Dog Training Kindred Spirits Dog Training

by Stacey Kuhns

When I first thought about obtaining a service dog, I did a lot of research. After going through many organizations and talking to many people, I finally spoke with Petra Burke of Kindred Spirits Dog Training, in Vista. I am so thankful I touched base with Petra and the rest of the amazing women at Kindred Spirits.

I have had dogs since I was a little girl and have been through a myriad of different dog training programs, including just training my dogs on my own. I have never experienced anything like I have with Kindred Spirits. If you have a puppy, or if you have a dog in need of training, Kindred Spirits is the ONLY place I would recommend. Kindred Spirits Dog Training is located at 3343 E. Vista Way, Vista, CA, 92084. They can be reached by calling (760)630-4824 or they can be contacted through their website (www.kindredspiritsk9.com).

Henson and I started training at Kindred Spirits at the beginning of July 2016. I was so impressed with the classes and the training methods employed by Kindred Spirits. It was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced in dog training and most of all, it is very effective. The women who train us and our dogs are passionate about what they do. They are willing to help with any problem you can think of that would come up with your dog. They current on all dog-related topics, including the best foods and treats for your pet. 

Liz Palika is the founder of Kindred Spirits. She has been training dogs for over 30 years and she knows her stuff for sure! Petra Burke, co-owner of Kindred Spirits, has been training with Liz for 30 years. Combined, they are a force to be reckoned with in their combined knowledge of dog behavior. Kate Abbott is also a co-owner of Kindred Spirits. My boyfriend and I believe she is the true 'Dog Whisperer." I swear she works with a dog for two minutes and that dog does whatever she wants it to do. It is an amazing thing to watch. Dawn McMahon and Petra were the first people I met and who sat with me for an hour, answering all my questions about obtaining a service dog. I broke down in tears during our talk and Dawn's dog, who was training to be a therapy dog at the time, came right up to me and pressed himself against my face. It was amazing. Dawn has been wonderful in working with myself and Henson during the training classes. There are a number of other wonderful trainers and volunteers who work at Kindred Spirits. I have not had the pleasure of working with all of them but I know in time that Henson and I will most likely get to work with them and we look forward to that experience.

If you are working on skills at home, learned in a training class, and things are not going well, the trainers are there to help, through e-mail or over the phone. They also offer one-on-one training and training in the home. Their classes are fun, interesting, and never boring for you or your pet. They offer a variety of interesting classes, but I recommend that any dog owner should take their Puppy and Basic training courses. (You can thank me later for this amazing advice). 

The best thing about the Puppy training classes is the extra puppy play night offered during the week. If you take the Puppy classes, please, please go to every puppy play date. It will make a huge and positive impact on the socialization of your puppy. (I personally think it should be a requirement for graduation, but that is just my opinion). Oh, and just a word of caution, puppies can get messy at puppy play.

I plan to be in training with Kindred Spirits for at least another year or more and am looking forward to every future class and session we have coming up. Henson also enjoys the training and has picked up the positive behaviors I would expect from a well-trained dog, and in record time. I am so proud of the progress Henson and I have made and could not have done it without Kindred Spirits.

Related Posts

1. Henson Earns his "Service Dog in Training" Vest
2. Training a Service Dog....My Journey So Far
3. Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill
4. Dog Friendly Areas in North County San Diego
5. A Struggle with a Light at the End of the Tunnel
6. Slave to My Future Service Dog
7. Reflecting on this Mother's Day
8. A New Journey Begins

Henson Earns his "Service Dog in Training" Vest

For those of you who have been following the blogs about Henson and I, we have reached a new milestone. Henson just graduated his third class and in addition, earned his Service Dog in Training Vest. I had no idea he was going to get his vest that day and I was thrilled that our work together has been fruitful. Henson and I have been in training for five months straight now. He will continue classes after the holidays, but our training together continues daily. 

It has been an amazing experience to now have a service animal (in training) who can go anywhere with me. We have gone to the movies, restaurants, inside stores, and walked around the beach. Each experience is new for both of us, but for a puppy who just turned eight months old, Henson has impressed me beyond belief. He stays right by my side, helps pull me upstairs and helps me get down stairs, he does not react to other people or animals when working. He is calm and responsive to my commands. I am so lucky to have him. 

