Happy New Years!

We've been so busy playing catch up from the time I had to take off for my sisters wedding and the Holidays!

Training and Updates

Well my sister is getting married the weekend before Christmas, so I won't be blogging much all December.  I just wanted to write and say that Kingsley has done 2 more public training sessions on my wheelchair and is excelling at the whole process!  I added somewhat of a "warning" cue for turning left, because when I turn left I'm turning into him so to speak.  I simply say "left" a second before I turn.    It seems to really help him get in position!  I also started asking him to "tug" my socks off.  This is the hardest of all tugging because he has to be very gentle, yet grip the sock tight enough to pull it off.  He's done really well with it!

Here is my favorite training session from the month so far!  It was in a local floral/craft shop when we did some training while shopping for my sisters wedding.

Happy 9 month Birthday!

Dear Kingsley,

I cannot believe that you have been mine now, for 6 1/2 months.  You ran to me from across the grassy pasture at your breeders farm and checked out my feet before going about your silly puppy antics.  I will never forget how quickly you put 2 + 2 together that your behavior could earn food treats (in your stressful temperament test, at that!) and how quickly you learned when tug was over, to be calm.  You've learned more in these months than some dogs learn in 2 years and keep impressing me every day.  I can't wait to see how far you come in life.

Love Always,

Mom

Training at the doctors!

Kingsley worked very hard today!  He has had 4 or 5 training sessions walking on my wheelchair in public.  This may seem very simple but it takes a lot of focus and attention on the puppies part to avoid getting under the wheels.  So far we're sticking to open isled places and short sessions.

Today, Kingsley went with me to a doctors appointment.  When we got inside, he removed my gloves for me!  He calms down more if I ask him to do a cue he enjoys performing, so when I got settled in the waiting room, I asked him to "tug" - this has NEVER been cued w/ gloves before (at home or in public) and voila!  He tugged them both off and delivered them to my mom!  Great work buddy!

He had 1 little woof when the doctor knocked on the door to enter, but immediately calmed back down.     He really impressed me with his work.

Wag Rag Stands Up To The Standard ;)

I ordered Kingsley a fab, small company - RECYCLED tshirt tug toy for Christmas!  I am just totally digging this awesome toy that is standing up to his tough chewing and thrashing about play habits!  I bought it on Etsy and for an additional $4.00 got a lifetime warranty!  WOOT!  Thanks Wag Rags! We love the toy already!!

Play Date!

One of Kingsley's favorite pups is mixed breed Doc, who our good friends from Drexel Hill adopted!  We try to get together once a month for play dates because the boys are just the best of friends.  Here is a picture my friend got while they romped!

Miss Ruth's Time Bomb and Small Business Saturday

Kingsley joined me to Miss Ruth's Time Bomb's Grand Re-Opening on Small Business Saturday!  It was a really great day of taste local beer, great music and fun community out reach!  Here's my main man with the Time Bomb's owner, Sarah Taby!

Family Photos Are Back!!

Thank you so very much to Lucy B. Photography for helping me capture my big boy's beauty! <3

Happy 8 Months, Kingsley!

8 Funny Memories

8. Getting a walnut stuck in his cone

7. Spontaneous moments of galloping through the house (not the puppy zoomies!)

6. Stealing the pillow (laying his head on it) seconds before someones ready to sleep on it

5. Walking around with his treat "savoring" it for 15 minutes

4. Falling out of bed

3. Snobbing people off in public when they sneak pets

2. Burping in my sisters face then walking away

1. After being caught sucking on the corner of a pillow he immediately flopped into a side position and winked at me in a frozen dead position!! 

Proud to be an American! That's Kingsley :)

Kingsley did his American duty today, and accompanied me to our local poll to vote in the presidential 2012 election!

Busy weekend

Kingsley is doing great, and since being released to ease back into work has continued to improve.  His gait is still a bit off but the vet said to give him time, so I am!  He is eager to work, but hesitant to go from standing to sitting and sometimes seems to not be able to at all.  He's been playing ALL weekend though with his friends Dexter and Terp over, so I think he's more sore than usual.  

Here he is with Dexter, who is a great play mate - they have very similar play styles!  They play for hours while Macchiato naps away :)

Family Photoshoot!!

