Posts By: Aiden the Service Dog

Aiden’s Cross-Country Move (Part 1 of 4)

Posted March 7, 2022 | Aiden the Service Dog

Mom lifts my nose up to meet hers and plants a wet sloppy kiss on it. Humans kiss in a funny way. I prefer slurping.

Mom says we are about to begin a new chapter in our life. Dad says a prayer for God to keep us safe, starts the Jeep and off we go on a road trip.

I like road trips because they usually bring me to my Aunt Cindy’s house where I play with my fur-cousins. But this one seems longer than usual. We had to make a few fun stops like the Jelly Belly Factory for a bag of Belly Flops.

Down the road the humans got hungry and stopped at a place called Pea Soup Andersen’s.

The hostess asked the wrong question about me so Mom told her there is only one question that can be asked legally, “What service does your dog perform?”

Teaching moments like this happen all the time and Mom takes advantage of them to educate the public. Our next stop was one my other human, GraceAnne, loved to go to when she visited her elementary school friend, Sarah, in Bakersfield, CA – a place called Dewar’s Candy Shop.

Mom had me pose for another iconic photo. I wonder how many more photos she will take on this trip?

To be continued…

I Got to Attend the ‘Redeeming Love’ Movie Premiere

Posted February 3, 2022 | Aiden the Service Dog

Lights are flashing and crowds are gathering. I pose in front of a large picture next to a long, red carpet as a limousine pulls up and my friend Francine Rivers steps out of the fancy ride.

I have been to movies before, but never to a special event like this. I want to give Frannie a “Hello, I love you” slurp, but the lights are flashing in her direction now and people are handing her flowers, so I must control my slurping for now.

Frannie’s book, Redeeming Love, which she wrote 30 years ago, has finally made it to the big screen. She worked really hard to keep the movie true to the book; that’s one reason why it took so long.

Soon we are ushered into the big dark room, and I get to comfortably settle on Mom’s lap in the reclining chair.

Since dogs really don’t watch movies, I sleep through most of it, but wake up at the end to find Mom sobbing. She lets me kiss her tears away, whispering to me that she’s crying happy tears because the movie reminded her of God’s forgiveness.

Miss Frannie later told me that is the message of her book-turned-into-a-movie: To show people what unconditional love looks like, giving them hope and inspiring them to seek God.

Since I am a dog, I know what unconditional is. I show it every time Mom has been away and we reunite. My wagging tail and wiggling body show my joy as I see my master’s face.

Love for Puppuccinos

Posted January 31, 2022 | Aiden the Service Dog

One thing about having a great sense of smell: I can tell when we are blocks away from one of Mom’s favorite places. Even if we are not stopping there, my nose starts working overtime and I may drool a little because I know we are nearby.

Mom gave up coffee after finding out she is allergic to it. But that doesn’t mean she can’t have her favorite Chai latte. Since things are crazy at home with moving, we take breaks to get out of the house and have been visiting the Starbucks drive-thru. Mom rolls down the window for me to see the barista, and they love to see me, too.

The other day we were running errands and Mom’s blood sugar dropped because she skipped lunch and didn’t bring emergency sugar supplies. I’m going nuts alerting her from the backseat. We made an emergency stop at Starbucks in Larkfield/Wikiup.

We went inside the store since it didn’t have a drive-thru, but I knew exactly where we were. I usually only get a Puppuccino on special occasions, but Mom has been spoiling me lately due to, as I mentioned before, the craziness of moving.

My treat for alerting this time was, you guessed it, a puppuccino – my favorite. The baristas were so nice. I particularly like Gianna.

I’m pretty sure we will visit this Starbucks again because Mom says out of all the Starbucks she’s taken me to, Larkfield/Wikiup has the best customer service.

Whatever that means. It doesn’t matter to me, as long as I get that tasty little cup of wonderful flavor called a puppuccino.

Am I Going to Get Packed in a Box?

Posted January 10, 2022 | Aiden the Service Dog

Everything is not where it should be.

My bed keeps going from room to room like it has legs. I’m glad I have a good sniffer so I can find it.

Boxes are being stuffed with my belongings and taped shut. I don’t know what is happening.

What I do know is a while back we took a trip to a place called Tennessee and now that is all Mom can talk about. We are doing something called “moving.”

