JJ and Bandit Go to Therapy – Service Dog Files

I don’t know if you guys ever have this problem…but sometimes I try something and wonder if it worked.

This is especially true when dealing with my boys who have ASD. Autism can be tricky. And while JJ is amazing, he struggles with communication. With feelings – identifying them in him and others. So we can try calming techniques, but I never really know how much they’re working and how helpful they are. Or if they’re even worth pursuing. I can ask him, but it’s just not information he’s able to understand and explain. Don’t get me wrong, we can do simple happy/sad/excited kinds of things, but asking, “Does this help you calm down?” “Is this soothing?” “Does this help you relax?” All of these are much more abstract concepts that he’s still working on.

So then we have the dog. And we LOVE Bandit. We’ve seen some really good things with Bandit that lead us to believe that having him around is helping. But how do we know for sure? And what specific way can Bandit help the most?

Enter our new therapist (sometimes it feels like we have an army of them lol and we appreciate them ALL). JJ started seeing a new therapist recently to see if we could address issues like anxiety and attachment disorder. He had such an amazing year last year and made a good deal of progress and I wanted to keep the momentum going this year. Actually, that’s not quite true, we were on the waiting list for almost a year, so I would have absolutely started last year if we could lol.

So here’s the cool part. Our therapist has a heart monitor. It gently clips to the ear then plugs into the computer on the other end. It monitors the heart rate variability. How often is his heart rate is changing and how quickly. It provides a real time visual for JJ to see and our therapist is excited about working Bandit into the tools to help keep JJ’s heart beat regulated (or get it regulated if it’s not).

We KNEW we were on the right track when we saw this.

This is the read out of his last session. See the green zone? That’s where we need to be. That’s a well regulated space. See the spikes into the green zone? Those are the times he simply TOUCHED Bandit.

So while we *thought* Bandit was helping because of the outcomes in situations…we saw it, in real time, and very clearly during the session. We now have visible proof of just how much Bandit helps JJ. We can SEE how Bandit calms his boy. See that area in the blue right before the biggest spike? That’s me…and hopefully we can find ways for me to help JJ get into the green more. But this was really GREAT information to have. Because now I know, to help my son calm and regulate, it’s not, “Come give me a hug,” and holding him. This would work on his brother, but we can see clearly here, that me directing him to go “help Bandit, he looks like he needs a snuggle,” will be MUCH more beneficial for him, and really, that’s what this is about. Would I like to be the one who brings this much comfort to my son when he’s struggling and overwhelmed? Absolutely. And guess what…I am, by working with Paws 4 Autism and finding a way to provide a service dog for my son. By bringing in Bandit I’m able to help my son. And I hope this is a bridge that will go both ways, that eventually, through Bandit, I will be able to help JJ regulate and spend more consistent time in the green zone.

As I mentioned before, communication about abstract, non-visual things, is challenging. The information on this screen is not context we would have been able to get from him.

So why is this important to know? How does this translate in a real life setting?

Earlier I mentioned anxiety. Every change causes anxiety for JJ. Every question. Every request. Every time I tell him we have to go somewhere. If it’s somewhere we’ve been, I can tell him that and it helps, but not always. Even good changes cause anxiety. But just touching Bandit helps regulate JJ’s heart rate, which is the opposite of a racing, anxious heart.

A few hours after this appointment, we had an urgent care visit. This can be something that’s very anxiety inducing. JJ knows the building, but doesn’t know what to expect. I can try and explain, but that usually creates more questions that I’m unable to answer. We had Bandit with us and JJ did a good job. Bandit distracted JJ, but also comforted him. The comfort and calming helped him answer the doctor’s questions. And the staff at urgent care was amazing and open to having Bandit there. It eased what could have otherwise been a rough night for all of us.

Here’s a pic of Bandit helping my boy ❤️

The doctor was more than happy for Bandit to jump up and sit with JJ on the bed. Bandit was able to “settle” and provide a deep gentle pressure that is often calming for JJ. And JJ was able to pet Bandit, which we can see from the graph above, instantly provides positive feedback for him.

