Leave the Dog Alone!

It's not unusual for people to want to pet Isaac or otherwise distract him when we are out in public, but today takes the cake. 

We were at the thrift store, where I go regularly to buy him stuffed animal. We got in line and this lady came running over, saying "Hi baby, hi baby," to Isaac. He started pulling on the leash, trying to go greet her. 

I told him no, and she said it's all right. I said "No, it's not all right, he's working right now, he's not supposed to be socializing." Of course, I also meant that she was not supposed to be socializing with him, but apparently that was too subtle for her. 

She then started petting his head and telling him to behave. I moved so that I was between her and Isaac and told him to sit. She then moved so that she could continue to pet him and she started telling him to sit, in a really friendly, excited voice that to Isaac I'm sure sounded like "Let's play." And she would not stop. I finally put the stuffed animals down, told Isaac to come, and walked out of the store.

I was not having a great day before that, but now I am really annoyed.

Snow Dog

It is snowing.  Again.  Isaac likes it. I do not.

I wish I had a fenced in yard so he could run around off leash in it.  He wants to run and pounce and jump in it.

He also likes to dig in it.  Well, what he actually does is rout around in it with his face.  Seems like that would be very cold and unpleasant, but he enjoys it.  Of course, he did unearth a frozen McDonald's cheeseburger once.  Maybe that makes it all worth it.

Lap Dog?

Well, he thinks he is!

More Pictures of Isaac

Because he's just so cute.

That is Isaac killing Clifford the Big Red Dog.

That is Isaac killing the Easter Bunny.

That is Isaac killing a tiger.

Notice a theme here?

How My Service Dog Has Changed My Life

The other day, I asked  Mike if he thought I was "doing better" since getting Isaac.  I know that's a pretty vague question, and I got a pretty vague answer. 

Me: Do you think I've been doing better since getting Isaac?

Mike: Yeah, sure.

Me: In what ways?

Mike: Oh, just generally.

Me: But like what?

Mike: You seem more upbeat.

Me: I seem more upbeat?

Mike: Yes.

Me: Can you say some more about that?

Mike: Just more upbeat in general.

Me: OK.  What else?

Mike: That's about it.

Me: Sigh.

I actually think many things in my life have improved thanks to Isaac.  I just wanted some confirmation, I guess.  Here are the good things I've noticed:

• My back hurts much less than it used to.  In the last three weeks or so, I have take exactly three pain pills.  I used to take two a day, most days.
• I am seldom afraid of walking into a dark room.  Sometimes that's because Isaac goes ahead and turns the light on for me, but I find myself frightened less often even if he doesn't turn on the light for me.  I just feel safer.
• I'm not afraid to take a shower at night or when I am home alone.  Well, at least, not most of the time.  Isaac sits in the bathroom with me while I shower.
• I am able to do more things independently, like I don't have to ask Mike to carry laundry to the bedroom for me, because Isaac does that for me.  But because my back feels so much better, I am able to do other things for myself that I sometimes had to ask Mike to do in the past.  For instance, last night I made a pizza for dinner and was able to bend over to take it out of the oven, something I used to have to ask Mike to do because it hurt too much to bend over.
• Anxiety attacks usually don't last as long as they used to, I assume mainly because I get my medication right away since Isaac brings it to me.
• I am much more active.  I walk a lot with Isaac, weather permitting.  I also go more places, because I like taking Isaac places because he likes to go places.
• I get less anxious when I'm out somewhere because Isaac is with me.  I want to write about this in another post, but when things happen that in the past left me panicking and in tears, now I might feel pretty anxious, but I'm able to deal with them.  Isaac doesn't really do anything to make me less anxious most of the time; just having him there makes me feel better.  Now, that is not a trained task and isn't something that makes a dog a service dog, but it's an added benefit of having a service dog.