Willow’s Mom here….
Ms. Pants and her typist are off in dreamland so I thought I’d sneak in here for a bit.
As we are approaching almost two years together, I simply can’t believe it. I’ve had a few experiences recently that caused me me step back and realize how much of a “team” we are. A true team that works so effortlessly together that I often forget that in fact, we are “working.” Over these two years, we have learned each others nuances and to really read each other so that in our daily lives, “it just happens.” We have never been apart excepting the brief time I’m in the MRI tube and she is in the waiting room. When Renee and I speak, We say “The bond you have with your SD is unlike any other in your life” and it truly is.
Last week we traveled to Chicago to attend a Service Dog conference and train First Responders. After our Las Vegas trip, I was really apprehensive. I did not want to come home and end up in the hospital again. This however, went wonderfully. Wil’s was incredible. I was so proud as she pulled my wheelchair through the airport like a pro (she totally loves to pull a chair), went through TSA as if the attention was ALL about her, dealt with the stress of us rushing on the way back through Midway Airport due to an airline snafu.
While at the conference she was simply amazing. She did her job despite a number of people petting her when they should not have, (even when they’re on a mat laying down, they’re still working so always ask), She actually wagged her tail when they rolled the stretcher in for the practical demo piece of our First Responder Training! Really? I had to laugh and wonder would she do that if I were really hurt? She did her part of the training like the pro she is. Into the ambulance, let them demonstrate different ways to secure a service dog and then out of the ambulance. All while I was strapped to a stretcher. And yes, I did do my “screaming” demo to show that no, Service Dogs are not protective. Ms. Pants is soooo bored with this now.
We also spoke about emergency preparedness for handlers which was great as there were other handler teams and agencies present who benefited from the information. We’ll be doing a web chat on that very soon with Renee and Sir to really get that information out there as we found people really want it.
What’s funny though and I noticed yesterday is I now refer to “myself” as “we”. Not the “Royal We” but “we” as in Willow and I. because “we” ARE “we.” WE are a team. It happened yesterday as I went somewhere and had to stop at security. I asked for directions for where “we” were going. He said “well, how many are you?” I was puzzled for a minute. I was standing there with just myself and Wil’s. I didn’t get it. I looked at him and said “just one and Willow” pointing to her. At that point I could tell HE really didn’t get it but, I had a watershed moment. “We” had truly become “WE”. “We” are truly a team in every sense of the word.
And I couldn’t love her more……
~Willow’s Mom
wilamenapants 
I knew it was a mistake to eat my lunch as I was reading this! I cried from the first paragraph on, and I had to put down my food. Like everything you write about Willow, this is so very touching. You and Wils are exactly why Carlene and all the people at SDP do what they do.
When I started watching the cams, Willow was one of the Big Pups. And now she is a magnificent lady, and we are all so proud of her! We admire you, as *her person*, for giving her continuing training, respect, and love. If she is a great Service Dog, it is surely mostly because of you. You two were right when you picked each other.
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Fell in love with Willow the first day camera went live, cried when she was sick, & cried happy tears when she was well & paired with you. Just love the ‘We’ for the perfect pairing.
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So awesome!
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Ellie and I will hit our 2 year mark in Sept. and you are so right about the bond and as you sync as a team. At Operation Freedom Paws, the organization where we trained and still attend training we refer to all our SD teams in a simple phrase: four paws, two feet, one team. That is the OFP motto and it is so true when you see the bond in action working. I had a moment a couple of weeks before the conference in Chicago. I went in for a echocardiogram, was one of the final tests to make sure I was clear to go on that trip. During the procedure Ellie was on the gurney with me, I had to lay on my side so she laid behind my legs with her head on my thigh. The Tech doing the tests noticed every time she played the sound of my heartbeat Ellie’s ears would stand up and her head would turn to the speakers. She remarked, “your dog seems really likes the sound of heartbeats.” I giggled and replied, “she likes the sound of my heart beat and is wondering why it is coming out of those speakers so loudly.” The tech stopped and said, “no she can’t tell the difference it is just the sound she is reacting to.” I replied, “test her and play a different heart beat.” The tech was intrigued and searched back to another patient’s file and played a different person’s heartbeat. Ellie’s head and ears remained down in a resting position and she did not react at all. The tech then changed back to my file and played my heart beat live again. Ellie’s ears immediately perked up and she lifted and turned her head to the speakers. I just smiled, and said, “yes, she knows my heart beat, it is what she is trained to do, as a medical alert dog she is acutely aware of my heartbeat, respiration and the smells of my body as different enzymes and hormones are released and how they effect my general condition so she can alert me when it changes.” The tech was blown away and blurted out a stream of “wow, I can’t believe it, that is so cool.” and etc. The tech tested her two more times with switching heart beats and Ellie knew each time and reacted when it was me. So your statement how you and Wils have become a “we” is so true. Ellie and I are a “we” in fact I think of Ellie and an extension of my own body and when we are separated it feels like a part of my body is missing. It was wonderful to meet you and Wils at the conference and hope we can continue to share our experiences with our service dogs and educating the public about service dog teams work.
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