We are both learning how to work with each other and we have a long way to go, but it is a rewarding experience for sure. More to come on our training and adventures.

Related Posts

1. Training a Service Dog....My Journey So Far
2. Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill
3. Dog Friendly Areas in North County San Diego
4. A Struggle with a Light at the End of the Tunnel
5. Slave to My Future Service Dog
6. Reflecting on this Mother's Day
7. A New Journey Begins

Training a Service Dog.... My Journey So Far

By Stacey Kuhns

For those who have read my previous blogs, you know that I am disabled. I have several diseases and live with chronic pain 24/7. Because of the progression of my diseases, my career in law enforcement was cut short and I found myself retired and at a loss as to the path my life would take.

There are many days where simple tasks, such as getting dressed and undressed are agony. There are times when the simple task of opening a jar or holding onto something is too much for me. I walk like someone well into their eighties. There are nights when the pain makes it impossible to sleep and tears and depression threaten to overwhelm me. Yet every morning, I get back up and try to live my life to the fullest that I possibly can.

One of my many medical professionals suggested I get a service dog. I was shocked. It never crossed my mind that someone with my condition would need or benefit from a service dog. I am not blind. I am not confined to a wheelchair (although I was for one year). During my research on service dogs, (we are talking about a certified service dog, not an emotional support animal or therapy dog), I discovered that most organizations place only one to two service dogs per year with a qualified disabled person. I applied with several organizations but did not qualify.

I met with some wonderful women at a training facility who answered all of my questions about whether a service dog would be beneficial to me and how I would go about obtaining one. They assisted me with finding a puppy that would hopefully make an excellent service dog candidate and that would meet my physical needs. They assured me that I would be capable of training my own service dog through their program but warned me that it would be a two-year training commitment. And, there are no guarantees the dog will pass certification. They assured me that there are ways to train a service animal even with my physical limitations.

As I have worked with animals much of my life, I had my heart set on rescuing a dog from a shelter that would eventually become my service dog. Well, things did not turn out that way. I had been saving money up for a down payment on a used car (as I lost my car when I lost my job since I could no longer afford to keep it). Retiring nine years earlier than planned greatly affected my income. Well, I still do not have a car, but I have a potential service dog. The money went towards the purchase of a puppy that met the physical and health requirements for my purpose.

I came home with a seven-week-old puppy named Henson. I don't think I realized what I was getting myself into. Yes, there are ways to train a puppy/dog that work with my disabilities but taking care of a puppy 24 hours a day was a different matter. I questioned my decision every day. I slept less, cried more, and my pain levels increased, but I was determined not to give up and to see this through.

One big benefit to training your own service dog is that there is a very tight bond right from the start (which can also result in a dog with severe separation anxiety). Henson pretty much goes everywhere with me. When I cannot take him with me to certain places, such as my volunteer job, he has a meltdown (we are working on this). He is smart and his training is progressing well. It is A LOT of work and sometimes is difficult physically and mentally for me, but I am not one to give up on Henson or myself.

Henson is now seven months old and 61 pounds. He has another year of growing so is going to be a very big boy, which is what I wanted. But he is also very strong, so training is crucial. Henson is currently in his third training class. Recently, he has become terrified of a number of different things and many loud noises. Some of them understandable, and some fears that don't seem rational.

We will be working with the trainers on this, of course, but there is always my fear that he may not work out as a service dog. I often ask myself how I would feel about this. It's a tough one. I have invested a lot of time and money into Henson with the goal that he will be able to assist me and alleviate some of the struggles I go through daily. But, Henson is my buddy and my constant companion. As with most all dogs, he loves me unconditionally and I love him. He is family. A well-trained dog is invaluable to me as well as everyone Henson or I come into contact with, so there really is no loss if he does not get certified. Well, the loss is I won't have him to assist me in places where I need help, so I will continue to use my cane and wheelchair.

I know many people purchase service dog vests online. This is illegal. Many people have told me to do this and I refuse. I know there are so many dogs out there who have little to no service dog training yet their owners pose them as "service dogs." Shame on them is all I have to say. This is a difficult road and something I take very seriously. Henson and I are in this together and we will take our time and do it correctly. 

None of this is easy. Henson and I are a short way into our training journey. While the outcome is unknown, it is certainly a great learning experience for us both and quite an adventure.

