Quincy, from Polish straydog to Dutch service dog

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Hope this has convinced you I am NOT going speed dating...geezzzzzzzzzzz

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Oh I don't know Sas, there is something to be said for listening to the pitch and then saying "righteo mate, NEXT" ROFLMAO!!!

That does sound like fun. How cool if you could do that for real too. I know you and Quincy could totally Do it.
Hmmm, howling wind, blowing cold and snow, don't they do this in the summer months??!!! hahahaha
On the other hand, Canada Goose has excellent coats that can keep you very warm, one of them comes all the way down to the ankles, keep you very toasty in that blowing cold. Think they might be a tad spendy though. Which sort of figures doesn't it. LOL

Still good times coming your way I bet!
hugs
sharlene and molly muffin

Sharlene, have been doing and saying that for the past 23 years...anyone even slightly interested I send away...hehehehe :p That Canadian Goose sounds delightfull but also very much out of reach :D Just as out of reach as the heated jackets...that would be a dream come true. But that's all it will ever be, a dream :D But...having very little money I still found the perfect solution. I went to a dumpstore (where you can buy used army stuff) and bought a sleeping bag, one that was used for pole survivals...very very warm. I cut 2 holes at the top so I can put my arms through them and voila...I have a real cozy, wind and rain proof, very warm "jacket" to keep warm in my wheelchair during winter :D I can even fit a dog inthere as well, hahaha...the perfect solution for someone in a wheelchair with no money but still would like to keep warm and dry in the winter ;)

Sas :)

That is so smart Sas!!! I don't have a canadian goose jacket either. Some winters I wish for one though. Lol. Maybe one day but a bit doubtful with Molly medical coming first. I work for her you know. Hehhehe

Hugs
Sharlene and Molly muffin

A typical Saturday evening :D

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/albu...pictureid=7163

Sweet dreams all :)

Fall continues to be magnificent here :D So we continue to profit from it... It's so much fun and it's so easy to take Quincy for walks into unknown territories with unknown dogs, she gets along with everyone, she's delightfull :D She played with at least 20 different dogs during yesterday's walk :eek:
http://youtu.be/1ZbsiLe01CU

And she's incredably willing to please :) When I'm on my bed, in the evening, and too tired ( well...too lazy actually) to get the tv guide and the remote control who are just out of reach for me (at least, out of reach if I don't want to move a bit :p ), Quincy provides me with roomservice and hands them to me :D
http://youtu.be/M5FE8y8HjKE

And in a hour and half, she is going to accompany me to the hospital, her second visit to a hospital. The first time she did very well...let's see how she will handle today's visit :)

Saskia and Quincy :)

Oh she is so beautiful, Sas! Her coat gleams, her eyes shine with joy and love, and it is obvious she is delighted to do her job, eager to please her mom. I am so happy for you both!

Yep, Quincy is a beauty. Two beautiful girls, hanging out, doing their thing, enjoying the days.
How did the hospital trip go? I bet Quincy just Loves her life these days.

hugs

And a couple of new videos... :)

At home I don't have push buttons to open doors and such so Quincy never had to do that. But the entrance door at the apartmentcomplex where my parents life, does have a push button. So I wanted to see if Quins would/could do it...just to be sure she understood it, we did it a second time. This is her absolute first time ever... :D
http://youtu.be/xPBN2XA8_ck

This was at the course last Saturday. Quincy has to lay down and stay down, at a distance, till I call her...
http://youtu.be/l0C-TzBTQtk


At the pharmacy today. The first time ever Quincy gets something from the desk and hands it to me...unleashed :D
http://youtu.be/mxbB17ozmds


And this is just a fun video showing Quins during our walks. When she just came here, she was afraid to play with me...and look at her now :D Afraid? No way, she is constantly challenging me, daring me..crawling backwards (perhaps we should start doggy dancing, judging by some of Quincy's moves, hehehe..), jumping on(and taking bites out of :eek: ) mole hills, jumping on my armrest, barking at me...running around my chair....she's having a blast nowadays :D
http://youtu.be/qigUxSBYUAs

And THE cutest picture ever of Quins...
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/albu...pictureid=7191


Sas and Quincy :)

She is sooo smart!!! Once she started learning, it seems like there is no stopping her.

