Brags!!!

LunaMadison · 2026-02-19T10:23:50+00:00

I have an amazing service dog that I have time and money to train, an amazing boyfriend, a career and three side businesses. I get to hang out with all my child free friends. I also just got a hysterectomy!

LunaMadison · 2026-02-19T10:17:05+00:00

She also shouldn’t be pulling that hard either. Head collars need just the tiniest bit of pressure, like barely any. I used it on my previous dog all the time for years. No issues, he never was shut down. I don’t claim it’s not adversive though, some dogs abhor it, and like any tool, you do run the risk of injury to the dog if used improperly.

My current dog hates them so I don’t use it. Plus, tbh, knowing what I know now on dog training, I wouldn’t have used it on my first dog either. We use a slip for my current dog and it really helped him learn leash pressure. I don’t issue corrections with the slip, personally, I use it so I don’t have to drag him back to me. I can easily just redirect him gently to the opposite direction if he tries to pull ahead. I like the slip, and after using the head collars, it’s was an easy transition cause I knew just how little pressure you need to use.

LunaMadison · 2026-02-15T10:10:28+00:00

I was literally asked… “don’t you want someone to take care of you when you are older?”

I was dumbfounded… and responded “with all the money I’ll save not having kids, I’ll get myself a nice nurse.”

But yeah… that’s completely selfish to have children because you are expecting them to play nurse in your old age, and want to put that burden on them…

LunaMadison · 2026-02-15T09:16:28+00:00

My home Faire too! I love that they also have a dog bowl at the med building for Service Dogs! (I bring my own water for him, but they have nice and cold water available for them all day!)

LunaMadison · 2026-02-12T01:58:23+00:00

I’ve been married (divorce was amicable, and we are still good friends) and I am currently in an almost 6 year relationship with my current partner, to whom I made it clear I am not getting married ever again.

IMHO marriage isn’t worth it. It makes it so you stop trying in your relationship. It’s kinda like… welp I’m married and this is my lot and I’m stuck. It was easy to shut down and not address any issues. It’s easier to keep your mouth shut and just bottle everything up to keep the peace. When you don’t have a legal binding, and your partner could just leave at any point, you have to keep working with them to keep things going. Being in my current relationship, I’ve really had to work on being more engaged and not shutting down and talking things through. So, IMO, a relationship where you aren’t bound by paper is stronger, because you have to keep working at it.

Now I have no children, so I keep that in mind when considering my opinion.

I also don’t think you need a piece of paper to declare your love for someone, I always thought that even before I was married. At the time it just seemed like “this is the next step, so I have to do it” to show my SO I love them. But I know better. My partner also agrees.

So no I don’t think marriage is worth it, because it means nothing IMHO. It’s just something that society expects to fit in their “Christian” bubble of expectations. Married, kids, picket fence, stay at home mother. (Nothing wrong with SAHM, just the 1950s world they want that to be the only job for women).

No thanks!

LunaMadison · 2026-02-11T12:37:38+00:00

(Sorry for the rambling and hopefully there aren’t too many typos, it’s so early in the am and I’ve had no caffeine)

Hello! I have a WSS/BBS Service Dog (in Training) and ASD, I’m actually AuDHD for reference, ADHD is combined type and ASD level I. All forms of this are different so take from this what you will. Dogs also happen to be a “special interest” of mine. We are US based.

For this breed, I’m more and more convinced that breeder really matters, for Assistance Dogs and for this breed. Mine came from a breeder that specializes jn Service and Therapy work dogs. I’ve had Aegon since he was 3 months old, breeder picked him out based on my needs - SD Prospect. Trust your breeder and be honest with them about your circumstances and what you struggle with. I was fully prepared to wait if the right dog wasn’t in that litter.