Related Posts

1. Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill
2. Dog Friendly Areas in North County San Diego
3. A Struggle with a Light at the End of the Tunnel
4. Slave to My Future Service Dog
5. Reflecting on this Mother's Day
6. A New Journey Begins

Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill

by Stacey Kuhns

On Friday night, my boyfriend and I met some friends at the Belching Beaver, in the revitalized downtown Vista area. They also have a brewery in Vista (980 Park Center Drive).

This is more of a restaurant and bar setting with indoor and outdoor seating. Belching Beaver is located in the old First National Bank building on the corner of Broadway and Indiana. Their official address is 302 East Broadway. There is no sign to distinguish the place but their truck is normally parked in the small parking lot (come early to find parking downtown). They are open 3pm-9pm Mon-Wed, 3pm-10pm Thurs-Fri, 1pm-10pm Sat, and 1pm-9pm Sun. (They are located directly across the street from The Yellow Deli). 

There are three areas to enjoy at this establishment. A large indoor seating area, a dining patio, and to the right of the building, a backyard area that has lots of sand, benches and chairs, fire pits, game areas, and serves finger foods and more bar type foods. The front outside dining area and inside serve more interesting and pricier choices made by their onsite chef. They also have a nightly chef's special. Both outdoor areas are dog friendly. 

It was very hot outside so at first, we were the only ones on the patio. They have umbrellas, but as the sun went down, there was no escaping the sun in our eyes. One of the workers informed us they are getting sailcloth to block the sun so that will be a welcome addition. The staff are all nice and attentive, but service can get a bit slower as the place fills with people.

Our waitress, Jessica, was amazing. Very friendly and so knowledgeable about the beers, wines, and food. You could tell she enjoys her job. There is an extensive beer menu. My boyfriend tried 8 small (5 ounce) beers ($2 each). You can pick any beers you want to try, any amount, for the $2 each. I had a glass of wine as I do not like beer. (They also have an extensive wine list). Our friends also tried a variety of beers. My boyfriend's favorite (and also some of our friends' favorites) were the Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout Nitro (everyone loved this), the Mango beer, the Raspberry beer (cannot remember the name of it), and the Hofbrau Hefeweizen. They tried a number of other beers, but these were the favorites. 

The next three pictures are from the Belching Beaver website as I was unable to take pictures inside and outside in the sand area due to the crowds.

We stayed at the Belching Beaver for four hours. In that time, we had a chance to order a number of appetizers and split them. The food is delicious and unique. Many of the items were made with beer so I steered clear of those, but my boyfriend and friends tried some of them.

My boyfriend tried the Andouille Corn Dogs, which he loved. They are made with a Southern style Andouille sausage dipped in their Hop Highway 78 IPA corn meal batter and served with a honey mustard sauce made with the Me So Honey beer.

We split the Dueling "Pokes", two types of ahi poke, one with a smoked poke sauce and one with a mango/tropical sauce. So good!

My boyfriend later tried the Fire Grilled Shrimp Skewers which have a citrus soy glaze and are served over local organic greens. The Belching Beaver uses a lot of locally sourced organic ingredients. 

I later found out you can order the bar food from the other side and enjoy it on the dining patio, so I ordered a small Caesar Salad. It was one of the best I had ever had (but I forgot to take a picture of it). We also split the Tri City (three different sliders). One is a house-made poke Brat patty with a stoneground mustard made with the Me So Honey beer. I took one bite of this particular slider and gave the rest to my boyfriend. I did not like it at all (probably the beer taste), but he enjoyed it. The second was a chorizo slider which I liked quite a bit and he did not care for. The last was a Cubano slider that I loved. 

The Belching Beaver also serves flatbreads (in which the bread itself is made with brewers yeast and Damned IPA), a number of interesting salads, burgers, seafood, steak, stuffed meatloaf, pork chops, and something called the Brontosaurus Bone ( a giant braised beef rib). My friend ordered the Fried Cauliflower and Leeks. I have to say, the fried leeks were amazing!! Could have eaten a bowl of those. A couple of the guys ordered the BBQ Short Rib Sandwich. They liked the meat but felt the bread was soggy and greasy.

For two of us, between the beer, wine, and food, the bill came to almost $100. The food from the other side (sand area) is quite a bit less expensive, but you have to ask to see that menu if you are not sitting in the sand outdoor area. (More fries, burgers, wings, finger food items).

