Sarah + Edison #3
Next up in Sarah's chronicle of life with Edison. See the full series here, and for daily updates, follow them on Instagram, @edison_365_sd.
February 1-15, 2019
Every so often I leave Edison home in his crate so he doesn’t get separation anxiety if something were to ever separate us. Recently, I came home to let him out, and he was just relaxing like this. I think it’s safe to say that he enjoys being in his crate, just like he learned in prison. #day32of365
On a daily basis Edison gets time to chew on a rawhide chip. It helps keep plaque and tartar away. And best of all, he loves it! It’s a treat with a purpose, and it’s very important to keep his teeth clean and sparkly. #day33of365
Edison and I are visiting our friend Courtney and her NEADS Service Dog Banks. Edison is getting super cuddles from her daughter. #day34of365
Have you ever seen a Yin and Yang created by dogs? Edison and Banks are really enjoying spending time together. Thanks to their training, they know when it is time to work and time to play! #day35of365
Ahh! Today gave us a glimpse of spring on the East Coast! It is still quite wet in the back yard but Edison is looking forward to time basking in the sun. Hopefully the snow storms are behind us. #day36of365
Let’s talk treats! For his regular task work, Edison gets his regular kibble for a reward. For specific commands such as stay, come, or speak, I give him higher value treats such as these yummy ones that I got from Trader Joe’s. It’s important that he only gets all natural treats that are low in calories so he stays healthy and does not become overweight. #day37of365
A majority of the time, I rely on Uber and Lyft to get around. Edison is very used to getting into the car and settles quite well. The problem lies when drivers refuse my ride request because of my Service Dog. It can take me upwards of an hour to find a ride because the driver cancels after I tell them about my dog. I only tell them ahead of time as a courtesy but under the ADA I am not obligated to. Sometimes my ride will show up and drive away. Why is it so hard to tackle this issue? #day38of365
"Don't touch him please, he's working" is a request, not a question. I am just trying to be nice when saying what I need, and I expect you to listen to that. He may look like he is relaxing, but he’s not. He’s a very important piece of what enables me to be independent so I can’t have him get distracted. #day39of365
Today Edison and I met a NEADS Assistance Dog, Gilbert. Gilbert’s job is a bit different than Edison’s. He works with his handler who is a psychotherapist for a nonprofit organization that serves victims of domestic violence. She said Gilbert has been life changing of the clients that she works with. Often, they will open up to him more than they would just talking to her. The love and comfort he gives to the clients is unsurpassed. A job well done, Gilbert! #day40of365
Edison is exhausted after a long weekend of traveling and doggie playdates. He works so hard for me every day, but it’s extremely important to find the work-play-sleep balance so he isn’t working 24/7. #day41of365
We’re expecting another snow storm tomorrow! So, let’s flashback to when the weather was warmer. I was practicing some distance recall with Edison. I would tell him to sit and stay, move away and then tell him to come. It’s important to practice this so that if for some reason he got away from me I could use this command and he would come back immediately. #day42of365
After a long day of working, Edison went to his toy box to find a toy to unwind with. I heard some ruckus in my bedroom....oh my silly boy! #day44of365
Today I took Edison to the vet for a check-up and to update his vaccinations. He wasn’t too thrilled about being there, but he got a clean bill of health. He also is perfectly in his weight range. It is extremely important to keep a Service Dog healthy and not overweight so that they can assist their “person” to the best of their ability. #day45of365