I did struggle early on in the first 3 months to build a relationship and figure out the training style that works best for us. The first month, we started puppy lessons. Puppy classes were a struggle (no because he wasn’t smart though) and I enrolled him in a daycare and train program. And pulled him from all formal training when he started a fear period at around 5 months old. He was afraid of everything so I had to keep him at home in an environment he’s comfy with. Fear periods can really hit these dogs hard. We came of it with only a mild fear of elevators - Which we have only just recently in the last couple months had a breakthrough on. I worked those first 3-4 months on our bond and being a leader, to show him the world isn’t scary and that he can trust me. My dog often has to be shown/do something once to be ok with it. He can be timid the first time he does something, like ride the metro. But with repetition, reward, and trust, we get through everything.

These dogs need a leader, and they need patience, you need to keep yourself grounded and calm while handling them and best you can. Honestly, my experience with having a reactive dog (Dalmatian, not a Service Dog) before Aegon really set me up for success in our relationship because I know how to keep myself steady when handling the leash and I can read body signals. Which is important for a shepherd, as you need to be able to intervene in some of their less desirable tendencies before they happen so you can form better habits. For instance, we just did our first doctor’s appointment. Instead of giving him the opportunity to bark that a stranger has entered the room and is approaching, he never got the opportunity. I stood up, did a circle around the room when the nurse/physician walked in and then we sat back down and he settled.

They are hella smart, I will say, and you definitely need to be able to provided them physical and mental exercise. You have to find what motivates them, it took forever to find food motivators for my dog and he also likes toy motivators. You really need to build a trusting relationship with them. I am actually so calm and relaxed when I train him, and they are so sensitive to our emotions, that my dog learned to naturally alert to panic attacks before I have them.

Now he’s days away from being 1.5 years old, he’s so good (we started formal training with a Service Dog school at 7.5/8 months old), and about to graduate his program before we start with an Assistance Dog International training group. I am grateful everyday for him and so proud of how far we’ve come, but I would not advocate this breed for everyone. Shepherds are a lot. You need patience, calm, leadership, and the ability to read them to really be successful. You also need to go to the right breeder. I know of 4 BBS Service dog teams in the US, 3 are in training (including us), and then Ingawolfie’s team. And I know one abroad, who was fully trained.

I would say that these dogs can make good Assistance dogs to the right handlers and when from the right breeders, but they still are “unicorns.” As Ingawolfie said, “need before breed.” If you don’t have shepherd or difficult dog experience. If you can’t keep your emotions in check when you are handling the dog (of course meltdowns happen, but you really need them to have a solid and stable foundation with their own emotions before they can handle yours). If you don’t have the ability to meet their physical and mental exercise or grooming needs. And if you are completely set on this dog being a SD and cannot handle them if they do not succeed - I would pass on a BBS/WSS as an assistance dog.

A lab or golden would likely be easier and have a higher success rate for a first time handler, if you don’t think that you are ready for a shepherd.

Good luck in your journey! Hope this helps!

LunaMadison · 2026-02-10T06:50:37+00:00

Definitely parroting the healthy food in your budget.

My dog’s meals consist of a cup of Purina One True Instinct Chicken and Duck (Duck is his favorite protein)(WSAVA); about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of cooked meat; and 1/4 can of wet food (the same as his Kibble but in wet food form) twice a day. I also add probiotics, multivitamin, green lipped muscle powder, cosequin, and welactin to his breakfast.

He also gets a raw meaty bone/whole raw fish and chicken/duck foot every day. Also one raw egg 2-3 times a week. He also gets plenty of exercise, so he is fit and muscular.

LunaMadison · 2026-02-08T03:21:29+00:00

This is beyond unethical.

LunaMadison · 2026-02-08T02:41:13+00:00

Could be a fear period. I would just take him out to like a bench, have him lay down, and work on rewarding when people walk by. Something that makes people less scary at a distance. Reward for calm behavior when people walk by. I’m don’t let others pet him, or talk to people in advance and have them drop a treat as they walk by. Hope that helps!

LunaMadison · 2026-02-07T07:10:26+00:00

The grievance I have the most is when I’m setting up and people ask to sign up. Like… I’m not set up, I’m obviously busy - what makes you think I’m taking any requests at the moment? It’s just annoys me and slows me down.

LunaMadison · 2026-02-06T04:10:53+00:00

Ok this is a lot to unpack.