Kingsley and I have a little family photoshoot today with Lucy B. Photography at a beautiful farm in Mount Joy!  When we get some photos back i'll be sure to share them!

Easing Back into Training

Kingsley has done well getting back into the swing of things.  We've been pretty busy but I wanted to post a picture from this morning when I dropped my fork and cued "Leave it!"  He complied and fell asleep next to it!  Love him so much!

Finally groomed again!

Kingsley was finally able to go get groomed again, and of course it was smack in the middle of Hurricane/Storm Sandy!!  Luckily the worst of the rain had passed, so we were able to get in and out without getting drenched!  Kingsley LOVES his groomer so much!  He just watches her talk and wags his tail!  She did a great job, and his injury blends in now so well!  She said he was a bit more fidgety than normal, but that she expected that with his long break from grooming.  His top knot had to be cut down a bit from a spot the cone matted, but otherwise my mom kept him brushed great!

On the recovery front i've been letting him play as he wishes and over all he's walking the same.  Barring weight but his gaits still a bit off.  I've also noticed him arch his back, so i'm keeping a close eye on that incase it isn't just from using the muscles again.

Discharged from Weekly Check Ups!

Kingsley's wounds are healed nicely and he has been released from his weekly veterinary appointments!  He is also barring enough weight evenly on his paw that they are confident his toe healed!  He has lost a great deal of muscle tone though, so his gait will be off until he strengthens it back up.  He is to be eased slowly back into real life.  I am so relieved he is doing so well!  On another positive note, through all of this, he has steadily LOVED the vet.  He actually leads up from the car to the clinic and once inside is eager to go back to the waiting rooms.  He also tried to leave the exam room with the vet like he used to for k-laser treatments!  He seems to have no negative memories of the clinic at all :)

Recovery - Full Speed Ahead!

Waiting To Help!

Kingsley is doing fantastic!  I have a great feeling about his bone healing (middle toe, back right paw) and the wounds look spectacular!  He's baring weight nicely, but still walking with a limp.  I'm hoping that his next check up he is at LEAST permitted to get a full grooming if not more!  :) He goes back on the 25th, so i'll update more then!

A Helper in Training :)

Today, Kingsley brought a smile to my face when he (cone, wound and all) stopped playing to practice a very simple task we've been introducing this week. Every morning after I wash my face, he takes my face towelette or washcloth from my hand, and trades it for a low value treat with my mom. Today was the first time he made a routine connection between my steps and what he's asked to do. Meaning he saw that I was washing my face and stopped playing to come work! 

To my surprise though, the next step, which my current service dog has to do, he quickly hopped over and did! It's a little confusing if you don't know me well physically, but i'll try to explain it best I can. In order to use my right arm for brushing my teeth, etc, I use a squishy bean pillow, stuffed between my torso, armrest and elbow. The downside is that I can't drive my chair or use my phone from that position! So it was imperative that my dog learn to tug it out and either place it on my lap or deliver it to my mom. Kingsley traded the towelette for his kibble, and before anyone could do anything, pranced to my other side, tugged out the pillow and handed it to my mom. Good boy Kingsley, good boy!!

Moving Forward in Recovery

Sir Kingsley's ankle wounds looked good enough that -as long as we can keep him away from them - the bandage is off! He'll go back in a week for another check up! As far as the toe goes, if he continues to bare weight this well they will not need to resplint the paw, either! All in all they feel another 4-6 weeks before full recovery.

At the vet, my gorgeous boy

Cone's back for now to keep him away from the open but healing wounds.  Gave him a PRN tramadol to help him relax and allow it to heal!

Happy 7 Months, Kingsley!

7 Unforgettable Moments With Kingsley

1. The first time he woke up from a sound sleep because he heard me exclaim in pain

2. The first time he snubbed someone off in public because he was working

3. The first night he slept in my bed

4. This day I met him (obiv!) 

5. The way he takes a treat so quickly from me, but has to sniff it and decide if he wants it from someone else

6. The first time he was naughty (unrolled a roll of toilet paper)

7. The first time he chose to come back into my room instead of play in the morning after he gets breakfast, while i'm still on bi-pap

Patient Boy.

