The Prairie Gifted to The Indian Prairie Public Library

This is a video Dave Bunn put together of the time I worked on the painting The Prairie at the library and then when I gave it to the library when it was finished.  This painting took about a year to paint.  It is a love gift to the whole community.

My son Steve Lieto and my daughter Rebekah Lieto are adding their brush strokes and color to The Prairie.  The creative expression we share is very much a family affair.  We had such a good time.  Coco is also in the video.  Coco is my Akita Service Dog who was very much a star at the library while I worked on the painting there.  And she was my constant companion when I continued to work on it in my studio.  There is just a sideways glimpse of Marianne Ryan, who did an awesome interview after The Prairie found its new home at the library.  Thank you Jamie Bukovac for coming up with this interactive project.  I love love loved working on it at the library.  I loved the families, the love, the questions, the curiosity.... just everything.
Thank you Dave for creating this video.  You are a dear.

Akita Flies

This summer my Akita Service Dog Coco and I flew on South West Airlines this summer.  We had a wonderful flight.


SWA was very helpful.  When I called to find out what suggestions they had, so Coco and I would be properly prepared, I took notes.  I listened to what they said and Coco and I brought the proper paperwork and we also went through some special training so we would be okay to fly.

I fed Coco four hours before the flight and then about an hour and a half later we went for a nice hour long walk.  And an hour and a half before takeoff I gave her a Pepto Bismo and a Benadryl.  I wanted to make sure her stomach was coated and to help her stay calm, in case she got nervous.  I take real good care of her health and make all of her food and decided to splurg and buy her a bone she just loves. I thought, I'll give her half so she can chew on it when we take off and the other half when we are getting ready to land.  I also asked the light attendant for a few ice cubes to give to Coco after we took off and they did.

When we were taking off and we heard the engines I told her I hear it, its loud, we're safe; our training exercise for about two months before we left, and she was reassured and fine.
Coco liked having her head on my knee most of the time.  And then she laid down and she rested her head on her two front paws and then she feel asleep.  She slept almost the whole time.  And she enjoyed looking out the windows before we took off and after we landed.  I decided to close the window until after we were in the air and then again when we were landing.

Coco was great the during the TSA exam.  The agent asked me if she was okay and I said she was trained for this and she would be fine.  They could do whatever they needed to do to make their job easier.  When the agent was finished examining her and her vest Coco gave her a kiss on the cheek.

We also took the People Mover floor thingy.  We walked all the way to the gate because I've never been able to get on those.  But when we got to PA they had them and my cousin held onto my right arm and Coco did her job and we nailed it.  No problem.

This was the first time I have been able to travel on my own since the headon crash when someone came into our land going about 80 mph and left me with a Traumatic Brain Injury. Coco has been my service dog for six years.  I trust her with my life and she trusts me with hers.

Here are some additional pictures...

 Coco and I are ready to board the plane.

 

Coco and I are waiting to walk into the plane.

Coco and I are officially on the plane.
Coco enjoyed putting her head on my lap when we were in flight.  Until she decided to take a nap.

Coco is looking out the window.  And to the right we are taking the people mover.

  

Here is Coco and me after we landed in PA.

This is Coco and me making our very first Selfie after we landed in PA.

And here is Coco and me after we landed in Chicago.  Taking a picture with the pilot.  The other pilot is the one who took the picture.  And I think Coco is sneaking in a great big old smile.

 

I think Coco deserves some wings patches, one for her each of her two vests!

Coco My Akita Service Dog

Whenever Coco and I go out to run errands people come to see her.  Some times they come out of their stores to see her.  She is so kind and sweet with them.  Some times people know she is an Akita and some times they want to know what kind of dog she is.  Every now and then I've heard people say, I've never seen an Akita Service Dog.  And they ask what she does to help me and I tell them our story.

I have wondered about why Akitas aren't used more and this past year I came to an understanding about it.  Clarified by the recent raccoon incident in the backyard.

In the States a potential service dog is kept with a foster family or person.  They are taken everywhere and socialized and during that first year they learn basic obedience.  And then they are tested for temperament and those who will not do well in all public situations do not go any further in their training.  The next year they are usually trained in a facility where they are kept in kennels.  And depending on their training this could last another year or a little longer. 

My first two Akitas were my service dogs without any training.  They watched me and knew when I needed help.  And they knew what to do about it.  My first Akita, Angel, would walk in tight circles around me and take me into the house if she thought I had been out in the garden too long.  She decided all on her own whether I needed to go to a chair or my bed. And of course, she was always right.  Bear was the same why when I got dizzy and was having a hard time walking.  As Bear aged I realized I was going to need to put my name on the list for a service dog.  I couldn't find any training organizations that trained Akitas.  I had published a book and was showing artwork and was getting ready for a book tour and I knew this time around, without the acres of farm land around me, I would need a service dog.  But I knew that my Akitas were amazing and I felt that they could have been trained.  I read books, watched dvds and then one miraculous day, while I had been waiting for years for my service dog, someone offered to donate an Akita to me to be my service dog.  I decided to try because I knew their heart.  Their heart.