All in all, it was a pleasant experience and we would definitely go there again. A great place to meet friends, talk, try new things, and relax.

Dog Friendly Areas in North County San Diego

By Stacey Kuhns

 

There are a number of dog-friendly places in North San Diego County but do not believe everything you read on the internet about a place being dog-friendly. Always call ahead, if it is a restaurant or business, to confirm they are dog friendly.

The information on the internet can be misleading, especially if you are looking at Yelp reviews or comments from people who have visited a certain place. Some of them say the place is dog friendly then a few comments later, someone else says it is not. Plan ahead so you are not disappointed (as I speak from experience). I am going to talk about some dog friendly places my boyfriend and I have visited over the last few months. I am not going to discuss dog parks as that is a given that they are dog friendly and I personally, do not let my dog go near them.

San Diegans appear to be big animal lovers for the most part. Businesses and local spots have become more pet friendly over the years, but we are still lacking a lot of amenities for pet owners, especially dog owners. San Diego is all coastal beaches down Highway 101. So it is surprising that there are very few places you can take your dog to the beach, and I mean go down on the sand, play in the water, relax on the beach kind of thing.

Of course, Dog Beach  in Del Mar is dog friendly, but there are rules, such as leash laws, that need to be followed at certain times of the year. We had planned to go there one Sunday morning. We got up at 5:30 a.m., got our stuff together, and we checked the website one more time.

Turns out, for some crazy reason, they are closed on Sundays. I don't get it, but that is what the website said. I am not sure how exactly they close a beach, and I am sure if we had driven all the way down there, we would have found dogs and owners on the beach, but it was too far of a drive to chance it.

Anyway, I checked the internet to see if there was anything at all in North County, as far as dog friendly beaches go. I found a website for Swami's Beach. I made the mistake of reading the comments and reviews. One said, "Bring the kids, bring the dogs...dog friendly!" There were a number of comments that said the beach was dog friendly, so off we went.

Well, we got to Swamis, navigated the steep long stairway and set up our stuff on the beach then went exploring with the dog. He was great and loved it there. After a while, he got tired and we sat on our towels while he stretched out in the sand. He was on leash the entire time. A "concerned citizen" proceeded to come and tell us, in a very rude way, that dogs are prohibited on the beach. I had not even paid attention to the signs. So we left, discouraged and disappointed.

It seems North County is lacking in dog friendly beaches for sure. Would be great if Oceanside or Carlsbad had a dog friendly beach area.

So, on to restaurants. We have tried a number of dog friendly restaurants and I called ahead to each one to make sure they were still dog friendly. I do not recommend taking your dog if they are not calm and used to going to these places. We have been to places where a dog is acting up, barking, and disturbing the other customers. Not fun for the owner or the other patrons.

Do not assume if a restaurant has an outdoor patio, they accept dogs. One place I know of that has a huge outdoor patio, only accepts service dogs. We have been to The Yellow Deli in Vista  which has a beautiful dog friendly patio area. I brought the dog's water dish, water, and snacks for him as some places do not provide these things.

Luna Grill, in Poway, is also a great place for dogs and their owners. Great healthy food and great service, as well as a nice outdoor area with umbrellas. I believe all the Luna Grills are dog friendly, but check before you go.

We also went to Oggies, in Vista. A bit pricey but they have an outdoor, wraparound patio area and a spigot that comes out of the wall to fill up your dog's water bowl. Also, Centre City Café, in Escondido, has friendly service, huge portions for a small price, and a large relaxing front shaded patio. They will provide a bowl of water for the dog if you request it.

Slater's 50/50  in San Marcos, actually has a dog menu. The patio area is nice and they will provide water and a bowl for your dog if you request it.

One place we love is the Continental Delicatessen, in Escondido (on Kalmia and Grand next to Vinz). They are very dog friendly. They will provide a water dish and water for your dog, as well as bring them a slice of meat for a snack (I thanked them for this but refused the offer as I do not feed Henson table food of any kind).

They have wonderful service and yummy homemade food. All the outdoor tables have umbrellas, but it can get very warm on the cement there on hot days so be careful and have plenty of water even to pour over your dog. I always bring a chew stick for him in case he gets restless.

