Team Training 2014 Canine Companions : a personal note of my experience

A personal post I wrote after feeling emotional watching our Team Training Video memory CD.

Thought I would share here:

we just watched the team training video... jI ust wanted to say it was such a pleasure meeting all of you- and getting to know you, your families and I hope everyone is settling in with their new dog-

We miss hearing how each one is doing, and the special little things that happened the night before. The catch up in the classroom the next morning of the silly things the dogs have done.... it was a very special time.

We are so blessed to have Gretchen in our family and she truly is an exceptional dog for our Ty.... and is everything we hoped she could be for him and more! He is sleeping on his own with Gretchen and daddy on the floor (so phased him out of bed, baby steps) he went in his first bouncy house at Sarah's party- and we had Sarah's party at our house (we've NEVER been able to do that), we take short walks around the neighborhood, and make it back home and he has come with me to the Vet.

I've been picking Sarah up from school (although we're not getting out of the car yet)... but again baby steps....

and all this is happening with not major aggressive meltdowns as before..

. and when he starts to have aggression or a meltdown, Gretchen goes to him and starts licking him and I get her to lay on him (even if he resists, he ultimately can't and it calms him down),

I do hand over hand to pet her with him in that moment and again, it calms him down ultimately before things escalate further!

He will be 10 on Sunday, and most people/professionals have said we just can't keep him in our home when he shows so much danger and aggression to himself and our family- and I knew/know - we know he is an amazing loving little boy who just struggles with everything and has been through so much in his short life- and Gretchen has given our family hope, given us hope that we are doing the right thing for Ty right now

HE didn't get early intervention and help developmentally because the doctor's were all so focused on all his medical problems- even being hospitalized 7x when he was 3.

But he will never again have to go to the hospital without Gretchen, he will never have to go to another doctor's appt without Gretchen, he will never face the scary world that constantly bombards his body, his senses, his being, without Gretchen being by his side helping him through it.

And we are so thankful to have gotten to know all of you and your stories and what an amazing experience CCI Team Training May 2014 was for our family. You are all amazing and we wish you all great success in your futures!

And can't wait to hear all the sweet little things that occur with these exceptional dogs-