"my kid is going to school for the first time standing up straight without crutches or walker !!  "  i did hear that -- and it is all because we decided a great dane was not a useless toy.  ----- or alot of other things people think of huge dogs.... ( some rightly so...) 

and then there is george bush senior... who said  "if you can't help 1000's, help one "   we certainly have helped more than one,  but sometimes we wish we could have a dog for everyone who needs one.

i hope "you people out there" realize that  it is a strange matching process... so if you think a dog might work for you, go ahead and do the inquiry thing on our web and see what happens next....one requirement i have is anyone getting  one of our dogs has to have a sense of humor--  that is true of  anyone thinking of owning any  dane....

bella's mom can tell you first hand.....

 When you add a service dog into the mix it takes more planning.  “Bella did George go pee and poop this morning?  Did George have breakfast?  Do you have his vest/chain?  Did he have 5 minutes to run?  Do you have his coat if it's cold?” It's a lot to plan every time you leave the house. Then planning for the unexpected such as keeping a container in the car with water/ food bowls, treats, food, fluffies, and water.

 

Does Bella always do 100% of his care?  No of course not but she does 95+% of his care.  She will happily take him to the bathroom, feed him, brush him, scoop his poop,,.

 

Would we change anything?  No way.  Seeing the improvements have been amazing.  Bella is so much stronger.  But when you have a service dog you have to remember this is a 24/7/365 day job.  Bella doesn't decide when she wants to use George or when she wants to use crutches.  George doesn't stay home alone.  He is always with us including overnights at the hospital. 

 

Has it changed anything?  Of course it has.  Are their places we don't go?  Yup. Does it draw attention?  Yes, at times Bella doesn't feel like saying Hi but she has to because she isn’t allowed to be rude.  So before you think of getting a service dog remember they require a lot of work, training, even after you think they are trained there is always more they need to learn, love, time and attention. Are crutches easier?  Yup but we have adjusted our lives to include George and wouldn't change it for anything. It's not an option to give up on him and decide one day we don't want to put forth the extra effort. 

 

It is a lot of effort but he gave Bella her life back so we will do whatever we can to make him happy! 

But look at that face? What's not to love?  

*****

how's that for getting someone else to write the dd?  

 

cosmo.  -- ready willing and able...