And all of this is just a really good reminder for me, that I’m on the right track. We have a significant way to go to finish our fundraising and my ideas are proving harder than I expected to pull off, partly because I’m a perfectionist lol. But this image reminds me that this is all worth it.

Thanks for stopping by and stay safe and healthy

xoxoxoxo

Alta and JJ

As always, if you’d like to donate to help us reach our fundraising goal for Bandit, you can donate directly to his fundraising here: Help JJ

The Call – JJ and Bandit – Service Dog Files

Super short today guys…but I got a call today.

I answered it, and was told there was a problem with Bandit.

It’s getting time for the dogs in training to rotate foster homes and Bandit won’t be able to

because HE’S STAYING WITH US!

Bandit and JJ matched.

My son now has a service dog. His best friend is staying.

BUT this was ONLY possible because other people have paid it forward. I say that like it’s not a big thing, so let me rephrase it.

My son has a service dog because OTHER PEOPLE were kind enough to PAY FOR IT ahead of time.

I don’t know who all the people were that paid for my son’s dog, but I’m SO grateful to them.

So now we’re switching gears. WE will keep raising money, because WE will be paying it forward to make it possible for someone else to find the same magic we have.

So please, continue to remember JJ and Bandit. They are the faces of the families you may never meet but you could make such a difference for them by continuing to donate through JJ’s fundraising page here.

I’m also open to suggestions for fundraising. I have some ideas, but I need help to make them a reality and make them feasible, so stay tuned for those ❤

Thank you again for being on this journey and for stopping by today.

xoxo

Bump in the Night – JJ and Bandit Service Dog Files

One of the jobs an autism service dog can do is help their person sleep.

My son, like many on the spectrum, has trouble sleeping. Specifically, he has trouble calming and regulating enough to be able to fall asleep. There have been some long nights, and even some nights that didn’t end. There were times when our medications were out of whack and sleep NEVER came.

As a reminder, Bandit is leaning to work with children – that’s how we’re helping as we foster. He sees me as the person to follow, because that’s what he’s used to. But he’s tethered to JJ most of the day and he’s starting to get comfortable with me farther away, which is exactly what we want him to do ❤️

We started a nighttime routine that lets JJ fall asleep with Bandit.

That’s what’s happening right now. I’m sitting on the hardwood floor writing this as those two snooze away lol. The goal is for Bandit to stay in JJ’s room with him throughout the night, but we’re not there yet. Bandit still gets up and leaves the room with me when my back decides it can’t sit on the floor any longer. But the ease of the transition is getting faster. Both boys are settling into this routine and I feel like there are only good places to go from here ❤️

Thanks for stopping by

Xoxo

As always, if you’d like to read more about JJ’s story, you can find it here: help JJ. If you’re interested, you can also donate to our fundraising efforts there ❤️

JJ and Bandit Update: The Service Dog Files and Fundraiser Reminders

JJ and Bandit are doing so great things ❤️

If you’re friends with me on FB, you’ve probably already heard about these things, so I apologize. But for the rest of you, I wanted to share some things 😊

Between ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, and Dyslexia, school can be hard. But this is some of what I saw this week, that I haven’t seen before.

In the above picture, JJ was stressing over the work, I could see it. But before I could intervene, he reached out and pet Bandit, which is exactly what Bandit is there for! This was HUGE for JJ. I honestly didn’t know if JJ would respond to a dog in the beginning. But he has been. Then, I wasn’t sure if he’d reach out to Bandit in times of need. We’ve tried a lot of different fidgets and stress reducers to help him be able to calm down when he needed to, but those haven’t been that successful. But guess who’s been reaching out 🙂 And Bandit is there within easy reach.

In the picture below, I caught some good stuff, too.

I don’t think this looks like a kiddo who’s dreading school lol. We also switched online academies and that’s helped with completing school work, but now I’m worried JJ won’t WANT to go back to public school because this is just way too cool for him lol.

