Zoey

For Christmas 2015 we surprised Alex with the news that we would be getting him a service dog. He was ecstatic. We knew of a trainer who had trained therapy dogs for our PT and OT office. He had also trained several service dogs and focused on what each individual child needed. They wanted us to get a Giant Schnauzer because they had a breeder they knew and trusted that would help pick the right temperament for our dog. Zoey arrived at the trainers in April of 2016 and came home to us in May of 2016. The plan was for us to do some day sessions as well as several week long "camps" at the trainer's facility. We had a hard time coordinating schedules and getting Zoey the training she needed. In August of 2017 they let me know that they were no longer going to be training service dogs. For those of you who have followed us for a while, you know that the second half of 2017 was AWFUL health wise for Alex. We decided to give up on training Zoey to be a service dog and just let her be a pet. As Alex started to recover in 2018, he began to bug me about finding a new trainer. He really wanted Zoey to be able to do what she was meant to do.

We learned about Beverly and All Purpose Canines in late October. I was amazed when I learned that she trained dogs to detect low cortisol in people with Adrenal Insufficiency. That is exactly what we needed Zoey to do. It definitely seemed like an answer to prayer. Bev was willing to help us finish Zoey's training, but wanted to meet us and run some tests to make sure she could work with her. We met Beverly for our assessment in early November. She sent us home with some instructions and a date to return. 

On December 3rd, we said a tearful goodbye and left Zoey for an unspecified amount of time. The last three and a half months were incredibly hard as we missed our girl, but knew she was working hard to learn everything she needed to know to help her boy.

On Friday we headed back to spend four days with Zoey and Beverly learning all we needed to know to make a successful transition home. Bev has worked diligently to not only work on Zoey's ability to alert when Alex's cortisol is low, but also to obey commands and work through Zoey's scaredy cat nature. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of Alex and Zoey for the hard work they put in over the past four days. The change in their partnership, their trust in one another and their confidence was amazing. I am SO grateful to Bev for her devotion, her diligence, her knowledge and her love (even if it is hidden under a tough exterior)! Alex and Zoey are still growing and learning, but they are a team and they would go to the ends of the earth for each other.

On our way

Together Again

Relaxing

Leash Skills Training

Learning how to navigate Stairs

Down Stay

Happy Boy

Snugglin'

Holding Hands

Down stay with Max

More leash Work

Cuddling her boy

Outside our hotel Day 2

On a Break

Sometimes you need a break

It's not nice when your trainer won't let you have a snack!

Naptime

Outside the Courthouse

With Beverly, Ariel, and Max

Riding the Elevator

Grandma Bev

Home and a Haircut!

We ask for continued prayers as Zoey and Alex continue to learn and work together. I can never thank Beverly enough for this gift.

Ali