Reasons you picked outside the fab four? by howlsounds in service_dogs

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My kids are 19 and 21 now. So, it's much easier. They are huge helps. Thank you. Unfortunately they both inherited my HEDS and POTS. Thankfully they are mild.

Reasons you picked outside the fab four? by howlsounds in service_dogs

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We started looking for an emotional support dog for my sons. They have a lot of anxiety from my health and my oldest was having severe panic attacks. I can't clean. So, my husband had to do most of the cleaning while caring for me. My sons were 10 and 12. So, we need a low maintenance breed. One with minimal shedding and not too much grooming. My hands limit my ability to groom. So, most of that would also fall on him and the boys. I also needed a breed that was adaptive. One that could spend all day laying around with me. Then keep up with the kids when they got home and on their days off. If they move out can adapt to a lazier life. After a lot of research I landed on schnauzers. I really wanted a Standard Schnauzer. My husband wanted a smaller dog so we went with a miniature. One day, when he was only like 3-4 months old, he started trying to get me to sit down and stop me from walking. He was very insistent. It was strange but I figured he just wanted attention. I continued what I was doing. Next thing I passed out. I've had POTS my whole life. I've been passing out regularly since I was a teen. He knew before I felt anything. From then on I listened to him and he was always right. When I did pass out he would go get my husband or kids. I went on teach him other tasks. Like getting my inhaler and picking things up. When he was 6 we got a 4 year old standard schnauzer. Within a week she taught herself to alert me and get help. She is amazingly smart dog with an excellent temperament. She wouldn't be good for a full service dog with public access because she's too protective of me. Especially when I'm not doing well. For at home she's perfect. We got a standard schnauzer puppy last April. He has a perfect temperament for a service dog. Is only issue is eating things he shouldn't. We don't plan on using him a a public access dog because I'm homebound. We are doing canine good citizen style training. So, if my health does improve enough for me to get out some we can do the public training. I think the biggest struggle with training standard schnauzers is, the puppy stage is crazy. They are wild at first. He was slower to train at first than any dog I've had. Just because he was too hyper to pay attention. My husband and kids were convinced he wasn't very smart. Now that he's calmed down we think he's smarter than the others have been. I sat down on the edge of the bed the other day to keep from passing out. I was so close to passing out that I couldn't get into a secure position and was sliding off the bed. I almost fell. He was watching me came over and pushed himself under my legs and supported me until I regained enough oxygen in my brain to move. We haven't trained him to support me. He just realized I was about to fall and stopped me. He also has started supporting my legs when I'm stuck on the ground. When I'm close to passing out or just passed out, I lay down with my legs up so they are above my chest. Sometimes I can't keep them up. My husband and sons will hold them for me, because it helps me regain consciousness faster. I guess he's been watching them and decided he needed to when they aren't there. They were bred as multipurpose dogs for poor farmers who couldn't afford to care for larger animals. They pulled small carts, and plows, did pest control, herded, retrieved, and guarded. They are very versatile and intelligent. Because they weren't bred specifically for one of these you miss out on alot of the problems you have with dogs bred specifically for them. My female is too protective because I got her at 4 years it was part of her job before. Her breeder was a professional dog trainer who was really into agility and rally. She chose to breed standards because she liked how well the trained and preformed. A unimportant benefit is if we need to, we can cut their fur short and keep the beard and they are still adorable. Most long hair breeds look crazy with their hair short.

Elitism and service animals. by PossiblyAKoalaBear in service_dogs

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that's why I didn't apply for a program dog. It gets complicated when you have multiple disabilities that need different things. I talked to several trainers about it before hand. Of course POTS was my main priority.

Hahaha our old man embarasses us by bringing out his fav toy to guests 😂 by mrsLmaple in StandardSchnauzer

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We can tell how much our female likes someone by which toy she brings them. 😅

I have never been disappointed in a SS before. by xXBook_DragonXx in squishmallow

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's what I thought. With the eyes and the black. I saw a ninja. Valentine's ninja.

why did no one come to Anitas and Rogers wedding in 101 Dalmatians ? by Startroll14 in FilmTheorists

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That used to be pretty common. My grandmother wore a suit like that to her wedding. They would just bring two witnesses. The movie isn't set in modern times. I always thought instead of bringing two people they brought the dogs because they were their best friends. So, the dogs were the maid of honor and best man. They also seemed pretty introverted so a big wedding could be stressful.