When not working, they’ve been able to work on Settle. Many with autism find deep, gentle pressure calming. Because Paws 4 AUTISM uses standard poodles, they weigh enough to provide that kind of pressure. Many times, you can find JJ resting on Bandit, but sometimes, he needs Bandit to rest on him.

Last but not least, LOVE. Bandit is a service dog, so by nature, he provides service. But he’s so much more than that. He’s quickly becoming JJ’s best friend. And as such, JJ works to make sure Bandit has the things he needs, including belly rubs.

JJ’s smile says everything you need to know about how it’s going.

And this is why we’re fundraising. The two fundraisers we have going right now are Ear Savers and Back to School Signs. You can find info about them below. And as always, JJ’s direct fundraising page if you just want to learn more about his story or donate.

Ear Savers to make wearing masks more comfortable.

Back to School Sign to bring a little smile to your face

Help JJ

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoxo

BANDIT 3 – SERVICE DOG FILES -TURNING A CORNER

Boy howdy it’s been a busy month!

First, don’t forget about our Ear Saver/Mask Holder fundraiser here, for JJ.

A lot has been going on, and some of it I already planned to share. But something cooler happened yesterday and I’m going to share that today, instead.

I’m sure you can guess that a service dog needs to have a good bond with the person who needs them. Bandit is an AMAZING dog and has had some pretty fantastic dog mommies. He hasn’t been around young kids much though. So naturally, he followed me around the first few weeks. Then we went out of town for a few days and he stayed with one of his dog mommies ❤

When we picked him up, he was pretty happy to see us which felt awesome, like we were maybe doing a good job as his foster family 🙂 He continued to follow me around, which wasn’t unexpected.

We’ve been working with JJ the last month on interacting with the dog. Although he pets the other dogs, he hasn’t really PLAYED with them and was unsure how that worked (see previous blogs for those posts) 🙂

Bandit has been odd about his food, too, often refusing to eat if he can’t see me. But this week…HE LET JJ FEED HIM! It was so good for that bond we’re trying to build. Bandit can’t be an autism service dog for me, since that’s not my diagnosis. To really be able to do his job, he HAS to focus on JJ (or Isaac). And this week, we may have turned that corner. He gets excited when he sees JJ. He’s starting to come to him when JJ calls, even if he doesn’t have a treat. He gets anxious when Isaac is upset and tries to get to him to help (remember, Isaac (4) is also autistic).

A few nights ago, I saw JJ and Bandit like this:

Bandit was laying HIS head on JJ instead of the other way around.

Usually, JJ’s laying on Bandit, but not this time. It was such a sweet moment!

Yesterday, after ABA therapy, we had music therapy. Bandit surprised me a little when he sat down by JJ. I was on the other side of him, which is typical, but his focus was totally on JJ.

And today, during ABA, Bandit kept an eye on both boys. Isaac was outside with his therapist and Bandit would trot to the door and watch. Then he’d trot into the living room and check on JJ. He kept making the rounds until Isaac was back in the house.

Here’s the boys during session today 🙂

• 

• 

• 

This just makes my heart so happy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a safe holiday weekend ❤️

XOXOXO

Alta and JJ

As always, if you’d like to check out Paws 4 Autism, click here: Awesome people

If you’d like to read more about JJ’s story, or make a donation, you can find his page here: Help JJ

BANDIT 2 – SERVICE DOG FILES

Trying to teach JJ to actually PLAY with the dog is…interesting. Play has always been a struggle for him, which isn’t uncommon with autistic kiddos.