All the furniture and boxes were moved to the garage. Strangers are coming and the walls are being painted. I accidentally brushed against the wet paint and got a white stripe on my ear. Then my waggy tail swiped a wall and now it has a white ring.

I don’t understand what is going on. I’m just watching all the busy work as Mom stresses out. But I stick by her and do my job, alerting on her low blood sugars.

With all the extra activity of moving furniture and boxes, she’s been having several lows. She says we’re in for an adventure and life is going to change drastically in the next few months.

With all her low blood sugars and the way things change around here so quickly, I hope I don’t accidentally get wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in a box.

P.S. Mom has assured me this will never happen no matter how crazy things get or how low her blood sugar goes; she loves me too much and never lets me out of her sight.

Christmas from a Dog’s Point of View

Posted December 6, 2021 | Aiden the Service Dog

Do you ever wonder if a dog knows what Christmas is?

I can see the changes around the house, so I know something is happening. The furniture gets moved and something resembling a tree suddenly grows in the corner of the living room. It doesn’t smell like a tree, and it gets glittery balls and small dangling things hung on its branches. Twinkling lights go all around it and Christy leaves them on all night long.

New smells fill the house. Christy is in the kitchen mixing more smells into a giant bowl and rolling stuff out on the tabletop. Then she puts the things she makes on a flat metal tray in the silver hot thing in the center of the room. Before I know it, she’s pulling it out again and I keep my distance as I smell what I recognize to be food of some sort.

“Aiden. These cookies are for people.”

Did she just say the “C” word?

I’m used to wearing my vest, but sometimes Christy puts weird outfits on me and talks to me in a high-pitched squeaky voice, telling me how cute I look. I pose for her to take pictures for her Christmas cards but can’t wait to get back to wearing nothing but my own doggie fur.

I hear people saying “Merry Christmas” and the music at church has more jingles to it.

One morning I wake up and everyone is still in their pajamas as I watch the people tear at paper and find things inside boxes and bags. I get a couple of new squeaky toys and a special treat.

I use all my senses to enjoy what humans call Christmas. I also know deep inside my doggie heart, it’s about the Savior of the world, my Creator, who on His birthday, hung out with animals lying in a pile of hay.

My Friend, Kermit

Posted November 29, 2021 | Aiden the Service Dog

It’s wonderful being a service dog. I love working. I want to work forever, but I know I don’t have forever.

I have lots of working dog friends in the National Institute of Canine Service and Training (NICST), formerly known as Dogs for Diabetics.

I’m proud to be a diabetic alert dog for them, serving Christy. NICST gave me a second chance at serving after being career-changed from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

It’s through them I met Kermit. Kermit was Dr. Steve Wolf’s diabetic alert dog for ten years.

Kermit loved to play tug. He loved snuggling in the car loaded with dogs and people heading to events together with our handlers.

Kermit is the first diabetic alert dog Christy met and she was highly impressed. Because Kermit worked for a doctor, he had the opportunity to help more than just his handler. Thousands of people were touched by his life.

Kermit served Dr. Steve up to the last minute of Kermit’s life here on earth, alerting just before he passed.

I don’t understand what passing means, I just know I won’t get to play with Kermit again until I see him in Heaven. I had to comfort Christy when she cried at the news.

I only have a short time on this earth, and I want to make the best of it by enjoying every slurp, snuggle and alert I give Christy.

Kermit, you are greatly missed.

Aiden’s Classroom Adventures

Posted November 17, 2021 | Aiden the Service Dog

Ever since we got home from Minnesota in mid-September, Mom has been extremely busy substitute teaching in all kinds of capacities. You see, just because she is an author doesn’t mean she makes loads of money. She has to work to pay for the things she needs until one day she is successful enough to make a living as an author.

Here are some of the adventures I’ve had going with her:

Mom stepped out of her comfort zone and taught high school P.E. Ping pong is such a weird sport.

We returned to Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, the Junior High where GraceAnne and Jacob (Mom’s two youngest kids) went to school. She taught History and fifth grade.

The school has the coolest mascot: a narwhal!

At Maria Carillo High School we got to teach drama.