You're right, cutest picture Ever.

hugs

Hi Sas!

I've just gone back to August and read everything and watched every video. It gives one a bit of a different perspective on Quincy. It's like watching a slow motion reel of her growing up. How old is she now?

Oh she is so beautiful, Sas! Her black coat is so shiny, it gleams. You can see the happiness in her eyes. It is so wonderful seeing a dog get comfortable with a new owner and then start to thrive. It is obvious she is delighted to do as you ask, eager to please her mom. I am so happy for you both! I like her spunk. :D

May I ask what you use as training treats? It looks like sometimes you have something like baby food in jars and at other times you seem to have some sort of kibble or such thing.

It just really warmed my heart, especially knowing all you have been through, to see you both so happy. You have done a magnificent job. Bailey will arrive after lunch time. ;) Let me know when she's ready to be picked back up.:)

Oh she is SO HAPPY, Sas! That posture of a lowered front end with splayed front legs is one I love to see in any dog. You just have to giggle! Squirt would slap the ground with both front feet and it would tickle me every time. :p Everything about them then says, "Come on! Let's play, let's wrestle, let's chase that squirrel, let's dig, let's find some TROUBLE!" :D

She has come so far but that's not in the least surprising considering whose hand has been guiding her and loving her. You are amazing, Sas.

Hi Susan :)

Yes, she has come a long way in the past 4 months...I am so proud of her. And yes, she is becoming more and more beautiful, the shine of her coat, the shine in her eyes, her gait, her posture... She turned 2 last June so she's almost 2.5 years old now :)

The treats I use(d)...the treat in the small can was liverpaste but she cannot have that anymore since she is, for now, on an elimination diet. So now she gets hydrolysed kibble, it's all she can have for now (as a treat). Her meals consist of boiled patatoes and deer in the hope she can support the deer proteins. If she can, there are more possibilities for treats and chewies (out of 100% deer)

Once her allergy issues are sorted out (hopefully ít's "only" a food allergy) I'm thinking of taking in a foster. I kind of had forgotten how much I love training dogs (not neccesarily as a service dog but building their confidence, their self esteem, teaching them to trust and how the world works) and Quincy has reminded me of that again :D And Quincy now is stable enough to be an example to more insecure dogs :) As a service dog, we have finished training, she can do whatever I need her to do. So now we have started to do some "fun training" where I am teaching her to do some "moves", kind of like doggy dance :D And of course, we are still waiting to see if I can enter Quincy in a man-trailing course, just for fun. So we are keeping busy but enjoying it so incredably much. We have just one time left of our sports course and then we will have finished our 12 lessons.

I'll be anxiously awaiting Bailey's arrival, hahahaha...should be a lot of fun :p

Hugs,

Saskia and Quincy :)

Leslie, yes...she is. She is truly and utterly HAPPY :D :D :D And so am I :) She has a "naughty" side to her that makes me laugh so often and so much...she has changed my life profoundly and all for the better :) She does this "crawling backwards" thing with her butt up on a daily base, many, many times a day even today in the pouring rain. How can anyone mind getting wet when you see that little but go up in the air and move backwards :D

She's so funny and so eager to "work" that it will get us sometimes in funny situations ;) Here's a link to a video I made at the pharmacy. When Quins got me the first box of medications from the desk, I noticed it wasn't enough, I had ordered more medications and so the assistant went to check. And yes, there were two more packages with medications. So Quincy had to get 2 more boxes from the desk... After she got the second one, I sent her back for the third and last package and then she sees a flyer :D She will get me anything, whether I need it or not :p
http://youtu.be/WpjL7fg3Huo

Here we are doing a fun training. When I raise a hand, Quins has to raise a paw. Something we had never ever tried before... You'll see how she looks at me, looks...and then copies my move :D And how to make a circle...
http://youtu.be/SkbTEpazT_E

Quincy going through a tunnel
http://youtu.be/cmWqoi6keEQ

And Quincy getting me my Tena
http://youtu.be/q1uSoeCT5S4

And Quincy having fun during one of our walks
http://youtu.be/6E1BgxUIiP8


Hugs,

Saskia and Quincy :)