Kingsley is doing so well with allowing his leg to be monitored, and we have been able to leave the cones off when we're with him and even over night!  Here he is laying with me while my mom works on fixing my hospital bed mattress.  He is a dream come true :)

A huge set back in recovery

Well, I called the vet for an emergency appointment today, technically about 5 days before his 2 week check up for putting the cast on.  I called because he seemed too lethargic and wasn't his usual loving self.  He was otherwise fine though, eating, drinking, eliminating on schedule etc.  The vet kept him again over night because apparently the cast rubbed his ankle in a few spots. They needed to sedate him again and clean it, check it for damage, then re X-ray his toe.  They found that on either side it rubbed so deep it needed stitches, but only one side was able to be stitched (6 stitches).  The other side will require k-laser treatments on a weekly basis to speed up healthy healing.  They said as of now, his bone isn't healed but until his wounds are we can't address what to do for the break.   He has double cones on now because he REALLY wants to lick that ankle.  Otherwise though he's doing really well.  They did add an antibiotic incase of infection and he will go in weekly from now on for re-bandaging.  I'll update soon!

Kingsley gets breaks from his cone every day, and still willingly comes to my mom to have the cone put back on.  He is such a trooper!

Update on injury!

Kingsley has been in his cone and cast for a full week now, and is constantly finding ways to snuggle against my wheelchair.  He is such a loyal dog!  We cannot do any training because he is to stay OFF his leg, and treats roll which encourage him to get up and get his treats.  So for now, he's on break from working!

Good boy, even in cone.

Kingsley hasn't missed a step in his routine even with his humungous cone and large clunky cast.  He is as loyal as ever.  <3  We will have bi weekly vet appointments until his toe is healed.  Good boy, Kingsley.

Happy 6 Month Birthday, handsome!

6 Fascinating Things About Kingsley

-He learns by watching and thinking

-He knows to come to my hand for snuggles and petting

-He still lays down to eat from time to time

-He loves the vet office and vet

-He prefers to sleep on tile

-He doesn't like shrimp

Kingsley broke a toe :(

We think Kingsley's big sister Gretel tried to run for her ball, and pushed off of Kingsley's foot. He didn't yelp or cry, he just lifted his leg and trotted after her. 

He was immediately put on crate rest from Sunday evening - Monday, when the vet added NSAIDs and Tramadol to his care plan, and said to continue his crate rest until Thursday.

Wednesday night I brought Kingsley back in because I wasn't seeing the improvement I thought he should be making on those medications. They kept my sweet boy over night in order to sedate him, and x-ray his paw thoroughly. 

They found that he broke his third toe on his back right leg. He's in the cone of shame and a CAST for FOUR weeks!

Kingsley BF From a Few Posts Back

Unfortunately the new PAD puppy that Kingsley is so close to, has been released for excited urination. FORTUNATELY, we're good friends with the wonderful couple that chosen to adopt him!  Kingsley and the puppy are just inseparable and such great buddies.  They play so nicely, after getting a bit rough they will stop and shake off, then re-initiate play.  When Kingsley tuckers out (you can tell he's older) the young puppy brings toys over as offerings but will simply lay near him while chewing if Kingsley doesn't initiate play again.

I gave Kingsley a little time to play with him last night, because complete crate rest is torture AND his incision is healing so quickly!!

Enjoy the video of them!

Neuter and Microchipping

Sir Kingsley went to the vet to be neutered and have his HomeAgain microchip implanted.  He was very frustrated that he couldn't eat or drink, so he was a bit rammy until he realized he was going "to work" and he responded by shaking off and getting into his gear!  I just ADORE this boy!  Once at the vet (a little before 8am) I was happy to see he was more comfortable getting on their scale (with no loud motor running next to it) and even w/out the meals and having been groomed is still 36 lbs!  He walked away with the vet tech without thinking twice!  Good BOY!!   He was ready for pick up around 6pm and seemed like his normal self! A big milestone for him and I is again achieved!

3rd Grooming!

My little knight in shining armor got groomed again today!  He absolutely LOVES his groomer and it makes my heart so happy knowing he's happy and well cared for leaving him there.  Since he's being neutered this week we decided to give him a more adult grooming, and he also needed a full ear - plucking this time around.  She said he was well behaved for it!

