Jasper the Husky

03/13/2022

Please listen to this and ask ANY questions you may have. This is not a joke. This is a federally protected civil right for disabled people whose doctors’ have determined that a Service Animal may be of help to them for their particular disability. There are no official papers, registrations, or ID cards provided by the US system or a majority of the states. But you can tell they are service dogs because they do not act like your typical family pet. A service dog is considered medical equipment. If you wouldn’t deny a wheelchair or run up and pet a wheelchair, don’t do it to a service dog, a life depends on it.

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11/19/2021

Well folks, it finally happened. I’ve heard tale of it and have been in disbelief because it seems like such an obvious thing NOT to do, especially to a working dog; even more so when you are a fully grown up human with a child of your own. Jasper’s vest does say that he’s working and not to distract or touch him. I did not think I specifically had to say: “Do not bark, woof, ruff, goff, growl, howl, or meow at this dog”

Seriously. Although Jasper’s vest isn’t clear in exactly what my medical conditions are, it does specify not to separate us and not to call 911 if I’m unconscious unless I’m injured. It also says he’s a Medical Alert and Response Dog. If you look closely you will see a patch that has a soldier with wings and it says 22 Until None and there is a dog print with a semi-colon. I need to get a patch from Muddy Paws Dog Boarding and Obedience School (amazing trainer and trusted boarding facility!!) and there was one more but I can’t keep track of my thoughts right now.

I also have an emergency medical information pouch that will eventually add on to his vest, as a cape once he finishes growing. Inside that pouch will contain extremely brief information necessary in an emergency, if I can’t talk. And contact info for me and for my service dog (plus care until they get there).

And again, feel free to ask me any questions (about service dogs and access etc) you may have.

11/16/2021

Jasper would like to introduce everyone to his little sister: Galina, Lina for short. She is a rescue that needed a home so we made room. They already play together but have to be watched closely as Jasper plays a bit too rough. She is mostly Siberian Husky, with her dad being part German Shepherd. Once the house hits four kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat; what’s one more dog? Although she makes a LOT of noise lol. Each time I teach her to be quiet, AJ teaches her to roar and bark again 🤦🏼‍♀️.
The cat hates everyone when she feels like it (hey she almost killed me and nearly made me lose my arm, not kidding). Our dog pack alpha is terrified of her as she bit his nose 😥. Captain is nearly blind now and he was sniffing her, and she took advantage. But Captain is completely the alpha over Jasper. Our neighbors probably hear their nonsense and think it’s dog fights every day. But no, is Captain trying to get down the hallway to his room but Jasper learned to body slam to try and block his way so they can play. It’s a jungle, a jungle. And now we add a little girl to the mix. She barks and runs around like crazy. I need her to grow a bit larger so I don’t trip over her so easily.
Funnily enough, when she arrived, she had two blue eyes but slightly different tones. Now they are dual colored eyes just like her big brother’s. AND exactly the same eyes too.

11/16/2021

This dude is sleepy after working hard last night after a neighbor (I assumed, hope) launched a firework in the culdesac that is literally 25’ from my bed at 4:30pm. It sounded like a pistol. Then more of the subdivision joined in on the random launching of single blasts.
I don’t really get the point when it’s so bright outside. Boy did it set off my anxiety.

Jasper continues to stay close to me too, even though he gets annoyed that I can’t be still.

09/07/2021

I haven’t updated things in a while. Jasper is doing great. Even though he’s 16 months now, he’s still growing. He’s a beast. I think he waits for me to buy new gear and then grows for the sole purpose of outgrowing it. He is doing well with training and even is learning to distinguish his uniform (vest and special leads I use) versus nothing or a walking lead. And he has his moments where we all describe him as a ‘jerk’.
He is tall enough to counter surf and after someone cooking burgers on the foreman grill but waiting for the grease to solidity, he decided to eat some 🤢. He received stale bread and crackers and went to bed for a while to try and get that soaked up. Eeeew.
He knows the things he cannot do but will try to sneak it if certain people aren’t around. He has also discovered ‘man time’ lol. On the weekend I enjoy watching movies in my room and Tony like loud movies in the living room. Jasper chooses to join Tony and they chill on the couch together but Jasper will come and check on me occasionally, IF he remembers 🤣.
A new husky trait that I didn’t know about came up recently: throwing paws. Remember those cartoons that would show kangaroos boxing? Huskies basically do that. It’s all fun and games unless he’s jumping up on the bed and I’m half asleep and have already had my nose broken 7 times by him and he comes flying towards my face with on paw extended. And that one paw is huge and aiming for my face and I have no time to do anything but wait the millisecond that it’ll take for him to land.
Jasper throws paws at Captain, who is almost completely blind now, and Captain doesn’t take that at all. Jasper can literally walk right over him but Captain bosses him around. It’s hilarious.
My wheelchair arrived after 22 Until None stepped in to cover it when my insurance refused. They wanted to ensure I had one less thing on my plate right now. I was really getting into a bad place as so many things were going negative all at once and then to get their denial letters for unbelievable reasons. Finally having someone in my corner really helped me. Now I’m working on building up specific muscles so I can be more independent with it and I also need to work with Jasper walking next to it without getting too close to the wheels. And since he has a history of abuse involving his feet, I absolutely do not want to end up injuring his feet accidentally and having to work through that with him.
I don’t use my wheels all the time, pretty much just when I leave the house. My cane is now labeled a weapon as it attacks me when I fall. Aren’t I fun? At least Jasper is adorable when he’s not breaking my nose while proclaiming his love for me

