Having Fun While Training Your Dog

Due to cold weather and rain a week ago Thursday I ended up teaching two Pet Therapy classes this week. Thankfully the weather cooperated both Monday and Thursday of this week and although everyone couldn't make it to the first class, they were all here on Thursday.

We had such a great mix of people and dogs, from young to old, teeny, tiny and fearful to Gigantic and fearless! What a variety of pooches: a Golden Doodle, Black Lab/Shepherd, Yellow Lab/Shepherd, Chihuahua, Scottish Terrier, Golden Retriever, and a Haveneze (spelling?)!

Man were the dogs hyper!

With Snickers, Baby, and Jax (our most recently trained Certified Pet Therapy Dog and his owner Stacey Wendling), we had a total of 10 dogs here! Thankfully we had lots of volunteers!

At first I was thinking I should have broken them up into two groups, but they (dogs & handlers) did awesome! The dogs settled down and took their turns for each section of the training--almost like they were at the testing. Wow! I was so pleased with all their progress!

Molly and Marna added a few laughs as usual. When we did the sit, stay, then come when called, Molly always went to someone else or another dog instead of Marna. Gotta love em! That just cracks me up :) But then we realized it's because Molly takes her eyes off Marna and loses focus immediately. I pointed out that one of our other ladies, Samantha was clapping to keep her dog, Dolly's attention. That seemed to work great. So I learn something new from my students too and love it!

Some of the dogs wouldn't sit and stay long or at all. But in our group, that's okay, we don't force. We work at the dog/handlers pace and give them tips and encouragement of how to work on those problem areas.

I believe each dog/handler is special and unique. No two dogs are alike, just the same as no two people are alike. And that's awesome, because some people like big dogs, where others like small dogs. But any dog, when trained properly can be a more obedient dog.

Funny I should say that. A little boy who came to the group was holding Snickers leash a ways away from where I was teaching and he started barking loud and annoying at a kid passing by on a bike. I commanded, "Snickers, No Bark!" Everyone laughed because he hung his head like he'd gotten busted when he thought I was too busy to be paying attention. But he'll even be outside on the chain and bark to come in and I'll command, "NO BARK!" to let him know I hear him and he will stop. Then when he stops barking I say, "Good No Bark," to praise him.

That's the thing with dogs, they are just like kids, so if you really want them to mind, you have to keep right on them, praise them when they are good, but don't give them an inch when they're not!

Our Dogs that Heel & Heal Classes are offered privately as well as in group sessions. Please see our website for more details AbuseBites.com

Happy Training!

 

Don't Bury Your Child's Dreams

Even though my son, Brian, had a rare heart condition and Asperger's Syndrome. I never dreamed the day would come when he would die. He was so healthy at the end, although on the heart transplant list for five years, I was certain he'd outlive me and his father.

Losing a child is sad. But losing a child who has suffered so much physically and mentally due to being bullied is another terrible tragedy. He lived and died forgiving his bullies. He was working in our program "Abuse Bites" right up to the end to educate others to stop bullying, abuse, and violence. His lifelong dream and goal had been to travel around the USA with us in an RV to take this important message to others.

It's only been a month since he passed away.

As I sat on the couch missing him and reading his obituary last night, I reread this touching poem on the inside: A Time will come when my life will cease, But when that time comes, I ask that you will remember these things:

*Bury my body, but don't bury my beliefs.

*Bury my heart but don't bury my love. 

*Bury my eyes, but not my vision. 

*Bury my feet, but not the path of my life. 

*Bury my hands but don't bury my diligent efforts. 

*Bury my shoulders but not the concern I carried. 

*Bury my voice, but not my message. 

*Bury my mind, but don't bury my dreams. 

*Bury me, but don't bury my life. 

*If you must bury something, let it be my faults and my weaknesses, But let my life continue in you!

In my son, Brian's honor, his beliefs, love, vision, path, efforts, concern he carried for others, his message and life, will continue on through us to go out on that mission he always wanted to. Please help us in our efforts (see CHANGE for BRIAN) to go on this mission. We will have to quit our jobs, we will need to raise enough money for an RV, and to feed us and our dogs and supply the gas to travel. 

Brian—He Lived and Died Forgiving His Bullies

 In Memory of my son, Brian, 22, who died forgiving his bullies

Brian was many times misunderstood by his peers, adults, and even his teachers.

Born with Asperger's Syndrome, he had his own unique way of communicating. He had to touch, smell, and taste everything around him. I remember when he was really little going into Meijer's shopping and he closed his eyes and ran his hands through rows of clothes on either side and then came to grips with a woman's pregnant belly and began feeling that too. Thankfully the lady just laughed it off and saw Brian for who he was a very unique and explorative child.

Instead of reading children's books, Brian read the dictionary and Bible mostly. The morning of his passing he read the first chapter in Ruth. So intelligent, there wasn't much he didn't know. People thought he was weird or wasn't paying attention most of the time, even his teachers complained, but he always knew what was going on, and even more. He saw the world through God's eyes.

Although he was bullied by others since his feet first hit the ground, he loved who he was, learned to forgive them, and focused on helping others who were hurting. 

Due to a congenital heart defect and only two chambers in his heart, Doctors said Brian wouldn't live to be a year old. Yet with prayer, love, and faith we watched him overcome every obstacle in his way. But Brian was the one with the most amazing faith. One that is rare to find. Because every time he faced surgery, couldn't breathe, or nearly died, he looked at me and said, "Mom just pray."