Since Henson is still a puppy, we have to find places to take him as he is too young to leave in the apartment (and suffers from a bit of separation anxiety when I leave) so we are scoping out places we can all go together. It's been fun and for the most part, a really great pleasant experience. Let me know if you have discovered other dog friendly places that you like.

A Struggle with a Light at the End of the Tunnel

by Stacey Kuhns

 

A few months back, I wrote that I would keep you all updated on the progress Henson and I are making towards getting him trained and certified as my service dog. Time got away from me. I have not really gone anywhere in the last two months except my volunteer job, medical appointments, and Henson's training.

This coming Wednesday, he finally completes his series of shots and can venture out in public. I cannot tell you how excited I am about getting out and about again despite some serious pain issues I have been dealing with lately.

Anyone who has gone through puppy classes/training will understand the feeling of wanting your dog to excel and be the best in the class. I have had to swallow that for the time being as Henson is having some issues in class.

For the most part, he does excellent with training at home. We work on his skills at least twice a day and then throughout the day as the need arises. He attends puppy play at the training center every Thursday night for an hour then an hour of training on Saturday mornings.

The puppy play and training are held in the same area, so every time we go for training Saturday mornings, it takes a bit to calm him down because he thinks he is there to just run and play with his friends. (Just to show you how much fun he did have on Thursday night at puppy play):

Good thing I brought a towel. So, getting back to what I was saying about wanting your puppy to be amazing in class...even at puppy play, Henson was a handful. He ran with dogs bigger than he is and dogs smaller than he is. He loved running around with them, but this past Thursday, there were a lot less dogs there and he was more vocal and more "paws on" with the dogs there.

I had to be with him constantly and the trainers helped me know when he was just playing (learning to play) while vocalizing and when to pull him off the other dogs. Sometimes it is not easy to tell when things are getting out of hand as all the puppies are running around like crazy and jumping on each other. I thought puppy play would be a nice relaxing time for me to just sit on a bench and watch Henson happily interact with the other pups.

Not even close! I was exhausted! Luckily, he is exhausted also afterwards but still wants to get a little crazy and run around and play in the evenings around eight or nine (when I am more than ready to call it a night).

Like I mentioned, at home Henson does very well with training, but in class, he appears distracted and excited by all the other dogs. Just getting him to sit sometimes is a chore. And he learned to sit not too long after I brought him home. Henson has been used in demos in class several times (probably not something to be proud of at all.) Just look at that face. Does that look like a dog who would turn out to be a pain in the ass in class? Hmm, okay well, don't answer that. Anyway, Henson and I both got some individual help after class from one of the trainers. It was great information and something we will be working on.

The class is pretty jam-packed with information and weekly skills. It is a lot to work on but I think that is good as it keeps the puppies engaged in positive behaviors for which they are rewarded. (Henson is now sleeping after the workout this morning at class and the bath afterwards, and if I was smart, I would take advantage of that and take a nap, but I wanted to write this blog).

We have our good days and bad days (as with any child). Sometimes the mornings are fantastic and the evenings are terrible. There was one day last week where I swore I was going to list Henson on craigslist. I won't get into all the gory details of the day except to say there were some potty training mishaps, behavioral issues and all around not listening to mom issues.

By the time I got Henson in his crate that night, I was almost in tears with the joy of knowing I could just crawl into bed. I got to the bed and then noticed the cat vomit on my sheets (right where I lay of course). The tears did come then. We all have those days and nights (hopefully, not with the same set of circumstances) and most of the time, we just muddle through. A good sense of humor is definitely key lately.

Having severe physical disabilities and dealing with a sometimes unruly toddler (yes you, Henson), can be wearing mentally and physically. Each day is a struggle for sure but I do see progress and I do see there is a light at the end of the tunnel as I hope that one day, in the next few years, Henson will be helping me.

Slave to My Future Service Dog

By Stacey Kuhns

 

So a while back, I let you all know that I was getting a puppy, named Henson, who will be going through a two-year training program with me to become my certified service dog. This is Henson:

Henson is a Goldendoodle. His mother is a Goldendoodle and his father is a Standard Poodle. I have had a variety of animals since I was a young girl, have worked at veterinary hospitals, San Diego Zoo, and now volunteer in animal rescue. I have also rescued and trained dogs, but I must admit, it has been a very long time since I had a puppy.