Quins has always been "leaking" a tiny bit of urine. Nothing to get upset about till one day, the leaking became a lot worse. I brought an urinesample to the vetclinic and sure thing, she had a blladderinfection. No big deal, it was treated with anti biotics and that was that. She merily kept leaking a little bit but hey...I have hard floors, a mop and well, that's all it takes, right? :D Till this weekend, she again started leaking more and this morning, I again went with an urinesample to the vetclinic. No bladderinfection but they did find a christal in her urine (just this one), the PH was too high and the urine wasn't concentrated enough. So the next step was to draw blood for an extended kidney (and other stuff) panel. The bloodsample is sent to the lab of the Veterinary University so I expect the results back in a couple of days. And no, I didn't ask for the exact PH number or the concentration number... I figured I'll get them all at once when the bloodtest result come back :) Please keep your fingers crossed it's nothing special...

Sas :)

I simply cannot bear to think anything else!

Fingers crossed.....looking forward to your good news.
-Hugs,
Susan

Me too! All fingers and paws crossed here!!!

Fingers and paws crossed here too. Come on Quincy girl.

hugs

My vet just called with the result of the bloodtest...Quins is in perfect health! :D All results were right where they should be...nothing out of the ordinary. Kidneys, liver, thyroid, you name it, it was perfect :)

So now we're going to try some medication to see if that helps with her leaking urine. For me, personally, I don't mind, not with the amount she is leaking at this point. Like I said, I have hard floors and a mop...and for the night, when she sleeps in my bed, she wears SnuggEase so she won't leak in the bed. For me, that's good enough but she has to accompany me to hospitals and such and that's why I have to treat it. Can't have her leaking urine in stores and hospitals, that's unacceptable. But bottomline, I have a perfectly healthy, happy, playfull dog who just leaks a bit of urine... Guess what? So do I and Quincy already knows how to get the Tena :p

Sas :D

Whew, what a relief, Sas! Thank goodness!!!! :) :) :)

Marianne

Big sigh of relief! So glad to hear this, Sas!

Well, Miss Quincy has been on her "incontinence medication" for a week now and after only 2 days of taking it, she stopped leaking completely :D Not seeing any side effects so it seems like it is going all very well for her :) I will however, miss seeing her in her diaper, hahaha...she looked like a little monkey wearing it :p
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/albu...pictureid=7256

We had our last training for this year :( I will miss it and so will Quins. We did get our "diploma" and a lot of praise to go with it :D Here's a video of our last training...
http://youtu.be/2NrS2JS8PAQ

And here's one of Quincy taking of my neckbrace :)
http://youtu.be/1ZWxZ6IJ84E

And Quincy "the doorman" ;)
http://youtu.be/CW9sHZzaw0o

And this is Bob, an 11 month old yellow Lab. He's a very high energy dog and his owner, was my trainer during the course I took with Quins :) She asked me if I wanted to help her to train Bob and of course I said yes...way too much fun :D Here you see him during a training session where he has to touch the drawer with his nose (in order to close it...in the future) He was soooo tired that he fell asleep, stretched out on my bed in the livingroom :p He comes once or twice a week for some training and me helping his owner to train him, gosh it's so much fun :D
http://youtu.be/tvo-Cmrqgvk

So all and all, things are going well with Miss Quincy, myself and our life :) We lead a full and satisfactory life, in harmony and complete understanding of each other. I kind of had forgotten how wonderful life can be, how peaceful life feels, despite all the hardships, when you have a true companion at your side, when you have a truly problemless relationship with your dog. And...when you have a dog so dedicated and so devoted as Quincy is :)

Saskia and Miss Quincy :)

Oh Quincy is brilliant! You two make an excellent team.

Wow, 11 month old, full of energy at that age and all over the place with their legs if I remember correctly. That must be fun to train Bob.

Hugs

She is just beautiful and it is so obvious she is in heaven by your side!

Things are still going well here :D Quins is as happy as can be and still growing and develloping herself.

