them. Praying for them to love eachother and to be quiet. I feel
safer when humans are quiet in eachother’s company then I know they are
getting on. At this time I do behave like a little lamb and it does seem to work.
Mum always keeps her voice measured and loving when I am around, as she
would not want to shock or frighten me. Anyway that evening I noticed that
she was crying. Immediately I know that she must be comforted. With one
bound I was on her lap licking her face and making comforting noises that
sound a bit like a wild boar snuffling for truffles. It always works and within
seconds all tears are gone, she begins to smile and laugh. Again I am the
lamb that brings the joy of spring.
I have had my spring clipping. Mum did it with some clippers. I look lovely and
much thinner without all that long fur. I much prefer that Mum does it and
when I stand nicely she calls me her ‘good horsey’. I am a ‘good horsey’ when
I don’t pull on the lead and stay close on walks. Of course I am much more
easily trained than a horse and get all the perks of sleeping on Mum’s bed
and being with her all the time. So looking so lovely we had to go to ‘Bark in
the Park’ when we get photographed professionally and could win a prize of
£250 and a framed photo. All the pictures go into the Leicester Mercury and I
am sure they will pick me as Mum always says that I am the most beautiful
doggy in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week on April 1 we had the ‘Mental Health Unwrapped Crowdfunding
Event’ and this was the launch to raise money for the Camper Van. It was
hilarious as we had 4 comedians in to crack jokes about Mental Health and
dogs. Although I don’t laugh out loud I do find things funny and then I jump up
and down to show my enjoyment. Did you know that one of dogs’ favourite
things about humans is their laughter? My best night out would be with Mum
laughing with a whole group of people. Clapping is fun too but I always prefer
laughing. This is the human way of expressing enjoyment like we wag our
tails. So it was a good night and everyone found out about the Crowdfunding
Pledges and I hope you will too at:
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/mental-health-unwrapped
If you pledge some money you could:
• Get a signed photo of a RECOVERY Assistance Dog puppy.
• Get your name on the side of the Camper Van.
• Get an advert in our Magazine.
• Come and meet us dogs at STRAD Training (Survivors Training
RECOVERY Assistance Dogs)
• Have your own dog trained in 7 sessions.
• Learn to fundraise.
• Invite us dogs to do Heelwork to Music at your event or party.
• Take our Camper van on a week’s holiday that you have helped us buy.
Look forward to meeting you!