Because of my medical conditions, I never thought a puppy was anything I would have again as it is physically difficult for me to take care of one. I brought Henson home on May 1, 2016, when he was a little under eight weeks old. He turns eleven weeks old this weekend and I am exhausted.

I love this little guy, but I am a slave to him. I follow him everywhere. Otherwise, I might find him with his head in the cats' litter box or eating their food. He needs to be brushed every time he comes in from outside. I have never owned a dog that had this kind of fur (everything gets stuck in it). He chases the cats around the house (trying to work on that), not because he wants to "get them" but he wants them to play with him. He is growing like a weed and is a very smart dog.

By eight weeks, he learned sit and shake. At nine weeks, he learned down, and at 10 weeks, he learned stay. He has a pretty mellow temperament for a puppy, which is good for a future service dog. He has times where he is a crazy pup, running around and wanting to play, but he just seems more mellow than other puppies I have dealt with.

Giving him a bath, for me, is like running a marathon. It is challenging. Next time, we are trying a shower. Henson has been sleeping eight hours a night, which is a blessing and surprising as he does sleep a lot during the day too. He is potty trained, which was a happy milestone. My pain levels have been pretty high since I got him, but surprisingly, I am too busy with him to let it get me down and I do see the fantastic benefit having him will be for my physical and mental health. (At least I keep telling myself that.)

I have basically been a prisoner in the house and have been home more than I can remember. (I cannot take him anywhere frequented by other animals until he has all his shots). On May 11, he had his first vet visit and just chilled on the exam table, waiting for the vet. He did great and got a clear bill of health. He is growing like a weed. His paws are still huge so hoping he will be a large dog.

I check in with the parents of his siblings and they are going through many of the same trials and tribulations with their puppies so that makes it easier on many levels. But he is a puppy and like a little kid, he gets distracted easily.

We walk to the mailbox every day (he is doing well on leash). One day it was windy and a leaf was blowing down the street. He almost pulled me over trying to run after it! We start our training on June 4. Hopefully, a leaf does not blow by during training, or a rabbit does not run across the lawn. Should be interesting.

I took him to my acupuncture appointment the other morning. I was feeling stressed about it but the staff asked me to bring him. They know he is going to be a service dog and feel he should get used to coming with me since that will be the norm once he is certified.

The acupuncture treatments are supposed to be relaxing but as I was laying on the treatment table and Henson was circling the room, sniffing, all I could think about was that he was going to go potty on their carpet and I would not be able to get up because of the needles in me.

Fortunately, once he was done exploring, he sprawled out next to the treatment table and was calm and relaxed as he could be for the entire hour. He never left my side when anyone came in to talk to me or check on me. I was amazed! So, he shows the potential to be a great service dog and that is what I think about as I pull seeds and rocks out of his mouth, panic when it gets too quiet in the house and I cannot see him, and as I follow him around, making sure he is not getting into anything. 

In my next installment, I will let you all know how training is progressing. Thanks for the interest and you can see more about Henson on my Facebook page, Meet Henson.

Reflecting on this Mother's Day

Henson, the Service Dog

By  Stacey Kuhns

I hope that everyone out there is celebrating Mother's Day in a way that makes them happy. For those of us with children, we have all gone through the ups and downs of motherhood. Sometimes, it is the most amazing thing ever, and sometimes, you want to lock yourself in the bathroom and cry.

Is it all worth it in the end? Of course!

Today, Mother's Day 2016, I am reflecting on motherhood. Maybe not in the way you think. Of course, I love my kids and plan to see them later tonight, after I go to work at the animal rescue place. Yep, it's my day today and I should be relaxing or out taking pictures or doing something exciting, but my heart is happy because I will be taking care of lots of fur babies who are without mothers or families for various reasons.

I am also a new mom one week today. Seven days ago, I brought home my new baby, Henson. I talked about him in a prior blog post. Henson just turned 8 weeks old yesterday and he and I are starting our journey of bonding so we may begin training in a month or two for him to be my service dog. This is a two-year training commitment, and of course, a lifetime bond/love commitment.

Being disabled, I wondered whether I could even take on the job of being a new mom to a very young pup. I was worried the physical aspect of having a young puppy around, potty training, crate training, etc., would be too taxing for me.