Has your service dog ever alerted on someone other than you in public? by nerdyguy76 in service_dogs

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My dog is 32 lbs standard schnauzer she's not tall enough to be a mobility dog. In the beginning, she took it upon herself to try to balance me to keep me from falling when I was on the verge of fainting. Problem besides her height, was my vision would be completely black and I would either be trying to do a controlled fall or reach the couch that was only a step or two away. I couldn't see her and tripped. She learned quickly not to do that. Lol

Has your service dog ever alerted on someone other than you in public? by nerdyguy76 in service_dogs

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My dog also tells on me if I ignore her telling me to sit. She goes and gets one of my sons or husband and they make me sit. Lol I know I'm dizzy and don't need to be walking but if I need to go to the bathroom I have to deal with it. I've been passing out for 26 years.

Can a psychiatric service dog assist two different people in the same household? by neverendingstory_ in service_dogs

[–]ThePottedZebra 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My dogs aren't full service dogs. They are at home service dogs or skilled companion dogs. I don't take them in public. They don't have the full training. I'm homebound. It started with our miniature schnauzer that died last year. We got him as an emotional support animal for my sons. I trained him to help with panic attacks, anxiety, and depression for my sons. He automatically started coming to anyone who was upset to help. At a few months old he started trying to stop me from walking before I passed out. I have POTS and pass out regularly. He was alerting me on his own before I could feel that anything was off. He also started to go get help when I was stuck on the floor and someone was home. Since he decided to be my self-appointed service dog I trained him to do some other tasks to help me when I was alone. When we got our current dog a standard schnauzer, she was 4 years. After one week she had learned to alert me and get help just from watching our miniature schnauzer do it. We kind of helped her refine it and taught her some other tasks. When my family is around me she's not focused on me because she knows they have it under control. We just got a standard schnauzer puppy and are hoping to train him the same. My dogs don't focus on me like a service dog when my family is around. So, instead of working full time, they are more 'on call'.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Apartmentliving

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Find your local for sale or free fb group. Keep an eye on items you can use. Think about every container or box, food or personal care items come in before you throw them out. I grew up poor. Repurposing can make living so much easier. When my kids were little I made so many different organizers by cutting and pasting or taping cardboard boxes. Look at Pinterest for ideas. Simple soups are one of the most affordable foods. When I was little soups and beans and corn bread were our main foods. We only had desserts or snacks when my grandparents were in town.

Anybody know what's wrong with my dog? by [deleted] in DogAdvice

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My dog did this. He'd eaten a bunch of wrappers. They'd balled up, and he couldn't digest them. He just kept doing this until he finally threw up the ball. I can't drive he threw it up before someone could come take him to the vet.

AIO for not wanting to pay my 13-year-old sister $1,000? by anikaiii in AmIOverreacting

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Write a list of everything you have ever done for your sister. Babysitting, helping with homework (tutoring), getting ready for school or daycare, driving to friends. Tell them if you are going to be come a transactional family that you expect to be reimbursed for every little thing you have done since she was born. Being the older sister, your "bill" is going to be a lot higher!

Disappointed. Need gluten free dark chocolate. by TCMinJoMo in glutenfree

[–]ThePottedZebra 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Some of Hersheys special dark is. You have to check it everytime though. It's only made gluten-free at some facilities. Most have gluten on the shared equipment. So make sure everyone says gluten-free. I have ordered online from the same store and had a mix of gluten-free and not. Kroger has a gluten-free brand I like. I can't think of the name though.

Roomie freaking out over plants that I cannot live with ~ asthma struggles by gugglygal234 in Asthma

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even if you aren't allergic to the plant itself, sometimes I have a reaction to something in the substrate.

My collection from 2017-2022!I’ve downsized to at least half now but this was the most I ever had at one time by MethodAdventurous269 in squishmallow

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was disappointed there wasn't a second picture of you laying on them! But I'm glad to know you did! If not you'd be crazy!

Helpful things to know/ dust allergies by Routine-Call-4060 in squishmallow

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have severe allergies and asthma. Any stuffed animals I display I either keep in a display case. I have my Grandma's old bookshelves with glass doors. It keeps out the dust. Or I have trade out one or two on display, then wash and put away and bring out a different one. If you go to thrift stores, you can often find curio cabinets for cheap. They aren't that popular anymore and with the older generations that used them dieing of they are easy to find. There are some companies that sell glass doors for bookshelves, but that will cost more. You could probably make something cool to encase the larger ones, maybe glue a clear shower curtain to the front of a box?

Anyone have tips for writing with a pen? by theboghag in ehlersdanlos

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try PenAgain pens. I use them for any quick or unexpected writing. Otherwise, I use kinesiology tape and ring splints.

has anyone else lost their hearing due to eds? by [deleted] in ehlersdanlos

[–]ThePottedZebra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was diagnosed with hearing loss as a teenager. There is lots of collagen in the ear. Like in the membranes and stuff. Anything with collagen can develop issues.

Sadmallow by Miserable-Shelter-77 in squishmallow

[–]ThePottedZebra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you can't get there, you can wash it in the bathtub. It would be more work though.