He tried to mimic, but it’s awkward and he doesn’t quite understand the point (which in this case is bonding with the dog). I’m guessing this is the socialization component that a lot of kids on the spectrum are challenged by. I hope that  teaching him to play with the dog might help when playing with other kids. In the end though, we started getting it ❤️

Bandit stopped chasing the ball and decided to lay down in front of JJ to play with the ball. I was sitting across the room and being ignored – which made me very happy 😉

Later that day, Bandit was laying down near where I was. JJ came back, called him AND BANDIT FOLLOWED HIM OUT! This was a great thing. And it happened a second time! This was a really good thing. Bandit is awesome, but used to working with grown ups. They both did great! So, I think we’re on the right track. It will take time, but we’re getting to the point that Bandit is getting more comfortable with him ❤️❤️❤️

But then the best thing happened…

For background: When you first meet JJ, you might not catch on that there’s something different about him. And even when you do, you still might not be able to narrow it down, because he’s got a lot going on (which is why  getting a diagnosis took so long).

But one of the things he struggles with so much is play.

Age appropriate play. Appropriate play. Peer play. Independent play. He struggles so much, that this has been a major cause of problems that lead to him getting in trouble which can kick off major power struggles. And that’s all a big pile of no fun.

He’s so in his world sometimes, he misses things going on around him. Forgets about the things around him – like people and dogs.

I worried about how he would do with a dog. Would he initiate play? Would it be appropriate? Would he remember there was even a dog for him to play with?

And then I walked in to the living room to see full on, no awkwardness, just pure delightful play.

JJ turns 9 in November and I really think this might be his first actual, non-family friend.

These friends in progress spent the evening relaxing before it was time for JJ to go to bed. And I’ve probably mentioned this before, but this little boy has NEVER taken to a dog like this before, and he’s had dogs in his life for the last 6 years. So this is special.

For many people, these pictures are of an adorable little boy and a cute dog. But as a mom of a child with special needs…these pictures look like hope to me.

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by. For more information about JJ’s story and the fundraising we’re doing, you can find him here : Help For JJ at the Paws 4 Autism page.

xoxoxo

Alta and JJ

 

 

 

Bandit: Service Dog Files

One of the things Bandit is doing for JJ is giving him “something” to do.

JJ struggles to find appropriate things to do on his own. So WE have to make sure he always has something to do to stop him from getting in to trouble. We worked with his therapy team at the beginning of the year to try and figure out how to “keep him out of trouble,” because keeping him out of trouble is proving WAY easier than actually getting him through the consequences of getting himself in trouble.

It’s helped. A LOT.

And now, among the many things Bandit is learning to do for kids on the spectrum, helping provide something for them to do is one of those things. He holds my son’s attention and that’s not always easy.

Good boy Bandit!

For more information about JJ’s story, or Paws 4 Autism, just follow the links.

Thanks for stopping by!

Xoxoxo

Bandit: Week 1 – Service Dog Files

It’s been almost a week since we said good bye to Finlay and Hello to Bandit. Here are some updates, because people are asking for them 😀

It’s kind of in journal form. I’m not sure if I’m going to do weekly, or more frequent recaps, but we’re starting with the weekly this time.

Day 1:

Poor JJ is going through all the names to get to Bandit lol. Grady, Finlay (the other dogs) and Gambit (the gecko) before finally getting to Bandit. And little brother is making himself at home with Bandit 😀

I think his nickname might be Bam Bam. It’s easier for JJ to say. And just like that, Bandit was prancing around outside that night ❤️

Later that night, Little Brother was walking around the house calling out for Finlay. We had to remind him that Fin wasn’t here, but Bandit was. During that time, Bandit and J were playing a game. J called Bandit’s name and Bandit ran to find him. Then J gave him a treat. They kept it up for a hot minute.

Bandit slept in our room, so I could see how he did being in a new place.

Day 2:

Diploma Day for our Senior and Bandit went with us. It was his first time in the Jolly Roger (our big 19.5 foot long van). He did great!

He also did great in the school and helped keep JJ focused and in place by us.

He was spoiled by all the kids today, and Paul. He’s so soaking up all the love right now. Which is great, because tomorrow, we tether him to JJ and they both get to try and figure out how to work with each other. Bandit is great but he’s used to grown ups – they’re the ones that have been training him, and J…It’s hard to say how involved he’ll be.

