Pawtential Unleashed
Experienced Member
Hi! I wanted to take a minute to introduce Nova - my SDit and Dakota - a SD Candidate for a handler in IL.
Nova
Newfoundland
2.5yo
Training for Fibromyalgia/Light Mobility Assistance and PSD work
https://www.facebook.com/NovaNewfSDit
Nova is in training to be a Fibromyalgia Assistance Dog through our training program - Pawtential Partners. After a car accident left me with substantial muscle and nerve damage in my neck, back and hips - I developed full blown Fibro.
This manifests itself in several major ways for me - though it can present differently for everyone:
Chronic Pain - for the last 17 yrs, I have been in some measure of pain from the time I wake up until I go to bed. Some days are better than others but without my daily meds, I can barely function.
Muscle Spasms - Especially bad in my back
Tender Points - OMG YES! I never understood why people touching me was so painful - now I do.
Fibro FOG - Major memory issues and cognitive impairment
IBS - Joy oh Joy!
Sensitivities - Odors/Light/Sounds/Crowds/Personal Space
Sleep issues - Insomnia / CFS
Nerve Damage - Expanding numbness in one leg
Muscle Weakness - Especially right hip damaged in the accident
Depression / Anxiety
Early Onset Osteoporosis
For me, Nova's training will incorporate numerous tasks that I'm sure will change over time as my condition worsens. For now, the most substantial are:
Light Mobility: Balance assistance, momentum pulling, and counterbalance for getting up.
Item Retrieval: Both picking up dropped items and locating lost items like car keys and my phone. (Fibro fog)
Navigation: Finding the car - you would be surprised how difficult this is sometimes.
Deep Pressure Therapy: A variation of Paws Up for applying pressure to areas of my back that are in spasm.
And then we have one of our up-and-comers. Dakota (Ravyn's brother) is a candidate in our training program to assist a handler in IL with mobility and balance issues.
Dakota
Border Collie x Hound mix
5 months
Training for Light Mobility Assistance
https://www.facebook.com/dakotasdit
He is just coming to the end of his candidacy next month but I don't see anything that will stop him advancing to Service Dog in Training status. We watch and work with pups for the first 6 months to make sure they are suitable for the program and he has done beautifully!
Nova
Newfoundland
2.5yo
Training for Fibromyalgia/Light Mobility Assistance and PSD work
https://www.facebook.com/NovaNewfSDit
Nova is in training to be a Fibromyalgia Assistance Dog through our training program - Pawtential Partners. After a car accident left me with substantial muscle and nerve damage in my neck, back and hips - I developed full blown Fibro.
This manifests itself in several major ways for me - though it can present differently for everyone:
Chronic Pain - for the last 17 yrs, I have been in some measure of pain from the time I wake up until I go to bed. Some days are better than others but without my daily meds, I can barely function.
Muscle Spasms - Especially bad in my back
Tender Points - OMG YES! I never understood why people touching me was so painful - now I do.
Fibro FOG - Major memory issues and cognitive impairment
IBS - Joy oh Joy!
Sensitivities - Odors/Light/Sounds/Crowds/Personal Space
Sleep issues - Insomnia / CFS
Nerve Damage - Expanding numbness in one leg
Muscle Weakness - Especially right hip damaged in the accident
Depression / Anxiety
Early Onset Osteoporosis
For me, Nova's training will incorporate numerous tasks that I'm sure will change over time as my condition worsens. For now, the most substantial are:
Light Mobility: Balance assistance, momentum pulling, and counterbalance for getting up.
Item Retrieval: Both picking up dropped items and locating lost items like car keys and my phone. (Fibro fog)
Navigation: Finding the car - you would be surprised how difficult this is sometimes.
Deep Pressure Therapy: A variation of Paws Up for applying pressure to areas of my back that are in spasm.
And then we have one of our up-and-comers. Dakota (Ravyn's brother) is a candidate in our training program to assist a handler in IL with mobility and balance issues.
Dakota
Border Collie x Hound mix
5 months
Training for Light Mobility Assistance
https://www.facebook.com/dakotasdit
He is just coming to the end of his candidacy next month but I don't see anything that will stop him advancing to Service Dog in Training status. We watch and work with pups for the first 6 months to make sure they are suitable for the program and he has done beautifully!
), I'm sure he's going to be brilliant, I'm really looking forward to hearing what you train him and how he gets on.
.