Lmst

We’ve been quietly dealing with some health issues with Sjiriki for a while. From a pretty young age Sjiriki’s been dealing with pain in his body, specifically his hind end. He was first diagnosed with growing pain, but didn’t react enough to pain medication, and I just had a gut feeling that there was something else going on. After several more vet visits, scans, and referrals we finally have an answer! This week Sjiriki was diagnosed with Tethered Cord Syndrome, which basically means that his spinal cord is improperly attached, causing him a lot of (nerve) pain. This is generally pretty treatable with surgery, though not all dogs recover fully, some still needing pain management even afterward. But there is almost always a big improvement after getting the surgery! The specialist had an opening quickly, so he’s going in next Wednesday. I am incredibly stressed about the whole situation, not knowing if he’ll make a full recovery after surgery and uncertain about what that means for his future quality of life, and his career as a service dog. But I’m also grateful to have some answers and not have to keep searching for a diagnosis any longer. So overall some conflicting feelings and a lot of uncertainty still! For now I’m pretty busy getting everything in order for the surgery, preparing to keep him comfortable downstairs as he’s not allowed to walk up and down them, prepping enrichment to keep him busy, and dreading six to ten weeks of exercise restriction with an adolescent husky 😬 We’re just gonna take things one day at a time!
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#husky #siberianhusky #dog #dogs #huskydog #siberianhuskydog #forcefree
#servicedog #servicedogintraining #psychiatricservicedog #autismservicedog #hulphond #hulphondinopleiding #autismehulphond #psychiatrischehulphond #assistentiehond #assistentiehondinopleiding #autismeassistentiehond #forcefreeservicedog

A Siberian Husky sits in front of an open heath, dry yellow grass lining the trail he sits on. He’s looking to the left, mouth open and ears forward. Behind him is a blue sky, with a few wispy clouds floating over the distant tree line.

Went to a pet friendly store yesterday to let Sjiriki pick out a toy for his birthday (which I can’t believe is this weekend already!!) and since he seemed up for it we did a little bit of training as well 😊 We’ve not done much in the form of training for quite a while, especially not in public, so we kept things really simple. We practiced the counting game, the ping pong game, a few hand targets, and moving together. He did so good!
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#husky #siberianhusky #dog #dogs #huskydog #siberianhuskydog #forcefree
#servicedog #servicedogintraining #psychiatricservicedog #autismservicedog #hulphond #hulphondinopleiding #autismehulphond #psychiatrischehulphond #assistentiehond #assistentiehondinopleiding #autismeassistentiehond #forcefreeservicedog
#forcefreetraining #forcefreedogtraining #positivereinforcement #positivereinforcementtraining #positivereinforcementdogtraining #positivereinforcementworks #dogtraining

A Siberian Husky stands in a store isle looking up at the camera, his ears forward and mouth open in a slight pant. He’s wearing a harness and a leash.

This 4th didn’t feel worth celebrating. So instead, we celebrated something else: our love, our survival, and a really good steak. Luna’s taking over the blog tonight to talk fireworks, family, and finding softness when the world feels hard. 💛🐾
Read the post ➡️
#ServiceDogInTraining #SpoonieLife

https://dreamingofdragonscom.wordpress.com/2025/07/04/lunas-friday-takeover-not-so-happy-4th/

Birger just early alerted to a #POTS flair, only by like minutes but still! He alerted before i even felt anything, AND he was persistent until i checked my bp and saw it start to go up. Enough, so I got upstairs and could lay down safely! Im so over the moon proud of him!

#ServiceDogInTraining #TheNoseKnows #Glimmer

In my eventful life, I've managed to take an everything shower today and not flair horribly. I've been nursing a migraine all day, and Birger has alerted three times just this morning of my low and dropping heart rate and blood pressure. It's hot and muggy out, so im inside with the ACs and fans running as cold as they can and nonstop fluids and electrolytes. Caleb took Birger for a walk today, and he was even really warm after. Thankfully, Birgers neck gator is cooling, and he has a cooling harness, so we were able to stabilize his temperature effectively. Now, to rest the rest of the day until I need to help cook supper. I'm thinking of brewing some cold tea and putting some bouy in it to help. Maybe I'll brew some of my migraine relief tea...assuming I still have some.

#Disabled #Disability #Spoonie #LackOfSpoons #POTS #ServiceDogInTraining #ChronicMigraines

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO YOU ALL! AND TO ME! HUGE WIN WITH BIRGER! Usually when first unit is outside in the yard doing anything he barks his head off, today while they're out in the yard he looks out the window at them, no barking and then disengaged and went and laid down! And earlier, he was sitting and watching kids play and run in the yard and didn't bark at them at all! These doggy socials I've been bringing him to every other week have made a huge difference!

