Finally have the right mix:
Medications
Lap band fill
Stress (or lack there of)
Exercise
To let me lose weight. It’s nice. Still don’t feel like I’m lugging less around, but I know I’ll get there. And I’m sorting out clothing. Thought I wouldn’t be able to wear today’s skirt, but as long as I wear a nice long t-shirt, I’m good.
Not entirely stress free, but the stress is a fun event. Hopefully the next two weeks will be that way too.
The baggage thing is no fun, and I'm not sure she likes it. I brought a rolling cart with our stuff in it and her cage. There is a lot to keep up with. I am going to try something different tomorrow. Plus I don't need much stuff there.
People were surprised a beagle is so calm. Well, my beagles are.
We took a restroom break, and she went as soon as I told her to. I did lose her in the ladies restroom for a minute as I'm not quite used to the one handed or leash thing. We need to work on stays in public.
There is NO privacy. Everyone has to hear the story. I'm getting used to that. Thankfully the workshop organizers have rescued me a few times.
Access
So far haven't been denied. Of course, it's a million degrees in Texas, she is cute and the economy sucks. No one is going to risk losing money.
Principal replied to my email request and will abide by district decision, they meet on August 2.
Privacy
There is none. You have a service dog, you are going to get questions. My standard answer is "you are not allowed to ask but she is a diabetic alert dog and I am the diabetic.
Training
When is she in training and when is she a service dog? She alerts on high, its rude – licks my face and difficult in public. Working on a socially acceptable alert.
I haven't been low since we started training. Haven't been low in years which is why A1C is so freaking high.
In public she has been good except when Home Depot was rolling lots of furniture around. I might barked too.
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I spent the afternoon with a diabetes alert dog trainer. Nice guy and nice family. Nice dogs. Still don’t want a lab.
Had Dulce seeking out the sample pretty quickly. He was impressed. Especially since we were interrupted and he had to go out for a while. When he came back, I was hiding the sample in various places and she was looking for it.
Have also decide that a good alert would be for her to grab her leash and bring it to me as an alert. His wife suggested I keep a knot which was a good idea. We’ve done two training sessions on that since I got home and she is doing well at looking for the knot.
Basically, he confirmed that Dulce is a good choice for a scent dog, she is extremely trainable, high energy, and everything else you would want in a scent dog. He also agreed that for safety sakes the small crate isn’t a bad idea in public, as people aren’t expected to see a small dog.
I have heard from my principal on the issue and he is waiting for the district’s decision.
According to Texas State law, trainers have the same rights are users of Service Dogs
admit a trainer of service dogs accompanied by a dog for training purposes.
Office of the Governor Rick Perry: Committee on People with Disabilities – Service Dogs
Things are going well. I have her in a crate at the gym, and today for the first 10 minutes left the cage door open. She challenged that, so I closed it for the last 20 minutes so I could concentrate on training.
Friday is not the best day to go to American Girl, but I have been wanting to since they opened, so we did. The girls there were great, the staff was good and we did our first escalator. The rest of the mall was a mess, so we went to Valley View which is in such bad state financially they don’t care who is there as long as you spend money. Unfortunately found nothing to buy.
So far, no access issues.
We started at the endo, and I have a form from him stating that I have hypo and hyper glycemic unawareness and that a diabetic alert dog would help.
We went to Home Depot.
Had a low tire alarm and ended up at Discount Tire. Did mat work there. That is a tough place, people coming from three doors, constantly.
Then the gym. Definitely crate there so I can change and workout, so we need to train her to alert while crated. I can see that in restaurants too, and at school.
Brief stop at home, then Union and Human Resources.
We both taking a break.
I have paper work now, stating that I am an insulin dependent diabetic with hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic unawareness and need the dog. signed by the endo.
She went to the doctors, an other Home Depot trip and now at Discount Tire which is letting us work on mat training.
We are trying the gym next.
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When I’m high. I don’t think I’ve ever been treatable low around her, but I’ve been high twice around her lately. It’s not that socially acceptable. She climbs up on my lap and licks my face, probably to get the sugar from my sweat.
But it’s something to work with.
It also means we have something to train with.
So we’re all good, vest and cards are here. Bringsel should be on its way. My alert of choice would be her to grab the bringsel and bring it to me. I would like her to do that anytime she thinks I should check my blood sugar, when the pump goes off, when I’m high or when I’m low.
I have been doing a lot of research.
I think the biggest problem is demand is vastly bigger than the supply. I have found some great resources.
http://www.diabeticalertdog.com/index.php
There is a Dallas area trainer who is very helpful to me so far,and has some nice looking dogs but I haven’t met him personally:
So far, access hasn’t been an issue.
I’m doing really well since my last fill. I go in on Thursday I think, need to double check the calendar. Only problem is that I stay constipated so I’m not always sure how much weight I’ve lost.
The Aria scale shows I’ve lost six pounds this month.