No matter how sick he was, how bad he hurt, or what he had to go through, he rarely complained. When I'd ask, "How you feeling Brian?" he'd reply with "I'm good!" and stick his thumb in the air with a bright smile.

It didn't take much to cheer him up. Mostly he was the one doing the cheering! Born with a great sense of humor, he always had the ability to make everyone, especially nurses and doctors laugh. A practical joker of sorts, he was always pulling a fast one on someone. He loved to poke fun at new techs, nurses, and doctors.


He loved many things in life. The Lord Jesus was top on that list. He'd given his life to the Lord at a very young age and seldom wavered. Next would be his family and dogs. He loved Snickers, Baby Ruth, and Wanakiya. They loved him just as much. The day before Brian passed, Baby Ruth would not leave his side. And any time he had to be away from home in the hospital, a visit from therapy dogs always made his day. When he was home and well, he enjoyed going on pet therapy visits to cheer others up.

Brian also loved to cook, and was one of the best. The morning he went home to be with the Lord, the house smelled so yummy it took me away from my computer. I knew he was up and asked what he was making. He said, "The usual." It was one of his delicious hamburgers. He cooked steaks, potatoes, and made some mean macaroni and cheese. And he brought me breakfast many times to my computer. But his all time church favorite is when he would cook hotdogs on the grill for all the players, family, and friends.

Brian loved to serve others, help others, and heal others. It didn't take any persuading for him to jump on board when there was a mission to accomplish. He helped the family teach pet therapy, he helped in parades and other events, and kept the dogs under control during Take A Bite Out Of Abuse presentations. He was passionate about stopping bullying, abuse, and violence and helping others so they wouldn't hurt like he had. That is why when the kids found a jar of his change that he'd been saving and brought it to me, God immediately gave me the idea of using the slogan be the CHANGE FOR BRIAN to raise money to stop abuse, bullying and violence in our country.

He was great with the little money he had and always tithed, bought pizza for everyone, and always managed to save some too.

He wanted a job more than anything. Each summer since the age of 13 he worked in the Baker College Summer Youth program. He worked in the kitchen at the hospital, cleaned the schools and grounds in Corunna, and even worked at Oak Hill Cemetery. Nothing he did was easy for him. He'd underwent several heart surgeries and near death experiences from 13 on. He was even placed on the heart transplant list after receiving a mechanical aortic valve and pacemaker at 16. Yet, he persevered, and graduated with honors from Owosso High School in 2007.

As soon as he graduated he put applications in everywhere. But with his underlying conditions and our tough economy, he never got a paying job. But he worked. He worked harder than most young men his age who are healthy. Any time the family was planning an event, he was right beside them every step of the way, packaging candy for a parade, toting boxes, packing the van, you name it, he did it.

If you never got to know Brian, you missed out. He was one of the few people that are real in the world. He never judged, never had a bad word to say about anyone, and always thought positively. Even the many times he faced death, he'd say, "Mom don't worry, I'm not afraid to die. I know where I'm going."

I know where Brian is today, in heaven in the arms of Jesus. I do mourn for our great loss, but not for him, because I know he's happy, healthier than he's ever been, and totally free, but mostly I mourn for those who have never accepted Jesus and are still bitter and unforgiving of their bullies.

It's time we make a CHANGE in our lives, a CHANGE in our communities, have a CHANGE of heart and be the CHANGE for Brian to stop abuse, bullying and violence  http://www.takeabiteoutofabuse.com/change.html.

Author & Dog In Active Duty To Fight Bullying

Lisa Freeman, an award-winning author of Owosso, and her therapy dog, Snickers, have been honored with the position as Healing Projects Specialist with the Bully Police USA (www.bullypolice.org). Bully Police USA is a Watch-dog Organization-advocating for bullied children and reporting on state anti bullying laws.

"When I contacted Brenda High about becoming a member, I was blown away," Freeman said. "She said, 'I love your program and I've never heard of anything like what you offer. You're stories of healing are so amazing. And everyone loves dogs.' That's when she said was adding us to her speaker's bureau and also asked me to be their Healing Projects Specialist."

Freeman first learned about Brenda High after doing some research on bullying. Ms. High founded the non-profit organization in honor of her son, Jared, who was a victim of bullying and who later took his own life @ 13 as a result of bullying (bullycide). More about Jared can be found @ http://www.jaredstory.com/.

Jared's mother works feverishly to get anti bullying laws passed in the United States so that kids and parents won't have to suffer the way she and her son have. Although there isn't an anti bullying law in Michigan at this moment, "Matt's Law" is currently in the works, in honor of Matt Epling, who was also a victim of bullycide in 2002. More about Matt can be found @ http://mattepling.webs.com/antibullying.htm.

As an active member of the Bully Police USA, Freeman, her dogs, and family hope to tackle the war on bullying here in Michigan, through their innovative program Take A Bite Out Of Abuse. They will not only educate, bring awareness, and safety techniques to children, parents, and educators, but they will also help those who have been abused/bullied to find hope and healing in their own lives.

Recently Take A Bite Out Of Abuse was asked by RAVE to present their program to staff members in Clinton County. "After we finished," Freeman says, "we were told that it was the best anti bullying program they've ever seen, and would refer us to all schools in the area in the upcoming year. "

For more information about bullying, abuse, or Take A Bite Out OF Abuse and the workshops offered, please feel free to contact Lisa Freeman via web @ www.abusebites.com or www.runtolife.org, via email @ abusebites@gmail.com, or via phone @ 989-729-2124.