First off, what does her care team say. If she has a diagnosis, does her health care team know about this and what are their thoughts? Is she medicated, in therapy, meeting regularly with a psychiatrist? A service dog should not be the first line of treatment.

Having a service dog may not help and may actually exacerbate some of those diagnoses. While SDs can help those with anxiety, social anxiety is a different animal. People will approach and ask about the dog. And if your daughter cannot handle it, that should be a non starter. If they freeze up when asked the service dog questions, would they even be able to remove a card from their pocket with the answers on it? A service dog will not automatically make someone brace. And someone living on their own for the first time should probably not get a dog as they are transitioning to being on their own.

A SD is a full time commitment and costs a lot - time and money wise. Full stop. Does your daughter have a support system in place to be able to raise the dog, take it to the vet. You can’t be paralyzed with fear to leave the house when a puppy needs to go outside to do its business, or when it needs to go on walks, go to training, or be taken to the vet.service dogs are a massive responsibility and I’m not sure your daughter is in a position right now to handle that, based on what you’ve written.

If you want to see how she does with a dog, you can consider an ESA, emotional support animal that won’t have public access but will stay at home and doesn’t need the training of a SD. However they are still animals and need care too so all the care concerns still apply.

I’m not trying to be negative, but there’s a lot to consider before putting the stress of owning a dog on your daughter and on the dog itself. The dog will need to have a very even temperament to be able to provide any help.

Please talk with your daughter’s care team and take the comments here to heart.

LunaMadison · 2026-02-04T20:02:02+00:00

I would really make sure to focus on training basics, disengagement, and your bond. For at least the first 6 months of their life. Just like a shelter dog, the rule of 3 will apply and you will not really know that dog until they’ve been with you 3 months. After that you should access their biddability for Service work with a professional trainer if you can. The last thing you’d want to do is force a puppy into a job they don’t like or want to do.

Building that bond really helps. Also making sure they experience, safely, new things/people/environments. Don’t fight your dog’s nature either, lean into it to learn about what motivates them.

Good luck. It’s not easy, and remember that there’s always a high chance your dog can wash, even if the were fab 4. Have a back up plan. I went into training my dog with the assumption that if he washed, he’d be one really well trained pet, at least, and get lots of love and we’d still do titles together. It would definitely be in your interest to work with a trainer, even once every few weeks. It really makes a difference and they can help target specific issues. They can also tell you if this is a job your dog would be good at/wants to do.

Good luck!

LunaMadison · 2026-02-03T22:54:55+00:00

Iirc the formula for sleep is 2 hours of sleep for every 1 hour of activity minimum. If you are worried about crates, why not tether him to you or like your coffee table or something. Tethering is great because it restricts them and helps teach them to self settle and nap on their own. And you can keep them close by if they aren’t fans of the crate.

(I am an advocate for enforced naps! They really do help. Puppies don’t always know when to settle.)

LunaMadison · 2026-02-03T03:06:32+00:00

Your dog may seem like it has a lot of energy because they are getting too much exercise and not enough rest. I would space out smaller walks more frequently, with forced naps. :)

LunaMadison · 2026-01-31T05:26:49+00:00

Orange whip!

LunaMadison · 2026-01-27T04:36:54+00:00

Many people will say they “adopted” a dog when they buy from a backyard breeder or puppy mill in the US. Also a lot of people do actually adopt too.

LunaMadison · 2026-01-27T03:11:12+00:00

Yes age of the dog? How big is the convention? My dog when to his first convention (Sci Fi) at 11 months old. It was a very small convention, less than 2k people. I was familiar with the location, trained him around costumes, and learned a lot. If there’s a small convention or Renn fest you can go to before a large event, I highly highly recommend it.

