June 21, 2012

tion bringing awareness

Issue No. 6

The Memory People Page

For this issue of our Memory People newsletter, we are pleased to feature an interview with Bob Taylor, President of Dogwish, Inc. Bob is in the process right now of training Sam, a 1 year old German Shepherd to be Ricks Dementia Service dog. Bob, how did you get involved in training dogs?

one person at a time

As a child I had some wonderful relationships with a couple of very special dogs.

At 10 years of age my dad mistakenly gave me a complete set of Edgar Rice Bouroughs TARZAN books, which I read, and read, and read. As I grew older I became a gymnast, and competed on a local, statewide, and national level in the sport. At 24 I became a Police Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, and spent time training as a Patrol Officer. However, I also started working with Police K9s and found that At 26 my ex-wife and her family talked me into applying with the City of Long Beach CA as an Animal Control Officer. Once on the job an unusual thing happened to me. I found out I loved the dogs. I started taking a dog home, one a week, training, and placing it. I started off with Pit Bull dogs, and then went to German Shepherds, Labs, etc. I grew to love dog training. I met a man who lived next door to a problem animal owner, who had a school for dog trainers in the area. One day while I was talking to a group of kids who had brought their dog down to the beach, he watched me. I gave them a dog training lesson. When I was done he invited me to come out and sit through a seminar on dog training. I did, went through his school for trainers, quit my job with Animal Control, and never looked back. I set out with a budget and a goal, and have met my budget every week since. However, my first goal in training was to save lives. I wanted to save dogs from going to the pound to be exterminated. I then started to find people with disabilities and train dogs for them. I became the dog trainer for special critical needs, for the Make A Wish Foundation, and trained several dogs for kids with critical illnesses. People started to share my abilities with others, and pretty soon a consistent line of clientele from the disabled community started to contact me.
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I went through his school for trainers, quit my job with Animal Control, and never looked back.

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Issue No. 6

It sounds like training dogs and helping people is simply who you are. How did you become Sams trainer? I receive from 2 to 10 new calls everyday from people with all kinds of neurological problems. We have been training dogs for people with critical needs for a number of ~~~ years, but only this past year have been able to pick up clients who are suffering from disabilities related to Dementia. It seems that a majority of people beset with Alzheimer's are relying on their children and/or care takers to help them in regards to their disability solutions. I received a call from Rick Phelps, about the possibility of obtaining a Alzheimer's Service Dog. I explained the program to Rick, had him email me, and sent him some related information about our program. I told Rick that even though Dog Wish is a small private 501C we do support our clients in their fund raising efforts. Rick's reaction to being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and his strong determined stand are a testimony that is very inspiring, and my ability to train a dog to help him is very exciting for me. I was shocked when an anonymous donor emailed me, and asked if I would use her donations to pay for a Service Dog for Rick. According to the Alzheimer's Association the capabilities of a trained dog could help him to remain in the lower stages of Alzheimer's longer, and more enjoyably, and make care giving a much better experience for everyone. How is Sams training going, Bob? Can you tell us a little about how youre training him and how hell be able to help Rick when he finally gets 'home'? Sam's training is phenomenal!! It's very clear; Sam is a phenomenal dog. We got lucky, found the perfect dog, and just have filled in the gaps. There is a huge amount of work I want to do for Rick, and so finding the best dog in the world was the only acceptable option on the list, so I could give it the best training, and get the best results for Rick. While training Sam I think about this constantly. His training is structured two ways. First, I condition a dog to become, not just do exercises or respond to commands, but actually go through experiences that help them to BECOME the kind of dog that naturally does what we want them to do, and behaves naturally as they are needed to perform. In other words they are conditioned to think, feel, and as a result behave as is needed naturally and normally.

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Issue No. 6

Second, I do teach them how to respond to situations they might encounter with their handler appropriately. The emphasis is balanced, according to the personality of the dog. The scent detection and tracking work we do is of course a fundamental extra that is very important. Also the energy recognition and response work is also of primary significance as well. I instill my training into each dog, somewhat like a computer programmer designs a computer program. I put each program into the subconscious mind of the dog I am training, one step at a time, as the dog is ready, mentally and emotionally, to receive it. Sam is now in the third of five levels of training, and is progressing well. Again, his progression in training is NOT a primary concern, because his personality dictates that progression, and attention to Sam, his overall receptivity, his feelings, and the corresponding behaviors he is developing, are the most important concern I have. When I met Sam I instantly realized, it was what I call a "God" thing. I realized that this dog was born to be Sam, had the exact instincts, temperament, and disposition I needed, and had gone through life experiences that had prepared him to think, feel, and act, exactly the way I wanted. So far, to this day, I have been right! Sam's disabilities, his weaknesses, are exactly what Rick needs. He's too soft, too loving, wants to share and be with you too much, care about you more than he should, is a real "home" dog, and radiates LOVE.

WHAT A DOG!!
~Thank you so much, Bob, for all youre doing and for sharing with us the wonderful progress with Sam~

To follow this wonderful story and all of Sams progress in his training, please join us in Sams Place on Facebook

June 21, 2012

Issue No. 6

Kanine Korner
This is a great idea to keep our furry friends cool on those hot summer days! Fill a bucket with water or chicken stock, toys, treats, carrots, etc and freeze! This will keep your pups busy for hours outside!

At the writing of this newsletter, we are nearing our 2,000th member on Memory People. We are bringing awareness, one person at a time, changing lives, and offering others the help and support weve found here day after day.

We want to welcome all our new members to Memory People. You have found a very special family that will be here for you through thick and thin. In Ricks words, we fight this fight together, not asking for a handout, but just a hand up. Welcome!

If you know someone who would like to join us, please pass the word on. We are a closed group, so all our members can share in safety and privacy, but we welcome anyone. Just have them type Memory People in their Facebook search bar, or they can friend one of our Administrators.

The Memory People Page is a publication of Memory People, an Alzheimers and Memory Impairment Support and Awareness group on Facebook. If you would like to start receiving this newsletter, please email Leeanne Chames at leeannechames@gmail.com and we will be happy to include you on our email list. If you or a loved one has been touched by a Memory Impairment, if you are an advocate, or if you just want to know more about these diseases, please join us at Memory People. Just type Memory People in your Facebook search bar and click on Join Group. bringing Awareness, one person at a time