Also, Bandit BROUGHT a toy to J so they could play! It was awesome!

Little Brother came over to me and said: Finlay’s not here because Bandit’s here. I want to play with Finlay but I can’t. So I’ll play with Bandit.

So sweet. (Little Brother is 4yo and ADORES dogs and is also autistic).

When JJ got up to go potty before bed, Bandit was watching him. THIS is what we need to see from him so we can see if he’s transferring his learning to a little kid 🙂

 

Day 3:

Today was four hours of ABA therapy at home, voting, and speech therapy. We also tethered the boys in training 🙂

This is during therapy. Bandit did a GREAT job laying down by J while he worked with his therapists 🙂 Bandit still wants to follow me and keep an eye on me, but I’m redirecting him to J and letting J do the majority of the treats. I think they’re both starting to figure this out ❤️

I took Bandit to vote with us, because one of my voting age kids often needs wheel chair assistance and I wanted to see how he did next to a wheel chair.

He did awesome 🙂

At speech therapy later, Bandit kept staring out the window of the therapy room trying to find me while J was in with his therapist. So, we need to do a lot of the “Where’s JJ” game to help him focus on JJ. But as my friend at Paws 4 Autism pointed out, it can come in handy if we can’t find JJ. It’s scarily common for kids with autism to “elope,” whether that’s running away, wandering away, or being left behind because they’re not paying attention, these guys are at such a high risk. JJ’s brain doesn’t recognize danger, so having another way to search for him if that happens is an added layer of relief.

When JJ and Bandit came out of the therapy room, I was mauled in the nicest, happiest, most excited way possible by Bandit. I was sitting down which made it much easier lol. But he calmed pretty quickly and laid down when I asked him to. And later, at home, Paul got an exuberant Bandit hug too! He’s a snuggler!

Day 4:

Squee! Bandit and JJ just sat on the floor for a good 20 mins while we had family reading time and Bandit just hung out while JJ pet him 😀

When J got up and went to the bathroom, Bandit ran after him to see where he was going and what he was doing. He checked on him a second time, too ❤️

Day 5:

I’m starting to transition Bandit over to sleeping in JJ’s room. That’s where his dog will sleep and Bandit needs to practice sleeping in a kid’s room. We also need to see if having a dog in there will keep JJ awake or not. I’m not exaggerating when I say a piece of hair can hold my son’s attention enough to keep him awake if he doesn’t want to go to sleep, even with medicines.

The both did a fantastic job!

He eventually wanted out, so we let him out, but we’ll still keep trying. I don’t want to create any aversive situations so I’m trying to follow the dog’s lead, too. But so far, he’s not quite diggin’ it, but we’ll keep trying a little at a time.

Day 6:

Bandit AND JJ played an awesome game of, “Where’s JJ?” today. Usually JJ has a hard time recalling Bandit’s name quickly, but not today 😀 J was using the treats but I wasn’t during this game and Bandit definitely preferred JJ lol

Before bed, the boys hung out on the floor watching shark week.

JJ’s NEVER been this comfortable with a dog before. I’ve been worried about how well he’d do with a dog. Would he interact? Would he be able to do it appropriately? I figured he’d want to, but want doesn’t always translate into being able to. I think tethering them works just as much for JJ as it does for Bandit.

Also tonight, I watched this dog back up to the couch and get on the couch BACK legs first! This is a dog of many talents lol.

Today:

We’ve been hanging out. We tried playing a game of ball (where JJ ROLLS the ball) but instead, he got wound up and started throwing the ball and I don’t know if he was even paying attention to Bandit anymore. So we had to stop the game. Unfortunately, when JJ gets wound up so much, it’s VERY hard for him to self regulate and come back down. His brain disengages – the executive functioning shuts down – and there’s no thought to actions. He was so wound up this morning, he doesn’t even remember throwing the ball, but I SAW him, so I know it happened. And it took some time to get his brain and body settled enough that he wasn’t going to get himself into trouble.