Coco and I began our lives together and every night she slept on the pillow next to my head.  I had lots of amazing advice from trainers all over the world (thanks to YouTube) and Coco and I were inseparable.  And I realized an Akita could never go through staying with a family and then be taken from them and kenneled and then go to someone else.  Their need to bond begins at birth and it is as important as the air they breathe.

Coco has protected me twice from large loose dogs.  The first time she flipped the dog over on its side and jumped back at heel as soon as the owner gave his dog a kick and yelled at him to come. The second time she laid across my body and her eyes never looked away from me, even when the dogs were grabbing at her.  That time I went away in an ambulance and Coco was taken away in a police car.  When she realized we were going in separate places her ears went down and still she never took her eyes away from me.  I had to go to the hospital for a week.  She stayed with me in the hospital and my family took her for walks.  She was kind with everyone who cared for me and listened intently to the doctors when they were explaining my brain injury to me.

The other night a raccoon got into our yard.  A few steps into the house I heard terrible barking and screams in the backyard and I knew something bad was happening.  I grabbed a broom and put my clogs on and ventured out.  It was still pretty dark outside though the sun was beginning to rise.  I saw Coco was fighting with a raccoon.  I called her but she was still protecting me.  Protecting our safe refuge in the back yard.  I took the broom and got it in between their bodies and kept calling her to me.  The raccoon scurried up a tree and Coco again came to my side.  This time we were a team.  And a little later that is when I realized that while our Akitas love treats and they love praise and they love moving in sync on a leash; there is no greater joy to an Akita than knowing that they are connected with their human; their need to share a reciprocal understanding with us.  And when this is realized they are elated.  For those of us who have experienced this understanding and who appreciate the great treasure we have in our midst, everyday, Coco and I would like to say... isn't life a beautiful thing? 

Have a great day.  Enjoy your Akitas and walk in harmony with them.  Always let them know you see what they are telling you and they will tell you even more.

This is a video of Coco having fun with me.

How do I make my dog a Service Dog?

When I was in a nice store in the mall with Coco a man came up to me and complimented me on my beautiful service dog. He asked me where I got her and how much she was worth. And I replied, she was donated to me and the training was provided for us to go through.

Then he says, well maybe you could help me. I have a needy dog. How do I make my dog a service dog? Well, my friends and family know exactly how I feel about fake service dogs but I was polite. So I did not call him a jerk or ask him if he was disabled. No.

I just told him that a service dog provides at least 4 functions that without the service dog, the person who has the service dog NEEDS them to do, in order to function safely.

He told me about his little dog and how he goes to see his Dad in an old people's home. And I told him maybe he was thinking of having a therapy dog. One that could be trained and certified to go places and be a comfort to people. He then told me that his dog stays in the room but as soon as somebody opens the door he runs out. And I said well that's the difference, the training, isn't it. A service dog typically takes two or more years to train, depending on how complicated the needs are of the disabled person is they are serving. Yeah, that must be it, the training.

Oh, I couldn't do that now he said. My dog is three years old. I said yeah probably not and went on my way.

Unbeknownst to him Coco was working. He had blocked our way to go forward. So Coco turned in front of me and was on my right side and looking forward, showing me I would need to turn around, I couldn't go any further in that direction. If I was dizzy she would take me to a door or a window or a seat. If nothing is available she takes me to a wall to lean up against it and she cups her body around me until I'm okay again. It took us 2 years and 3 months of training and really everyday we are working and training.

And that is why able bodied people don't get it. The reason a service dog can go anywhere is because they are trained to take care of their human in all kinds of places and in all kinds of situations. They are not there because they are needy or because someone doesn't want to leave them home alone. They are working. Not out to play with other dogs. It is a huge sacrifice for them and for their owner. They become and are in many ways, each others world. Depending on each other for life, for safety and also for companionship.

You should have seen her. Her eyes locked into mine. Her body poised to take me out of the store and on with our lives.

Coco and Love and Trust

Coco and I took a lovely walk this morning. Storms are moving their way here so all outdoor activities need to be taken care of before they arrive. Coco was so gentle. She has understood so much about our walking. We have come to understand so much about our walking. All through our walk we were in complete unison. And I thought about how much I have learned from my Akitas. How much I have learned about trust and how to create a bond of trust between the large and small animals I have known. 

I have become more aware through the years because of the llamas and donkeys and Akitas and now even squirrels.  Because I now understand that they are always watching.  And in this way I learned to watch them too.  They all worked so hard to find a common language that I could understand.  So I would know what they wanted or needed.  Once I understood this principle I could apply it to the way I interacted with all of them.

When Coco and I were at the mall today, just walking around and having fun she was such a star. Its so cute. At one point she walked me over to an area that had a raised wall, maybe a foot or so high. She put her paw up on it and looked me in the eye.  I said all right girl. I sat and relaxed and she laid down beside me and we relaxed there together. My head had started hurting a little but I was ignoring it.  It was such a beautiful day. Then when Coco knew I was okay she got up and looked on.  And I knew I was okay to keep going and I put my hands on her back and she braced for me and we walked on. She is always so much smarter than I am. I love being able to trust her judgment. I love knowing that our trust is mutual.  She is the best service dog ever. Well maybe not ever ever but ever for me.  I love her so much.

