My Canine Companion

April 29, 2004 I got Brodie. She really does a lot for me. Not only is she a great companion she picks up things that I drop, opens and closes doors she can bring me her leash and vest, bring me the telephone if the electricity goes off so I can call for help and many other things. I got her from Pro Train and I highly recommend them if your looking for Obedience Dog Training, Protection, Police and Service Dog Training. They also teach classes if you're interested in becoming a dog trainer.

Move over

Make mine a double

Sharing

now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

if I should live another day

I pray the Lord to guide my way

if I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

I lost Brodie on January 18, 2009 to bone cancer, man I miss her.

A Dog's Plea

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend for no heart in all this world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail, when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements.

I ask no greater glory than to have the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with water for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And my friend, when I am old and no longer enjoy good health and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going, I am not having fun.

Please see that my trusting life is taken gently.

I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''

“dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

On November 8th, 2009 I was invited to Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa to be trained and bring home my new service dog, the dog was already trained and now it was my turn. It was a very long process made shorter by a lady that I met waiting in line at Chili’s restaurant, Jan. She said she was a member of the Lions Club and she would like to help me out with the process of getting a service dog... within a week I had an application.

I was nervous and excited about going because I haven’t been away from my house for longer than a weekend but within a matter of days I was instantly made to feel right at home by the staff, volunteers, trainers and the team trainers themselves at the Canine Companions for Independence campus.

I stayed there for two weeks and really learned a lot, the dog was already trained and now it was my turn. By the third day I met my possible match and he stayed in my dorm with me for the rest of the time, it really was a perfect match.

Robby and I met a lot of new friends that we will continue to stay in touch with the rest of our lives... our new family.

We met our awesome trainers Lauren, Andrea and James. They were all so patient and helpful with each individual’s special needs training...

My new team training family...

Pre-match, I instantly fell in love.

I think we really work well together...

Our leisurely time is very relaxing...

Graduation...

And finally going home, I was glad to finally be going home but also a sad to be leaving my new family...

This is the family that raised Robby, they are a very loving family and did a great job...

Update:

It’s April 28th, 2013 and I have had Robby 3 1/2 years. He is unbelievably smart and extremely helpful. We cruise around Santa Cruz and I always hear people say “there is Robby” I have no idea how everybody knows him but everybody not only knows him but loves him. I can’t thank Canine Companions for Independence enough for him.

Robby’s fifth birthday

Robby’s reunion with sisters Roxy and Rozy June 2013

Who me?

April 29, 2004 I got Brodie. She really does a lot for me. Not only is she a great companion she picks up things that I drop, opens and closes doors she can bring me her leash and vest, bring me the telephone if the electricity goes off so I can call for help and many other things. I got her from Pro Train and I highly recommend them if your looking for Obedience Dog Training, Protection, Police and Service Dog Training. They also teach classes if you're interested in becoming a dog trainer.

Sharing is caring

Team training instructors

Pre-match, I already love him!

We really work well together

Getting comfortable with each other

Team training graduation

Going home

Saying goodbye to Robby's puppy raisers

Bonding time, my favorite

Robby's fourth Birthday

Reunion with Robby's two sisters

On July 23, 2017, I was invited back to CCI to get a successor service dog, I can't believe Robby is already 10 and it's time for him to retire. I was given the choice to rehome Robby or keep him for the rest of his life, of course, our bond has gotten so strong there is no way I could rehome him.

Part of team training is getting up every day during the weekday and going to class from 9 AM until 5 PM. We all go out on outings to restaurants, grocery/hardware stores, The pet store and a trip to the Charles Schwartz Museum and the final test is to the mall where the team instructors see how well we work with our new match.

Unfortunately, when I went to team training for Robby I had a stage for pressure sore so I had to go back to bed immediately after class and I didn't get to hang out and get to know the other team training members. I also had to bring Robby back to CCI for a couple of weeks because I ended up in the hospital in need of flap surgery. After six weeks of laying flat in a hospital bed, I got to go home but I was still bedridden for another two weeks so I didn't get to really bond with Robby, he was bonding more with my caregivers.

Thanks! I needed that

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord, my soul, to keep

if I should live another day

I pray the Lord to guide my way

if I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord, my soul, to take.

I lost Brodie on January 18, 2009, to bone cancer, man I miss her.