With the cold weather, she has a lot more work to do...4 times a day (after our walks), she has to take all my extra winterclothing off meaning gloves, coat, shoes and ski-pants. Four times a day and she loves every one of those 4 :D Apart from these four times, she also has to take off my clothes when we go for our afternoon nap and of course at night around bedtime. So that's 6 times a day :)
http://youtu.be/QH-odBgI4Ms

Some days she has to do it even more often for example when I have to go to hospital. She will take off my coat in a full waitingroom with a complete stranger filming her...no problem, that coat has to come off :D
http://youtu.be/WqTk3C2yh58

One of the charactertraits I love in her, is her determination. She will try and try untill she succeeds in her task. Or if her ball rolls under the couch, she doesn't come running to me...she will lay on the floor, tries to get the ball from underneath the couch with one frontpaw...then the other, she will try from a different angle, roll over backwards just to get the ball herself :) Here you see her with three pretty large (for her) packages she needs to hand to me. But the packages are getting in her way, they are difficult to hold, she needs to lift them up and over my footrest, all and all a difficult task for her. But all you see is a determined dog, enjoying it so much to try and get the task done... A very proud little doggy that will let nothing and no one stop her from doing and completing her task :D
http://youtu.be/FOygk5QUueU

I am so proud of her...

Saskia and Quincy :)

I love how she does every task with such joy and she learns what works as she goes. (the packages, the last one she had it figured out). That tail is always going, you can just tell how happy she is.

I'm proud of both of you!!

hugs

What a wonderful girl she is and so proud of what she does!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater


Bedtime in The Netherlands, sweet dreams in advance from us to you :)

Saskia and Quincy :)

Hi Sas!
Have been away from the forum since Miss Chloe's passinga year ago but here I am with a new little treasure, Miss Peaches, who has Cushing's and diabetes. We are in the very beginning stage of regulating both diseases but we will take one day at a time. When I left the forum you were going through a very rough time and I am so glad that you now have Quincy!
Carrol

Carrol, how wonderful to "see" you again :) And with that oh so cute little Miss Peaches no less :D What a wonderful person you are for adopting this gorgeous little girl that has Cushing's and diabetes...what a lucky girl she is to have landed in your loving arms :)

And yes indeed, we both were in a rough place a year ago. I lost my Mhina on december 27th 2013, just a few days before you lost your Miss Chloe...

But look at us now, both here again, both back with a new girl :)

Really glad you're here again (and of course, not because of the Cushings...but you know what I mean)...

Hugs,

Sas and Quincy :)

A lot has happened so there's a lot to update :)
This past Thursday, Quincy and I have given our very first demonstration about what service dogs can do and what they mean to their person :D It was at a highschool and we had an almost 300 people audience :eek: I was terrified (to see that huge crowed in front of me) but Quincy didn't even blink :cool: Oh my gosh...this girl is something else. She just loves her work so very much, doesn't matter where we are, whose there or what is happening around her...she just works and wags and wags and wags her tail :D And she is so darn smart (and a smarty pants too :p ) that she keeps surprising me all the time. I had made a "programme" for myself of what to show during the demonstration so I would know how much time it would take...more or less and how much time I had to speak :) Well, all of the things I wanted to demonstrate are things she does on a daily base and I didn't practice them beforehand, no need, she does these things daily so she knows how to do them. But I wanted to add something fun and so, the day before the demonstration, I taught Quincy to get the hankerchief from my purse when I sneezed. (The sneeze itself was the command to go get the hankerchief) So, I did practise this a few times... So, when we did the demo, Quincy started with taking off my rainpants, then she picked up a few groceries and placed them in my shopping bag...and next was my purse. In the purse were, amongst other items, my cellphone and the hankerchief. I asked someone to dial my cellphone number and when it rang, (no command needed) Quincy went to my purse, got the phone out and brought it to me. Before I could do or say anything...Quincy returned to the purse and got the hankerchief out and brought it as well...hahahaha. She knew it was coming next and just went ahead and got it :D :D :p :p Miss Smartypants, hehehehe...she is just soooo very funny ;)

Anyway, after Quincy's spectacular show a teacher came up to us and asked if I wanted to come next Thursday (the 29th) to come teach her class for an entire lesshour :eek: A demonstration is one thing...teaching for an hour, is quite a differant thing...but I couldn't resist and said yes :D I just love it too much and Quincy is brilliant for the task :) So we are going full speed and loving it :)