#Glimmers #ServiceDogInTraining #DogObedience #BigVictories #DogTraining

Spent my morning being productive! You know, before I die from the heat today. So! I got a ton of stuff packed up that I plan on donating to help get rid of my clutter. Especially my #Vegan cookbooks because I need digital copies because of my health instead of the big heavy books. Also some old books I've read already, some clothes I no longer wear. Took my boy out for a morning sniffari, did some scent training with him as well as some basic obedience. Got his first round of pupsicles going in the freezer, and gonna be making his topples later today. Did my physical therapy exercises and felt the burn. Birger's got a vet appointment at 11am today because I'm worried he has a UTI. Now I'm chilling in the AC drinking my tons of electrolytes for this already hot day.

#POTS #hEDS #ServiceDogInTraining #Spoonie #Disabled

That proud moment when, the dog commercial that comes on and has the dogs barking and whining comes on the tv; you're boy looks up at the whining and then goes back to chewing on his chew! He didn't bark! Not once! Just looked and then went back to his chew! This may not seem like a big deal, but it is for Birger! It used to be whenever he saw a dog on TV, him in a mirror, or in person he'd shut down and bark. So, him acknowledging and then ignoring the dogs on the TV is a big step! He had a small adult dog play group on Saturday; he did well at his first one a couple of weeks ago. It showed his lack of understanding with playing with other dogs. He never got exposure to it as a puppy(canine influenza was killing dogs rapidly when he was a puppy). One on one he was figuring out play. He wants to, but is a little timid about it. Thankfully, I have some good +R trainers to help supervise and help Birger and I navigate this obstacle. Im so proud of him
#ServiceDogInTraining #PositiveReinforcement #DogTraining

My boy has a neurology appointment to get checked out on Tuesday. I worry he's in pain; the vet that did his xrays says there's something around his T12 and T13 vertebrae. I'm worried it's early signs of IVDD; Im hoping I'm wrong.

#ServiceDogInTraining #BirgerTheWeen

When your baba climbs a wooden tractor so you have to loudly yell until they help you up too 😂
We’ve been dealing with some major teenage brain lately. It’s been very hard to find the motivation to train as everything feels hard, and just helping him exist in the world is like a full time job right now. Sjiriki is also not feeling great, which doesn’t help either. He’s got some pretty bad growing pains, which are (understandably) making him cranky and easily frustrated, plus he still has the occasional Giardia flare up (though those are thankfully getting less and less intense with each treatment). We’re trying to mostly focus on doing fun low pressure things, and I’m doing training together with my mom to both keep Sjiriki more motivated (he has some major FOMO so if Maya is doing something he wants to also do that thing 😆), and to keep myself from spiraling at the smallest setback. So we’re surviving! But I am already very much ready for this whole teenage phase to be over 😅
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ID 1: a teenage Siberian Husky sits on the seating area of a wooden structure shaped like a tractor standing out in the woods. The dog has his mouth open in a relaxed pant, and he looks content to sit there.
ID 2: the same shot taken from further away, showing more of the wooden tractor.
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#hiking #hikingdog #hikingdogsofinstagram #hikingwithdogs
#husky #siberianhusky #dog #dogs #huskydog #siberianhuskydog #forcefree
#servicedog #servicedogintraining #psychiatricservicedog #autismservicedog #hulphond #hulphondinopleiding #autismehulphond #psychiatrischehulphond #assistentiehond #assistentiehondinopleiding #autismeassistentiehond #forcefreeservicedog #adolescence #adolescentdog

A teenage husky sits on a wooden structure shaped like a tractor

A photo of the same scene taken from further away, showing more of the tractor.

My boy enjoying his new mat we got customized just for him!

#ServiceDogInTraining #ServiceDogGear #Dachshund #MiniDachshund #Puppy #DogsWithAJob #BirgerTheWeen #EnjoyTheGlimmersInLife #Glimmers #Spoonie #Disability #Disabled #ChronicallyIll #ChronicIllness #SmallTeamProud

Shaded red miniature dachshund looking at the camera wearing a black collar laying on a bright orange mat that says service dog do not distract

Posting a puppy photo to celebrate him being 6 months old today! Time flies by so fast 🥹
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ID: a grey and white Siberian husky sits on a brick driveway, looking up at the camera with pricked ears and a tilted head. He’s wearing a harness and a long leash.
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#husky #siberianhusky #dog #dogs #huskydog #siberianhuskydog #forcefree
#servicedog #servicedogintraining #psychiatricservicedog #autismservicedog #hulphond #hulphondinopleiding #autismehulphond #psychiatrischehulphond #assistentiehond #assistentiehondinopleiding #autismeassistentiehond #forcefreeservicedog #puppy #puppies #huskypuppy

A husky puppy sits outside looking up at the camera.

