Service Dog: My first Service Dog became well known through medical journals. She learned to quad cough me but not on her own. Again I strung together the commands.
Example, I was in a hotel bed alone waiting for admittance for congestion. Soon my lungs were filled with fluid and no help expected. Most important I kept calm, thought something might be possible. O I called the dog on my be, held my hand as though I had a treat for her to step over me, then I gave the "Down" command when she laid down across my chest which brought everything up to clear my lungs. Now while ling down and require a guad cough, I simply call dog's name, say "Cough", then she will jmp omto my bed and lie across my chest to clear my lungs. _____ From: Merrill Burghardt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:44 AM To: [email protected] Subject: FW: FW: FW: [QUAD-L] How One Can live Alone Service Dog Training/ I string commands together, then give the behavior a name. 'Look", "That's It, Get It", "Hold", "Tug". With help, once or twice imbeds the command making it easier the next time. Sometimes at night I wake up freezing with no blankets on and my service dog is sitting in the night so happy with herself. The stinker can't sleep and wants to play. Also, to warm up is always the "Smuggle" command. That hot, heavy, fury body warms and sooths me. Merrill _____ From: ~LittleQuad~ [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 7:24 AM To: Merrill Burghardt; [email protected] Subject: Re: FW: FW: [QUAD-L] How One Can live Alone did you teach the dog to pull blankets? mine likes to go under cover and usually pulls down with her, the little hog, i mean dog... Merrill Burghardt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I room & board with my caregiver but try not bothering her especially at night. Water Solution: I keep a round Britta water filter picture at bedside. Inserted is the cut off tube from a new bedside urine bag. Pills: Tape pain meds or anything else to end of tube. Blanket: My service dog will pull them up or down. Fan & heater are on ECU. I have a C5 injury requiring morning and go to bed care. I want a more independent setting but this works temporarily as I told myself for 7 years. For years I thought marriage was my solution but at 55 years old, never married I do not think it is going to happen. I used to think a relationship with a migrant would be a win win situation. Care for green card. Same situation as marriage is I think it is not going to happen/ I have always heard 75% of marriages are usually divorced with an SCI. mb _____ From: Quadius [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 2:29 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: FW: [QUAD-L] How One Can live Alone I have been living by myself for three or four years now. Similar to Mike, I rely on an ECU and have quite a few things I can do while I am in bed. I sleep on an air mattress now, but I used to have a lateral rotational mattress. Since I have always slept on a specialty mattress, this wasn't a problem when I decided to go it alone. My biggest concern was how to get medication when no one was here. Well, having access to an ECU and a hospital bed which will move up and down with that ECU, I only had to figure out how to get something to hold the medication so I could get it when I wanted. Well, I had an old microphone stand with a boom on it (like a piano boom), which I purchased from RadioShack, so, using paper tape I managed to get one of those plastic film covers affixed to the edge of the boom so that I could get that with my tongue and let the medicine fall into my mouth. In my particular case, however, I have a really good support system with very trusted caregivers. I couldn't do it otherwise. I also have pretty good neighbors around here, albeit they're not as good as my previous neighborhood. Quadius