When I got there to pick him up he was still on the table, and didn't even need the leash!  He stood SO nicely until she helped him down - it was an extremely proud moment for me!

Shopping!

Kingsley and I went shopping today, to spend my 10% off my total purchase at That Fish Place!  He did great working around the other dogs, and only slightly got distracted by - surprise surprise - an american bulldog! ;)  Are we seeing a trend here?

He did great though w/ loose leash walking and sits/downs!  He tried to steal an antler but was easily redirected when I told him we can afford a new one, so he'll have to be content with his old ones for now!

We also worked on the scale - that is, getting on, and sitting until released!  He is 36 lbs and did okay seeing as the scale at TFP is near a loud machine in a corner.

Here is the ham, while checking out!

Kingsley and his new BFF

Kingsley has been thrilled to have a playmate!  He is really enjoying the temporary company of PAD Stowe, a newbie on board in our puppy program.  He's a big boy, lab crossed with american bulldog or something!  They have very similar play styles and could romp for hours - literally!  I haven't gotten a picture of the two of them because they don't STOP moving!

Big Training Milestone!

Today Kingsley trained at Target, working on my wheelchair leash - 100%!  This is huge and MUCH earlier than I expected to try!  We had him potty on a hand held leash with my mom, and cross the parking lot with her also.  Once inside I switched him to my wheelchair and he worked 100% up to par.  He did not pull on the leash, only got confused and crossed in front of my chair ONE time and had perfect accuracy for sit and down cues!

Waiting in line at the pharmacy

We were only there for about 20 minutes, which is why I chose this errand to begin public wheelchair work on.  He navigated through a few smaller isles, and did great at the pharmacy.  My pharmacist even exclaimed "No dogs today?" because Kingsley immediately responded to his down cue when we got to the counter, they never saw him or heard my command!  She couldn't stop complimenting his wonderful behavior.  Afterward we walked through more isles before heading out.  He did great walking through the automatic doors, and the parking lot!

Waiting for the "car" cue in the parking lot

I am really excited to be able to handle him more in public by myself now.  Words can't really convey how proud of him I am.  <3

Happy 5 Month Birthday, Kingsley!

We spent the day playing, training, napping and generally just lazing around for Kingsley's 5 month Birthday.

5 Things I Love About Kingsley

5. His afro
4. How gentle he is
3. His big brown eyes
2. How tall he's getting
1. His intuition

August - SMA Awareness Month

August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness month, and if it weren't for SMA I wouldn't have needed, and therefor met Sir Kingsley.

Kingsley and I lit a candle tonight, at 8pm in honor of all of the lives lost from this tragic disease, as well as for all of us that are still fighting it every day.  I thank God for the light that Kingsley brings to my life.  I would never attempt to hold a lit candle (let alone as heavy as this one was) with any other nearly 5-month-old puppy.  But with Kingsley, I didn't even think twice.  He seems to read my mind, and be so in tune to what i'm doing that things like this aren't challenging.

Kingsley and I are praying for a cure, and hoping to educate a few others on the way.  <3

Too Smart For His Own GOOD!

On July 12th Kingsley spent some time with a sitter, where he reported escaped his soft sided crate multiple times.  My comment en route home to him, to my mom was,

"Bet he'll figure out his other crates, now!"

And almost to the month, he has now learned how to get out of 2 of my wire crates.  While i'd love to start leaving him out of the crate for good, he isn't quite potty trained enough to be out while home alone.

Alas, we are going to buy a safer crate for him as soon as possible.  We were going to eventually need a bigger crate anyway, as he is much taller at nearly 5 months (tomorrow!!) than any of my other dogs have been, this is just a few months earlier than expected.

Please consider helping us raise the cost of the safe crate for Kingsley.  <3

National Night Out

National Night Out (an event against crime) was a huge success for our local community!  Better yet, it was a wonderful training experience for Kingsley!  He got to meet firefighters, policemen and EMS - and work around all of their emergency response vehicles!  All of this was, of course on top of the normal training of loose leash walking, greetings, and basic obedience!