#dogtraining #servicedogintraining #trainingdog #dogtrainingadvice #dogobediencetraining #dogagilitytraining

Advice for instructing your pet dog

#dogtraining #servicedogintraining #trainingdog #dogobediencetraining

I love puppy cuddles after a long day. Long day for both of us! He had to go to the eye doctor today and get his eyes checked. We learned he has a slight defect in his retina in both eyes, very minor, the doctor told me. Nothing yo be concerned about as it may just be in his family lines. So, we're starting a daily supplement to help his eyes from processing and potentially getting into progressive retinal atrophy.

#ServiceDogInTraining #MiniDachshund #Dachshund #DogsWithAJob

Shaded red mini dachshund laying on my side on my black shirt

Went outside and played with a stick which he loved and his plushie hedgehog to celebrate this nice weather we got. So now we're relaxing on the bed with the window open so we can both rest. Always a great day with my little man by my side. He's my little hero

#ServiceDogInTraining #MiniDachshund #Dachshund #DogsWithAJob

shaded red mini dachshund laying on his side looking out the window wearing a purple dice collar, laying on a white pillow

We had to go to the dentist today, and Sjiriki came with on his first big(ish) PA trip! He did so good 🥹 Just as we were entering the building a big group of children came running out and some clustered around him which he got very excited by (he loves kids), but he calmed back down super quick and did a great loose leash heel through the building until we got to the dentist. In the waiting room he pretty immediately settled, and did great ignoring other people walking past. When I had to go in to the exam room he initially came along with my mom handling him, but struggled with having to be on the other side of the room from me, so my mom took him back to the waiting room where he got a snuffle mat to help him calm down. He was a little bit fussy there, wanting to wait near the door, but immediately went back to settling when I came back and then stayed chill all through waiting for the rest of my family to be done. Heeling out of the building was no problem either, he was happy to stick by my side and didn’t care for any distractions. I’ve really done very little formal training with him, only focusing on his being comfortable wherever we are and rewarding engagement when he gives it to me. I get insecure sometimes when I see other puppies his age with a whole repertoire of behaviors while he doesn’t even know sit, but today showed me that the foundational stuff we’ve worked on is in fact paying off, and that he has the potential to be a wonderful service dog 🩶
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ID: a nonbinary person sits on a couch in a waiting room. At their feet a lies a teenage Siberian Husky, his head pillowed on one of their feet. He wears a tactical service dog vest, the leash clipped to it held loosely by the person.
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#husky #siberianhusky #puppy #puppies #huskypuppy #siberianhuskypuppy #forcefree
#servicedog #servicedogintraining #psychiatricservicedog #autismservicedog #hulphond #hulphondinopleiding #autismehulphond #psychiatrischehulphond #assistentiehond #assistentiehondinopleid

A teenage husky lies at someone’s feet in a waiting room.

Those moments you start teaching mat and settling with your boy. He layed on the mat, the cat ran by, my boy looked at the cat then back at me not moving an inch. Then the cat jumped off the counter and made a loud boom, Birger looked and then looked back at me still laying on the mat. This is a HUGE deal! He constantly barks and chases the cat on any given day; he stayed laying down on his mat and immediately looked at me for instructions! I'm over the moon proud of my little man! I love getting to see him grow, learn, and mature.
#DogsWithAJob #ServiceDogInTraining

Those moments when your little man, Birger, refuses to leave the side of the tub while you shower. Mind you I was sitting, but my heart rate spiked and Birger refused to leave my side and refused to stop watching me. I got out got dressed and everything; his eyes were locked on me. He followed me into my bedroom where I promptly flopped on the bed; he then ran off to do his own thing. He amazes me more and more every day!
#ServiceDogInTraining #POTS #DogsWithAJob #Disabled #Disability

He’s just the prettiest dog 😍
We’ve been taking a break from training for a bit as he’s right in the middle of teething, which is making him feel not great and making it hard to turn his brain on. We’ve instead been focusing on lots of decompression, enrichment and rest!
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ID: a Siberian Husky puppy sits in a parking lot, seen in profile view. He looks intently at something off camera.
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#husky #siberianhusky #puppy #puppies #huskypuppy #siberianhuskypuppy #forcefree
#servicedog #servicedogintraining #psychiatricservicedog #autismservicedog #hulphond #hulphondinopleiding #autismehulphond #psychiatrischehulphond #assistentiehond #assistentiehondinopleiding #autismeassistentiehond #forcefreeservicedog

#ServiceDogInTraining

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