And as you may remember, Quincy was put on an elimination diet to see if she was allergic to food. Well, during these 8 weeks of this diet, we had to treat 3 infections, all ears and/or skin. So, we concluded that food wasn't the (only) culprit and the dermatologist and I agreed we needed to test her for other allergies. Those results came in today. This was a "general" allergy test, it was just looking for the "groups" of possible allergens. She tested positive for mites, yeast, grasses and weeds/herbs, 4 groups. Now the testing will be more specific so we can find out for which mites specifically, which yeasts specifically, wich grasses specifically and whichs weeds/herbs specifically she is allergic. Once they are detected, the will put together a fluid that will contain these exact allergens and we will start to desensitize her. It's an 8 - 9 month period in which she will receive regular injections with the allergens (I can give them myself) in the hope her immune system will get used to them (the easy version) and therefore won't feel the need to react. This desensitition therapy works very well for about 33% of all dogs in the sense they no longer need medication, for another 33% it works to some extend, meaning these dogs will still recquire some treatment but considerably less then they would have otherwise. And the final 33% of the dogs do not respond at all to the desensitation. These dogs will need a lot more Pred and antibiotics throughout their lifetime. But there's a 66% chance that she will improve...and that is quite a good starting point. So I opted to try this therapie. We can always resort to the pred and such if needed...but it would be great if Quincy would be one of those 66% that will improve, moderately or greatly. We are now waiting for the test to show the specific thigs she is allergic too and for them to make her fluid so we can start the desensitation process :)

All in all, we are doing very well (the Atopy, well, that's a fact and I am not going to let it affect me in anyway), we're having fun and I feel exceptionally blessed that Quincy came my way, I love her to bits, atopy and all :p

Saskia and Quincy :)

Saskia -- I first came to "know" you from your time with Yunah and I was here with my first Cush pup, Maggie. I always enjoyed reading your posts. I am back with my second Cush pup, Abbie, and you are now with Quincy and I am still enjoying your posts!

Hi Judy, I sure remember you and dear Maggie :) How time flies... I am so happy for you that you now have Abbie in your life, Cushing's and all :) Any dog, but particularly one with Cushing's , landed in the right place with you, caring as you are and familiar with Cushing's :) For some reason it is not in our stars to have dogs without any problem (healthwise) whatsoever... :D But here we are, oh so happy with our dogs and loving them to pieces...isn't life great and weird? ;)

It's after midnight here but one of these days I will read up on you and Abbie...

Saskia and Quincy :)

Today was the day where we had to teach for an entire hour and we have soooo enjoyed it! Quins was amazing :D The kids and the teacher loved her and were in awe ;)

I added a few pics of Quins at work in the classroom and some snow pics http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/album.php

She came into my life, half a year ago, a former Polish stray who didn't even know the word "sit", and look at her now, she passed her service dog exam and visits schools to show the children what she can do, she's nothing short of a miracle :D

On the atopy subject...this past week my entire home was adapted to try and reduce the dustmites exposure to a minimum. All matrasses, all duvets and pillows are now covered with anti allergenic covers. The rug in the livingroom is removed, the cushions will be covered with leather covers, etc. So hopefully this will help to some extend :) Still waiting on the desensitation fluid to start treatment/therapy. But right now she\s doing okay, some shaking her head (ears), somewhat itchie but manageble but that may be due to the fact we have some snow right now :) Looking forward to the future, to everything Quins and I will undertake, to our lives together and to everything the future holds...:)

Saskia and Quincy :)

"Some of our greatest treasures we place in a museum, others we take for walks"...and how true that is :)

http://youtu.be/5pbMOUupTyg

Saskia :)

This morning we were taking a nice, lovely, sunshine filled walk in the countryside, when we encoutered 2 goats :) Just had to share the video of what follows...Quincy wanting to play with the goats :D Unfortunately, the goats didn't want to play.... poor Quincy :( She's just so adorable and simply wants to play with anyone she meets, 2 legged, 4 legged, 3 legged, doesnt matter :D

http://youtu.be/r8IeY0rFN8M

Saskia and Quincy :)

LOL She got the zoomies over those goats! It looks to me like you now need either another dog or a goat for Quincy, Sas! :D

Wouldn't she just love that, her own goat :D

Sas ;)

Here's another one, just because she's so darn cute... and very good in cleaning up after herself :D :p

"get your harnass...put it away" :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mZ5ugRyaFQ

Sas and Quincy :)

Oh it does everyone's heart good to see such wonderful videos of Quincy - it does mine. :)

Terry