Mom loved every minute of this four-day adventure because she met some former students from Kenwood that are now cheerleaders.

We also got to attend our first Homecoming rally.

At Montgomery High School we helped out in dance. Mom knows her boundaries and just watched the fun. I enjoyed tap dancing to “Singing in the Rain” and we met a future jazz-loving superstar named Tucker.

Mom also taught Elementary music but all the teacher left her to do was coloring papers. That didn’t sit well with Mom so she pulled out some tambourines and we sang “BINGO was his name O” with the younger children and she taught the older kids how to make it rain indoors – a very loud and fun technique.

The last spot for the month of October was Junior High art – another one of Mom’s favorite things.

Although sometimes being a substitute teacher is hard, she always sees each job as an adventure, and I get to go along!

Traveling with a Diabetic Handler

Posted October 24, 2021 | Aiden the Service Dog

Does a service dog ever get a vacation?

Thanks for asking.

Traveling with Christy is always an adventure. She has to pack not only for herself but also for my needs. That makes for extra-heavy luggage because I need my food, special treats, vitamins, toys, bed, parkas for cold weather, rain slicker for wet weather and booties for hot and cold weather. I get exhausted just thinking about it.

When Christy packs for herself, she includes all her diabetic supplies, and food and juice for low blood sugars (enough to last longer than our stay just in case – she’s prepared).

I’m not mentioning all the other stuff she packs for herself. She packs everything like we’re moving or something. Before flying, she had to remove a lot of stuff because the airline only allows a checked bag to be fifty pounds. That’s how over-prepared she is.

However, a diabetic always has to be prepared.

Traveling across two times zones to the East messed up her blood sugars. Our schedule changed from day to day, so she was without a regular eating routine – something that is very important to a diabetic.

Going to Minnesota really wasn’t a vacation for me. Mom had two-to-three low blood sugars a day, so I worked a lot. But I’m always on duty, 24/7. In fact, I like my job so much, I never take vacations.

What does vacation mean to a dog, anyway?

Read more about our book tour to Minnesota here.

Aiden’s Thoughts About Our Book Tour to Minnesota

Posted October 4, 2021 | Aiden the Service Dog

I’m so glad to be home! I don’t mind travelling, but it seems we were just getting settled and the scents were becoming familiar when we packed up and moved to the next city.

I fly like a carry-on and fit nicely under the seat in front of Christy. I was trained to do it that way. It’s always nice when we have a seat or two with no one next to us for extra stretch-out space.

Here are photos of some of the things I did in Minnesota.

Walked the Mall of America.

Made new friends, Cody and Frankie.

Saw a lot of lakes (I didn’t get too near them since I don’t like water, but it made for a nice background).

Discovered the true purposes of dogs (things I love to do when I’m not working).

Spent four nights in Christy’ hometown of Thief River Falls. (Yes, there really is such a place).

All totaled, we put in more than 4,000 miles!

Despite all the places we visited, the miles we put on the rented van and the adventures I had, I’m beyond thrilled to be home. Even though airports have “pet relief” areas, I’d rather do my business in my own backyard.

Gotcha Day! (Dogs for Diabetics)

Posted September 6, 2021 | Aiden the Service Dog

On August 9, 2021, Christy and I celebrated the fourth anniversary of our GOTCHA day.

What’s gotcha day? I’m glad you asked.

Gotcha day is the day every client at Dogs for Diabetics longs for. It’s the day every client dreams of, and works hard to achieve.

There is a process to go through in order to arrive at gotcha day. First, one must apply for a diabetic alert dog.

Once accepted into the program, they receive extensive training to prepare for living with a service dog. While in training, they attend once-a-month meetings (which used to be pot-lucks at the training center, but COVID has stopped in-person meetings – we Zoom now until further notice).

I get to meet other client teams at these meetings and those on the waiting list where clients become members of the Dogs for Diabetics family. A great community for diabetic connections and lifelong friendships.

But there is a waiting list once all requirements are met. Some clients wait a long time because D4D trainers want to match dogs with client lifestyles and personalities.

Christy waited nine months then…GOTCHA! I came running into her arms and we became a team.

Gotcha day is when a dog is placed with a client. It’s one of the happiest days of my life.

I GOTCHA, Christy. You’re mine forever.