Well, there have been days where I have questioned my decision to embark on this journey. I love Henson and he is a very good puppy, but my body is screaming at me that this might have been a bad idea. I am in excruciating pain daily since I got Henson and have had to increase the pain medication I take.

Some days, I feel guilty that I cannot run around the yard with him. I worry that while I am at a medical appointment for an hour tomorrow that he will cry in his crate the entire time I am gone. Hmm, kind of brings back memories of the kids crying at night and the doctor telling me to ignore them (once they were out of the baby stage), because they just wanted attention. A very difficult thing to ignore anyone or anything that is crying. But I digress.

Each day, I remind myself that this is a positive thing for Henson and I. We are in this together. I give him lots of love and attention and he follows me everywhere. When I sleep, he sleeps. When I go outside, he goes outside. When I am working on the computer, he is resting with his head on my feet. He seems happy and healthy. Do I still question that I am the best mom he could have? Yes, every day. But I also know a lifetime of loving animals, loving my friends, my children, my family, and I feel I have always done the best job I can do.

Yes, some days I can barely walk, but this little boy is counting on me as much as I am counting on him. I could barely kneel down to get his food and water into the back of his crate. Days that going in and out of the back door to make sure he does not have to go potty have taken their toll on me. But I look for ways around those obstacles. I now feed him in the kitchen. When I take him outside, I sit outside and enjoy watching him, the birds, the clouds, and just take a deep breath. I tell myself I have no reason to be rushing around trying to get everything done. It will happen.

Is having a puppy always a fun experience? Hell no! Is it a joy and a worthwhile experience? Hell yes! My friends and family have stepped in to help with Henson when I need it and I am grateful for that. Sometimes, we have to ask for help and not be ashamed that we need assistance. I have learned that the hard way over many years of always trying to be Supermom, Superwoman, Superemployee, etc.

In the long run, it is your needs that matter. All the moms, and dads, out there, deserve such credit. Whether you are a mom or dad of a furbaby or a human child, they are the ones who fill our hearts with love. Experiencing the ups and downs of "momhood" is what it is all about. We do the best we can and just plug along when we can't. I am grateful for all the experiences I have had as a mom to all my children.

Follow Henson and I on our Facebook page, "Meet Henson."

A New Journey Begins

by Stacey Kuhns

Henson, the Service Dog

Hi everyone. So this time I am not reviewing a restaurant or a hidden gem in San Diego or Los Angeles counties. I am going to take you on a journey with me as I experience it.

As many of you know from my prior guest blogs, I am disabled. I am still independent but as the years go by, it has become more difficult to perform some simple daily tasks. I have several medical specialists who monitor my care, but things seemed to be deteriorating and I live in pain 24/7. As you have seen from my prior blogs, I get out and do as much as I can and enjoy life as much as I can. I want to be happy and make memories. I want to experience life.

I also began to wonder if all the medications I take are really helping me as much as medical professionals think. I decided to take advantage of a referral from one of my specialists to explore acupuncture.

On the referral of a prior patient, I connected with David Stoeber, L.Ac. He is the owner of North County Wellness, located in San Marcos. David is a chronic pain specialist. He has been dealing with chronic pain patients for years and has a deep understanding of the diseases and holistic methods used to assist in alleviating pain.

We met and he spent time getting to know me, my symptoms and primary concerns, and took the time to answer all my questions. I have been going to him weekly and Anna Kaplan, has been amazing in following my acupuncture sessions with light touch massage. I have noticed a difference and I feel David and the staff at North County Wellness really know their stuff.

During one of the sessions, I was discussing the difficulties I have experience with the diseases I have. David suggested a service dog. That was like a bomb going off in my brain. A service dog? For me? A chronic pain patient? David said he had several patients with the same issues get service dogs and they were helped tremendously.

I began researching this because taking on a dog is a huge commitment for someone who has days where she is barely able to walk. I talked with professionals in the service dog community and made the decision to move forward with this.

I don't want to ramble on about this, but on May 1, I will be bringing home Henson. He and I will spend two years training for him to be certified as my service dog.

Meet Henson:

I am very excited to start on this journey with him. I believe he will be a great help to me physically and emotionally, and as an avid animal person, I know he will have a loving home always. Stay tuned for our escapades, beginning May 1, when eight week old Henson comes home with me.