Coco and Me and the Soda Machine

Coco and I have been enjoying a wonderful warm and sunny day.  I got some things done and then while I rarely eat out, and can't remember the last time I had a hot dog yet... it was that kind of a day.  Coco and I went out for just that, a hot dog.  I was surprised when the manager asked if Coco was certified and I told him yes and showed him her ID.  I told him I was glad he asked.  I had been hearing that people were taking their dogs places and saying they were service dogs so I was glad he asked.  I showed him what the ID looks like so he would know.

He gave me a hot dog for Coco.

And I bought one and a small Ginger Ale.  I went over to the machine and it had circles all over it.  But I couldn't figure out how to make it work.  I started to ask someone next to me and then Coco pulled me back.  She had tried to cup around the front of me but I wasn't paying attention.  So she backed up and pulled on the leash gently and stood there and looked at me.  She was absolutely insistent on me backing away from the machine.  I had forgotten to take my earplugs out.  It was a little breezy outside and I needed to wear them so I wouldn't get dizzy.

I told her okay and she took me to the closest chair and then she sat down and then she laid down.  For some reason she was adamant about me getting away from that machine.

After the people near the soda machine left I thought maybe she would let me go over there.  I still didn't get why she pulled me back from the machine.  She let me get up but still wasn't happy about me going to the machine.  I told her it was okay, I was safe and she relaxed.  Someone else came over and I asked how they made the machine work.  I pushed the selection and put the cup where it was supposed to go and pressed push and it made a pressurized sound.  Coco has been trained to help me so I don't get dizzy and fall down when I hear sudden noises.  That's why she took me to the chair.  I barely heard it because of the ear plugs but then it hit me... this must be a machine where it makes the soda... well I don't know how it works but it makes a high pressurized sound when it makes the soda and that was what Coco heard when we walked over there the first time. Some one was already making some only I didn't hear it.  This reminded me of the time she heard a moped that was on and parked and no-one was in sight, at the park.  She would not let me pass it.  She cupped between the bike and me and stopped and wouldn't let me get any closer.  So I reached over to touch the bike to tell her I see it and we're safe and then I felt the warmth and the hum of the engine running.  Exactly what Coco was trained to do.  To stop me from walking in front of an engine when it was on.  Until I told her I see it we're safe.  She was right then and she was right tonight.

I told her she was a good girl and by then the hot dogs were ready and we went outside.  The manager said a friendly bye and said if we needed anything to just let him know.  He was very sweet.  And Coco and I went outside and sat at a table and enjoyed eating a hot dog.  Coco's was without anything, including the bun.

Afterwards we went to the library and I got another Robert Crais book.  I can't wait to read it.

And my girl, I will always listen to her, always.

Coco Meets Another Service Dog in Whole Foods

We went into the Whole Foods store and right there in the veggie area was another service dog. He was a beautiful lab mix. His precious long nose was pointed to the floor and his sweet brown eyes were on - our girl Coco. She hopped a little. Truly, a very little gesture and I told her to heel and said, "No play, we are working." And that was it. I gave her a hand signal and like magic, she sat and had her eyes only on me. I picked out my veggies and talked with the other lady. We had heard about each other from the check out people in the store.

The cool thing was that a month ago,I would not have had the confidence to even be in the veggie department with the other service dog there. I would have avoided it and gone to another aisle. But I've been working a lot with Coco on her impulse control, especially with other dogs and felt like the time was right to keep shopping. We have been to speaking engagements where there were other service dogs there but this was so close.
She did wonderfully.

When I chose a checkout lane to go in, it turned out to be the same one the other service dog was in. Instead of avoiding it, we continued. A lady was between us. Both of our dogs were perfect!!!! They stood at heel and never paid attention to anything other than what they were there to do. It turns out some times the other lady has balance problems too so her service dog was primarily for bracing. Something Coco also does for me, especially when I get dizzy or it is really windy outside.

Coco will still react if another dog barks at her. But she responds with equal quickness to my heel, sit and watch me commands now. She remains alert and her focus is directly on me.

We have been practicing on our walks, sit and watch me and stay, whenever she pulls the least little bit we'll go even slower to one steps, sit and stay. After doing this a few times she relaxes and we go on our way. I use several things to let Coco know what to do. It might be a hand signal or a verbal command or a clicking sound or a gentle tug on her leash.

I like using hand signals from a distance. The lead when we are out enjoying our walk and clicking or a slight sound if I can't think of anything else fast enough. It's been working out great.

I've been putting tasty treats (a yummy bone) a couple of feet away from her and giving her a down stay and she is now completely relaxed and usually naps after twenty minutes. She does know where her bed is and she is learning "Go to your bed and lay down." It is still new but I am working on trying to remember to be consistant to do this every time I eat.

We've been watching the Stanley Cup festivities and now I'm going to get back to it. But I didn't want another day to go by without writing this down.

GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!