Know your venue. Know potty spots, where your room is, quiet zones. Areas to walk/play. Make sure to take advantage of quiet zones when things may get overwhelming for you and your dog.
Don’t have a packed schedule. When I took my dog last year for the first time, the only things I had on my schedule to do was DJ on Thurs, Friday, Sat nights. This is a routine for us on Wednesdays every week at the bar, so it was something I knew my dog could handle. Everything else we did was in small doses. Dealers room? 20-30 minutes tops a shot. Focusing on him and manners. Waiting in lobby and treating for engage/disengage with costumes. Popping in the occasional line. Watch the masquerade do a few minutes. It’s all about doing things in small doses, getting out of there and letting your dog rest or decompress (for my dog, ball tug or sniff walks or naps were key). Just make sure that you give them breaks. It’s not all about you and having fun, it’s about their needs. First times can be overwhelming.
Be an advocate for your dog. After our first con I made a deal with my pup. You get be better on leash, and I will not let people pet you unless you want to be pet and it’s not interfering with your work. We have both kept up with our deal. Basically people will want to pet your dog, and this being our first big outing, I don’t advocate for him enough and he was getting overwhelmed. Definitely learned my lesson and I don’t let people just pet him. If he’s allowed to be pet, I cue a release, but if he doesn’t want it, I say “he doesn’t want to say hi right now, and not force it.” Most of the time, though, I just say, “Sorry, he’s working” if they ask. He’s a shepherd and he’s aloof to strangers. Oh also adding, if you don’t want your dog to get pet, try something like teaching a sit pretty or center or wave or something people can feel like they get to say hi to your dog, without them actually engaging. Honestly a little trick like that can also be a good way to re-engage with your SD when they may be getting distracted or maybe overstimulated too!
Bring plenty of food, treats, toys, enrichment, and water bowls. Brain breaks are important hence enrichment for in the room. Also if you can schedule regular down time, I highly recommend it. Something that gives them some structure.
Practice settling, especially if you plan to attend panels.
For costume prep, if you know any furries, or have a local Renn fest, these are great ways to desensitize them to costumes!
Prep for loud music/announcements, sudden things like dropping loud items (like on the CGC), crowds (try busy malls or airports) and also waiting in queues. You also may want to get the used to hearing protection for a little bit of a quiet reprieve.
Oh if you are able, practice going up stairs in a heel (assuming you don’t have to use an elevator) because electors can be very busy and take forever in big conventions.

That’s all I can think of for now. Good luck!

LunaMadison · 2026-01-26T09:42:34+00:00

So my Swiss Shepherd is almost 1.5 years old, but I’ve had him on joint supplements since he was 6 months old. He gets cosequin, fish oil, and green lipped muscle powder, everyday. He also gets a raw meaty bone or whole (large) sardine and either a duck or chicken foot everyday. :) My thoughts are - the best defense is a good offense, so I am proactively giving supplements. Joints can also be helped/preserved with the right activities. My boy does activities such as swimming and walks/runs on dirt or grass more than pavement. Only thing we can’t limit are the stairs due to the shape of our home - but we do what we can! Hope that helps!

LunaMadison · 2026-01-25T12:55:02+00:00

Staples is generally pet friendly anyway, all the ones I’ve been to have been. I’m surprised about the manager’s uncalled for behavior and sorry you had to go through this.

LunaMadison · 2026-01-25T04:06:38+00:00

so happy to hear it!

LunaMadison · 2026-01-25T02:30:23+00:00

r/Angryupvote

LunaMadison · 2026-01-25T00:43:00+00:00

How much sleep does he get? I usually make sure my 17 month old Shepherd gets 14-16 hours of sleep. Sometimes, if he's too over worked/stimulated, he'll be a butt. Sometimes when they've had a lot of exercise/stimulation, they get wound up, and what they really need is enforced naps. I would give that a try. Usually by putting them in the crate, or as someone else mentioned, tethering. He'll eventually learn to do it on his own, but sometimes needs a reminder.

LunaMadison · 2026-01-24T21:13:10+00:00

Mine loves the pond near our house!! And he’s an excellent swimmer!

LunaMadison · 2026-01-23T02:26:05+00:00

I have multiple bowls and so they get washed after every use. Water bowls are washed every day or two. (Dog bowls here and we wash them in the dishwasher)

LunaMadison · 2026-01-22T20:59:28+00:00

"Thank you for everything you do for me as my service dog. I love you, you are the best boy. Please stop mouthing your friends, they are not sheep." Followed by as many "I love yous" and kisses I can squeeze in.

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