James

Katrin Andberg

On one day in early August 2002 my day began as usual. I had recently moved to a new apartment in Pittsburgh, PA with my faithful flat coated retriever, Regal, in tow ready to begin the next stage in my life as a college student. For the previous 4 years Regal had been my agility partner, show dog, obedience trial companion and friend. Who knew that that afternoon my life would change foreveer? That day I had been invited by some new friends in the local agility club to come to a public demonstration at a local park. Our friend picked us up and together we had five dogs in her minivan at the start of the day. Who knew by day's end we'd have six? Part way through the demonstration, while mingling with the spectators I spotted a young black flat coated retriever puppy so naturally, being a flat coat enthusiast, I walked over to meet the young pup. Most people who end up with flat coated retrievers, have them because they want them, they are not a well known breed. Who knew this little puppy was unwelcome and needed a home? Needless to say, that day my life changed. That little black flat coat puppy was the sixth dog to come home in the van and he soon earned the name of James. James had a typical puppyhood of any pup in a performance home. Together we went to puppy classes, agility classes, obedience classes and socialization times. With Regal along, we walked daily in Frick Park. We walked all over Pittsburgh acclimating him to the sights and sounds of the city. James, from day one, proved he was special, nothing fazed this little boy. Dogs barking, cars backfiring, large diesel trucks idling, he took everything in stride. While James was excelling at his new life in his new home, the changes in routine and high pressures of college life were not going well for his new owner. After a very difficult semester and a half I made the decision to take a leave of absence from my schooling and return to my parent's home in Massachusetts. At that time I realized my problems were school were larger in scope than I could handle on my own and I needed professional assistance. I began to seek out a medical reason for why I was having such difficulties in managing to do every day things. Very soon it was discovered that I am indeed autistic with a severe sensory processing disorder. Finally a reason for lifelong difficulties! After discussing it with my medical team, and gaining their full support, I decided to take on the challenge of training James to be my service dog. James took to the work like a duck to water. Having been a dog trainer since my high school years with a focus on competition obedience and competition agility with positive reinforcement and reward based training protocols, I knew I had the background and know how to train a service dog, it was just a matter of having the right dog. Turns out, James was that dog. Every day James and I would work on the skills he would need to successful be my service dog. Learning to show me curbs, drop offs and changes in pavement so I would no longer trip over them. He learned how to safely guide me around people, telephone poles, bicycles, trash cans and other objects in our path so I no longer crashed into things I could not discern were too close. Together we figured out how to safely cross streets and I taught him to be intelligently disobedient if a car was in our path. James also learned to find exit and entrance doors for me as well as learned how to safely lead me to the various places we go on a regular basis and track down friends and family we spend time with often. To help with the anxiety caused my neurological issues, I taught James some bonus tasks to help with grounding such as pressure in my lap and leaning against parts of my body. For months we trained, learning to trust each other and become a team. Very quickly I was relying on James in a way that I have never been able to rely on people. I knew that he would keep me out of harm's way and suddenly I had the world at my finger tips. Suddenly I could successfully go places and do things that before were an overwhelming impossibility. I could do things that other people in my life took for granted. I could go grocery shopping alone, I could go to the post office, I could take a train into Boston, I could go on an airplane and fly across the world if I wanted! All of this was now possible with James at my side showing me the way. For the past seven years James has been my partner in a way that no other dog has ever been and I doubt ever will be. James was my first ticket to freedom and my fist steps towards real independence. This May James is turning eight, a veteran in flat coat years. This spring will bring the addition of a new flat coated retriever puppy into our home; a puppy who I hope will learn to fill the very large paw prints that James will provide him or her. Together the new dog and I will embark on our own journey and adventures, the journey I began with James will continue with a new generation and slowly James will learn to pass the reins to the youngster. I hope James will always know that without his desire to meet the challenges I set before him years ago, none of what I am currently able to do would be possible. James has given me an incredible degree of independence and for that I will be eternally grateful. James is an incredible dog. A dog that was meant to change my life. I believe it was fate that brought us together that hot summer's day in Pittsburgh, PA. And fate can be a wonderful thing.