But what I learned today, gives me some hope. The pups are taught the command “Settle” and they lay across laps, feet, bodies – whatever’s comfortable for their person, and the deep pressure from the gentle weight helps sooth the person. If we can get this to work for JJ, this could be a game changer for us. Right now, we have to work from the angle of not winding him up, instead of letting him get crazy and then calming him down (since he doesn’t calm easily). But if we have a way to calm him, especially quickly and in the moment, my son has more freedom to do more things that neurotypical kids do. And if that’s the case, then all the work and time, all the late nights and weekends spent working on the fundraising…it makes it worth it.

You guys, a DOG. A dog could allow my son to experience things that most of us take for granted. It can give him more freedom than I hoped for which is why we do the hard things.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

As always, if you’d like to read more about JJ, feel free to go to his fundraising page to read his story. If you want to make a donation, that would be fantastic. If you want to help us get the word out by helping us share his story, we’re grateful for that, too.

JJ’s Story at Paws 4 Autism

That Time We Said Hello and Good Bye – SERVICE DOG FILES

As part of our fundraising for JJ’s service dog, we can OFFER service in the form of helping out at Paws 4 Autism . And because they’re local to me, that’s something we’re able to take advantage of.

One of those areas of helping is fostering and training with the pups in training. Last year, Grady – the veteran dog who started it all – came to hang out with us so Terri could bring in two new puppies. He’s the only non-poodle in the program. He’s mostly retired and an absolute JOY to be with.

 

Around the beginning of March, Grady Bug went back home to his girl, and one of the puppies, Finlay, came to play. We went from a laid back senior dog to a seven month old puppy. Even with all the puppy stuff, that pup will hold a special place in my heart. Today after about five months of fostering him and watching him grow, we swapped pups again.

 

Today, we met Bandit 🙂 He’s 2 1/2 and has been training for most of that 🙂 Our job is to reinforce that and not mess up all the work that’s already been done. We’ll also be encouraging A LOT of involvement from JJ. With Grady, there was some involvement. With Finlay, it was mostly me because he was so young and we were at the very beginning. But Bandit is at the perfect spot to train with an 8yo and get the experience he needs for working with kids. It will also give JJ the experience he needs for working with his dog when we have his.

Yes, today was a little bitter sweet. Finlay is just the sweetest and has soul piercing eyes that look straight into you. It was sad to say good bye. But today, we also said hello. So let me introduce you to Bandit.

 

 

And JJ and Bandit. JJ’s already taken to Bandit more than he has any of the other dogs. When you first meet JJ, you probably won’t pick up on the fact that he sees the world differently. But often, he’s in his own space. He doesn’t notice the things around him, which is one reason routine and familiar surroundings are really helpful to him. But he’s noticing Bandit ❤️

 

 

To read more about JJ and what we’re trying to do, you can find his story at here – JJ

If you’d like to make a donation to our fundraising efforts, that would be fabulous and so much appreciated. The donations go into caring for and training the dogs so they can go out into the world and help children like JJ.

And if you feel inclined, please feel free to share this blog post to help us get the word out 🙂

As a reminder, we’re also selling Ear Savers for JJ. The ear savers help hold the mask in place so your ears don’t have to. We’re hoping to make other people’s lives more comfortable while we work on making our son’s life more comfortable. You can find out information about it in this blog post: Ear Savers for JJ

And as always, thank you for stopping by

xoxoxo

Alta and JJ

SERVICE DOG FUNDRAISER OPPORTUNITY- Are You Hungry?

Hey guys! This is for my local friends and family.

Granite City in Zona is doing another Dine to Donate fundraiser for us! We’re so excited to be working with them again ❤️

Hope to see you there!

Also, if you’d like to read more about JJ, or donate directly to our fundraising, you can go here: Help JJ

You can read about the organization as a whole, there, as well, by selecting the various tabs.