07/12/2021

07/12/2021

Ok y’all, please, please, PLEASE! Ask absolutely anything you don’t understand about service dogs. I will gladly answer everything regarding the federal laws and TX laws, and I will look up other state laws. When it comes to specifics on why I have a service dog, there is only so much I will discuss here. But please do NOT distract a service dog ever. Don’t make eye contact with the dog. Don’t talk to the dog. Don’t reach for the dog. Don’t yell out to the dog. Don’t bring your dogs over to the dog. And if the handler asks you to stop it, please respect that.
We were at a gas station and I took Jasper out to relieve and I chose a location away from a group of small dogs. We were heading back to find the car when a lady came over with two small corgis. She kept called to Jasper, even after I asked and then told her to stop. Jasper automatically moved to a Block position so the lady couldn’t walk up to me so I had to shift the way I was standing. The lady didn’t let up. Her dogs started barking and one looked like our other dog (but with more hair) and Jasper barked (not an alert bark). I began to correct him when he jumped forward. I lost my footing and I was down. Both knees, ripped capris, road rash on one knee and below one elbow. I couldn’t get up. I had to call Tony and Izzy to come help me. Once in the car I had to dig rocks out of my arm, feel the tendons etc in my knees to make sure they were all in place, and check for really sensitive spots along my bones.
So please, do not distract service dogs! Yes, Jasper is still in training but this would not have happened if she had just listened when I asked her to stop.

06/28/2021

Jasper has continued to grow and is becoming quite a ginormous husky. I’m not sure who enjoys his new brush the most; him or Izzy? But he has dropped all of his undercoat and looks all trim and shiny from all of Izzy’s brushing attention.
I’ve got to find a healthy way to add some weight onto him as his growth spurt has depleted his padding over his spine. Our vet wants him to stay on his puppy food since his growth plates show that he’s still growing but only suggested ‘wet food’ to add weight on him. Two brands haven’t worked out so far. Doesn’t really help that we have to avoid chicken because no one in the house can breathe if he eats chicken 😣

05/24/2021

Last week Jasper was able to attend two orchestra concerts. Overall he did pretty well with the smaller, socially distanced audience and the very controlled entrance and exit ways. Unfortunately he and I did have to exit prematurely (and I do not think I will EVER live that down 🤦🏼‍♀️). He made it halfway thru the last song for the first concert. And he made it thru the second song of the second concert. Slowly but surely we will get there. But between you and me, I think Izzy was disappointed that he didn’t sing along

05/24/2021

Service dogs have plenty of time off and get to play and hang out with the family and do what other dogs do. They do, however, still keep a nose or eye out for signs that their handler is having trouble or needs a hand. In my case, Jasper will come to me and get right in my face and stare into my eyes. He is checking for signs of heart rate spikes and trying to catch my scent. If he is bugging me (sometimes it makes me anxious when he does this as I’m already on edge) I will slowly exhale in his face so he can smell my breath and can get a faster read.
Jasper is a well loved and spoiled member of our family💜

Remember service animals are just as important to there handlers when “off duty” as well.

05/09/2021

Current experiment in my house: if a husky inhales helium, does their bark change? Status: unknown.
But, Jasper was afraid of balloons about 30 minutes ago and now he is not. Yay. Now I just have to worry if a kid walks by with a Mylar balloon and he decides he wants it 🤦🏼‍♀️ (but he ongoing leash skills work should handle that, although I’ll be on guard for a while)

04/11/2021

I (Nicole) didn’t sleep well last night and knew I was in for a rough day today, but figured it was probably for the best since I was going to be wired up for a 72hr in home video EEG today. I got some chores done (sweeping up about four huskies in the hallway and living room ugh) and trying to fold clothes but I was fading fast. I was getting twitchy and that usually means I will have seizure activity that will get worse and worse unless I stop all activity right away. I took a break and then jumped into the shower so the 23 wires would glue more securely to my head when the technician arrived (Izzy hung out in my room just in case I fell or started feeling worse). When I got out and was towel drying my hair, Jasper started clawing at the door and barking. He caught my scent. I came out and he immediately jumped and had both front paws on my shoulders and was sniffing my breath. I told him ‘I know bud, I’m close. But I’m ok. Let me finish and I’ll lay down. I’m hurrying.’ He blocked my path and pawed at my thigh, whining. I stepped past him. So he went and jumped at Izzy and barked at her. He tattled on me for ignoring his alert. Izzy suggested I might not have as much time as I thought I did.
I gave in and sat down but he pushed me over so I was laying down. I praised him and told him ‘cover’. He laid across my hip but I was twitchy so he moved (it could injure both of us if he tries to apply pressure during a seizure as I’ll dislocate my joints and he could get thrown) and laid to keep me from rolling over if I moved a lot (choking hazard to not be on my side).
My ceiling fan was on so I cooled off very quickly with wet hair so I didn’t have a full seizure (possible a petite-mal? Not sure but this eeg should give answers if it happens again). We keep the house cooler than we ever have before simply because of Jasper, but it also helps since several of my medical conditions and medications make it hard for my body to regulate my body temperature. So it’s cold in the winter and pretty cool in the summer too.
Jasper really is my guardian angel. Yes his alerts aren’t quite the most elegant (jumping and vocalizing) but I do not care because he can save my life with those. Now to just get more leash work going. I can’t walk with my cane and be off balance if he is pulling. His early life of abuse has taken so many of my training tools away so I only have a few I can work with. But if he can save my life then I can move mountains 💜