I had a very special helper, too - Izzy's family is training PAD Biscotti, and she has been learning and practicing her very own dog training skills!  She helped all night with Kingsley, and I am so thankful for her!

He continues to improve in his willingness to switch handlers, and shows less and less stress leaving me - though is always eager to return to my side.

I couldn't be more in love, happier or more delighted <3 

A Very Important Training

On Tuesday Kingsley accompanied me to my pulmonology appointment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  I am seen every 6 months - 1 year for maintenance of the respiratory complications from my condition, Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  

Kingsley did great on the longer than usual car ride (he has the routine down pat - load in van by the ramp, sit to be tethered, then lay by the bench quietly until after we park, open ramp and untether him!) and only took about 15 seconds to acclimate to the load city sounds he found himself surrounded by once there.  This was easily his first trip into a real city.   I was really proud of him for getting over the newness quick enough to potty on cue and continue walking to the hospital.  He had NO problem entering the new elevator, and within one or two floors, we found ourselves PACKED with a few doctors, a stroller and a teenager with an iPod on.  He kept himself tucked against my chair and calmly waited for the 5th floor stop.  We didn't have an overly long wait for the first part of the appointment, but he did awesome with my mom leaving us to find a bathroom (stayed with me and didn't try to follow her) and did a few greetings perfectly.

Our next part of the day was my Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT's), which are a routine part of my hospital visits and something very important for Kingsley to be comfortable during.  He - slept through them.  They're done with a few big machines that suck and blow air loudly, and obviously I interact with them in order to test my lung function.  The first time I had my lab there, she needed re-cued a few times to settle and lie down but Kingsley watched me in a down for a few minutes before confidently falling asleep for the remaining tests.

After that we waited about 30 minutes to see the doctors, so we snapped a picture with the Pulmonary elephants.

Our appointment was supposed to be routine, just a check up and confirmation of stability - which I why Kingsley joined me to this particular appointment.  To my surprise though, my PFT's weren't so hot, so we spent a lot of time going over things closely, changing medications around a little, and setting up a sleep study to ensure that my Bi-Pap settings are still correct.  Kingsley slept right through the entire 2 hour appointment, while nurses and social workers came and went, while I had my physical, and everything else.  At the end I gave everyone permission to pet him and he cracked me up - he had no desire to meet any of them and looked at me as if to say "I'm working -hello?!"

On our way out we stopped by a statue of a Panda out front of the Wood Center.  Kingsley was a bit worried about him, so we did some training around him and a few walk by's before heading home.  Although we have 2 dog statues here at my house and his groomer has a dog statue at her salon, we'll be sure to visit lots of statues in the next few weeks to help him learn they're not so scary.   I just love the Panda pictures though!  He's silly and didn't have a huge fear response, just a wary and worried response.  Until next time!

Kingsley's new brother!

On the 12th of July we picked up PAD Macchiato, an Italian Spinone.  He is being trained to do balance, mobility and hearing work for my mom Gail.  Kingsley and Macchiato will not only grow up and train together, but live together!  They're good buddies even though they have a massive size difference for now!  Enjoy the video of Kingsley showing how nice he plays with tiny ones.

3rd Swimming Adventure

Kingsley did very well at the k9 pool this time, and really enjoyed the group of dogs he was with.  He still isn't interested in swimming, but he is retrieving on land now so that's a start!

It is amazing to see how tall Kings is in these photos, as he fit right in with Terp the big golden and Biscotti the big lab!

Enjoy the photos!

PAD Biscotti, 65 lbs 10 months, Gretel, 60 lbs 6 years, PAD Kingsley, 4 1/2 months, 28 lbs and Terp 70 lbs 1 year!

So much love, my heart my explode

Kingsley is hard to blog about sometimes because at the end of the day, he has been so wonderful, by my side so loyally - and so silly all at once that I feel like that is ALL I ever write!

I have a lot of blogging to catch up on this week, but for now i'll just post this picture of Kingsley with his buddy, Terp the bed bug dog!  Terp is 1 1/2 years old and in this picture Kingsley is 16 weeks old.

Kingsley Meets His First Actress!

