Dan as a wee pup Dan was born June 27, 2013, the result of an excellent breeding by Hilary Flower, a reputable sheep farmer/Border Collie breeder from Lunenburg, N.S.
It was not really Dan I wanted - I actually wanted my former Service Dog, Tag. Tag was a Border Collie who had certified as a Service Dog when she was less than 1.5 years old. Tag was “My Dog”, she had my front, she had my back, Tag had it all. Unfortunately Tag also had some sort of neurological abnormality resulting in her devastating death before her second birthday.
It was not really Dan I wanted - I actually wanted my former Service Dog, Tag. Tag was a Border Collie who had certified as a Service Dog when she was less than 1.5 years old. Tag was “My Dog”, she had my front, she had my back, Tag had it all. Unfortunately Tag also had some sort of neurological abnormality resulting in her devastating death before her second birthday.
Tag at play
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Heather and sweet Tag
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| Dan had a huge spot to fill. He soon stole my heart but the training was difficult for me, since I wanted him to be Tag. At 15 weeks of age he flew to Calgary with me, as my Service Dog in Training. Again at 7 months we flew back out to Calgary to visit my daughter Miranda. He was so well behaved on the planes and in the airports it was difficult to believe he was a pup. | 
In training, Calgary airport, 15 weeks
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Dan’s training continued daily, obedience, fun behaviours and alert behaviours. Alert behaviours are things that we train service dogs to do to let their handlers know when the dog senses that something is wrong. Epilepsy dogs alert before a seizure, diabetic dogs alert to a drop in blood sugar, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) dogs alert when their handlers start getting anxious. This allows the handlers to become aware of the situation and either get to a safe place or do something to prevent the situation from worsening.
Dan's first un-cued alert behaviour happened the Wednesday before Easter weekend. I needed a few items at Walmart; Dan and I got a cart and proceeded up and down crowded aisles. As we were making our way to the check-out area I heard someone call out my name, “Heather, Heather”. It was a good friend Nancy whom I had not seen in a very long time. I backed myself up to an aisle end, cart in front, Dan to left side and Nancy on left. We were having a fine chat when all of a sudden Nancy said, “Dan must want to leave.” I looked down to see Dan had moved from his position beside me and was now standing with one foot on mine and was poking my left thigh with his nose.
Dan's first un-cued alert behaviour happened the Wednesday before Easter weekend. I needed a few items at Walmart; Dan and I got a cart and proceeded up and down crowded aisles. As we were making our way to the check-out area I heard someone call out my name, “Heather, Heather”. It was a good friend Nancy whom I had not seen in a very long time. I backed myself up to an aisle end, cart in front, Dan to left side and Nancy on left. We were having a fine chat when all of a sudden Nancy said, “Dan must want to leave.” I looked down to see Dan had moved from his position beside me and was now standing with one foot on mine and was poking my left thigh with his nose.
Heather and Dan in Walmart in June 2014
| Finely the light bulb came on and I said, “No, he is alerting me,” and just then two people associated with my PTSD injury walked by chatting to each other as they shopped. Evidently I had been hearing their voices without consciously recognizing them, and Dan was picking up on my rising anxiety level. I was able to quickly leave the store and got to my wonderful Ford Escape before breaking down. “My Dan” got me out of a situation that could have become emotional and embarrassing in public. |
Training continued and I was gaining confidence in this wonderful young dog. I thought he was doing well but of course I cannot see what he is doing when I am shopping, etc. My daughter Melissa came home from Germany for a visit in early June and she took some pictures and videos while Dan and I shopped. I was absolutely delighted to see how well he was doing his job even before his first birthday.
Yesterday Dan and I spent a couple of hours at the farmers market. He weaved in and out of the cramped quarters without a hitch. He loves children and there were plenty of them - running, screeching and eating - to distract him, but he remained focused on his job without reminding. He earned many pats and dog treats from my pouch. As we worked our way through the crowds to coffee and a treat, two family pet dogs got into a fight. Much barking, growling, and human yelling ensued, but Dan did not miss a step - he ignored the mayhem and lied down next to me at a picnic table. We were positioned so that he had exposure to vehicles coming and going from the parking lot behind him, venders and costumers milling around, food being dropped within reach, music, noise, etc. He is just over one year old, but “My Dog” Dan is incredible.
Dan at home
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