Kingsley got to meet his first actress this weekend!  We had lunch with my great friend, Stephanie Merrell!  Steph has been in a few episodes of Army Wives and also models and plays rugby.  I'm pretty sure Kingsley is a bit smitten with her!

He did wonderful at our lunch, which wound up being nearly 3 hours long while we caught up after years of not seeing each other.  Kingsley only stood once during the very long down stay!

4 Months - 2nd Grooming

The groomer had nothing but wonderful things to say about Kingsley, and said he is a delightful puppy to groom!  He was only $50 again for his full grooming w/ hand scissoring and all!  We are so blessed to have the Salty Dog Salon so close by!  When we pulled into the parking lot Kings was hanging out, resting w/ his front paws up on the gate just looking around.  He was excited to see us but without a doubt relaxed and happy to be at the salon!  That's my boy :)

Growing and learning!

I am so sorry that we haven't written!  Kingsley is just the most fabulous dog ever created.  He is easy going, responds so well to my voice and loves life.

We have been quite busy helping to get Rayhill the aussie into a suitable home, since being a service dog wasn't in his cards.  Kingsley is quite glad he's gone, as he doesn't enjoy playing the "aussie" way.

He'd much rather play with his sister, Gretel.  This is a 2-3x daily play session ;-)

Kingsley was 15 weeks in that video.  He is easily 19 inches tall now, and is 26.8 lbs!  I can tell when he hits a growth spurt because he sleeps more than usual.  He has 4 puppy teeth out now, with the adults growing in!

On Thursday the 12th United Disabilities Services was here taking out my old hoyer ceiling lift and installing a new, updated and significantly safer and in some ways larger system.   Kingsley met the whole crew (3 men) and watched them begin the construction before heading out for the day so he was safe away from the opening doors, construction and what not.  To my surprise, he never skipped a beat coming back into my room.  The new system is different in nearly every single way.  It rolls across my ceiling faster and louder (but not quite as smooth since its' track is curved and not straight), it's main unit is larger, a large bar lowers and the entire sound of the machine is different.  In addition it has a wall mounting unit.  He hasn't even looked at it once!  He just comes to say goodnight and good morning to me by putting his front paws up near my face (using his little brain - he always finds which side i'm closer to!) and gives me plenty of kisses.  Here he is, watching us put all of my room decor back up!

16 weeks on my hospital bed, with the new hoyer
system on ceiling and wall

On Friday I took Kingsley to Palmyra for an emergency vet appointment.  Though he had an appointment the following week for vaccinations, I just felt he wasn't feeling well.  We clean his ears with Otocalm on a 1 - 1 1/2 week basis, but this week within 2 days they were messy and smelly already.  He also had a slight discharge from his eyes that within a few days went from being clear to being off white yellow.  My poor man!  Low and behold, both were infected so he was started on ear drops (the name just slipped my mind) and Mycitracin eye ointment.

Worse than that though, is that the vet is worried he has a very mild case in both eyes of entropion.  The most important thing immediately is to get the infection cleared up, but after that we will monitor his eyes closely.  It is possible and likely they will correct themselves as he grows (especially since this has never been seen in his bloodline), but if they don't he will require surgery.  Thankfully, this will not interfere with him working or with his health long term!

He will not be neutered until we are 100% he doesn't need the corrective surgery, because if he does need it we will do that while under, too!

Today, Kingsley also got to meet one of my best friends, Jill - director of Pet Matchmaker Rescue.  Jill rescues and fosters hundreds of dogs and puppies a year (literally, hundreds!) and I feel so wonderful saying that she just ADORED Kingsley, and his great temperament.  If theres one person that means a lot from, it's Jill!  :) Here's a picture I snapped tonight!

4 months with my friend Jill!

I'm a little sad that Kingsley hasn't been feeling well because we have a lot of fun training planned this week, and i've already had to leave him home for one the big things (a professional photoshoot on Saturday).  This Wednesday we have tickets to go see the Lancaster Barnstormers  so I'm just really praying that by then he's feeling good enough to come along!

Take care til next time!

Happy 4 Month Birthday, boy!

4 Things I Love About Kingsley

4. His fabulously big black nose

3. How well he follows along

2. How he uses his nose to poke things

1. His desire to be near me