The life of Service Dog in Training Atlas and his spoonie handler Violet. This channel is dedicated to show what life is like with a service dog and chronic illness, the journey of owner training a service dog with multiple invisible disabilities, and educating about service dog laws and etiquette. Come along and see what it’s like and hopefully learn something along the way! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helperpupatlas
It took me 7 year to get my service dog. I researched breeders across the country wanting to ensure the puppy came from excellent breeding conditions and from genetically health tested parents. Everything was perfect...until it wasn't. My puppy started getting sick 3 weeks after I brought him home, but it was off and on and the local vets could not figure out what was wrong. My puppy was super smart and progressed rapidly during his training in spite of being sick occasionally. However, by the time he was 6 months old my puppy was so sick and ended up in the ICU of an out of state Animal Hospital ER for 15 days. There he was diagnosed as a special needs dogs with 3 life long incurable genetic diseases. This broke my heart as I knew he was on borrowed time. I contacted the breeder to let her know what was going on since these diseases were genetic (but not common to golden retrievers so these tests were not performed.). From that day forward this breeder was not supportive and denied everything I shared with her even though I had shared all medical records with her. When the day came for my puppy to cross the Rainbow Bridge, the breeder was upset with me and told me I should have given the puppy back to her and she would have found a vet to heal him. My puppy was under the care of many vets and consultative services of Texas A & M University Vet School and all the professionals were in agreement about the diagnoses and in was in so much pain and suffering. My breeder lacked any compassion for what my puppy went through or for me losing the puppy I have loved and cared for so much. I would never recommend my breeder to anyone. She turned my world upside down and did not care at all about what my puppy and I went through. Now my puppy is gone and once my heart heals I will need to do the process all over. Would love to know what breeder you used if you would be so kind. I have a genuine disability and truly need a service dog. Thank you for sharing your story and I am so happy for you and your sweet puppy. Wishing the two of you a beautiful life long journey!
this makes me feel so much better. i also had an experience like this during our first time at an aquarium. my family was rushing me and complaining, it was a very small and crowded aquarium (literally you just walk through hallway) and so we couldn’t just calm down and have her focus without it being interrupted by my family rushing us, my mom talking to her, or strangers and their kids going in her face. i had an anxiety attack and after some DPT i just rushed to the exit - 100% tunnel vision and my family also left me bc they were “embarrassed” by my anxiety attack :-). due to this i didn’t notice the glass floor/aquarium floor and my girl kept slipping (she’s long haired we didn’t have her shoes and the glass had 0 traction) and this made her panic and freak out and we were surrounded by a crowd of people. i was humiliated and paranoid ppl would think we are fake. in the beginning, and when i got her to focus and comfy/not overwhelmed in an isolated spot, she was doing good. but the rushing, new environment, etc really stressed us both out and my own panic ruined my handling performance😀
Our own anxieties and worries can definitely get in the way of training sometimes, and our dogs will feed off it for sure. So I totally get it! We all got to start somewhere and what’s important is that we’re making overall progress little by little no matter the set backs. Also knowing your dogs lines as far as what their ready for and not is super important, but sometimes we don’t know something until we dip our toes (and paws) into that situation. You got this!! 🫶🏼❤️✨
Atlas is a very handsome Golden Retriever! The thing about Golden Retrievers is that you don’t have to bother saying “Fetch!” to them! They’ll run and fetch things all day! Interestingly, the original Breeder of Golden Retrievers was a guy named Lord Tweedmouth! I am not making that up! He lived on the banks if Loch Ness in Scotland in the 1800’s and there he developed a dog with a great love of the water and a desire to hunt.
My diabetic medical alert service dog is a ShihTzu. He is retired now since being diagnosed with a heart murmur in December. He is 16, he still alerts at home. He is very sad when I leave without him. I walk with a Walker with a seat so no escalators. Of course safety is very important to me so I never walked on a escalator with him. As a person who is disabled, FYI if there is a escalator then there is a elevator as well and personally I would just take the elevator. Even when I could walk perfectly normally I avoided escalators like the plague n took a elevator. N I personally would never take any dog on a escalator. I would be Too scared of my dog getting injured. Cocco didn't start going everywhere with me until he was 3yrs. Old and perfectly trained for behaviors. I never had a issue with his focus on me. Cocco started out life as my cousins dog. My cousin being in a motorized wheelchair had Cocco who had a natural talent of alerting my cousin of too high or too low blood sugar levels. So I worked with Cocco and I took him to class for service dogs. At 3 he doing everything he needed to do. So we started taking Cocco to doctors visiting, n restaurants and every where with us. Then my cousin got stage 4 neck cancer, he beat it I believe because Cocco was by his side. He had BP issues that Cocco could detect changes. I had moved in my cousins house temporarily to drive him to his treatment's 5days a week. Cocco became extremely attached to me. After my cousin beat cancer I would go back to my cousin's house for visiting, that's when right after getting there one day Cocco handed me my cousin's glucometer n insisted I needed to check my blood sugar levels. I was a RN the only possible effect of diabetes was a headache to give me any clue that I was diabetic. But Cocco was 100% right my blood sugar levels were dangerously high. That's when my Cousin gave me Cocco. I trained Cocco for my cousin but really was training him for me in the long run. My uncle was a very awesome dog trainer and breeder of German Shepherds and he trained all of my dads service dogs for his deafness. Even before I was born in 1966 my dads dog went everywhere with him n to his work. My dads dogs were all amazing. They all understood sign language for commands as well as voice commands. My dad was a head electrician for a very large tire building company and all of my dads dogs were his ears. With a little help disabilities don't have to be life altering. All of my dads dogs were just the little help he needed to live a normal life. And his dogs were all trained to protect my mom and me. His dogs really didn't like my brother because my brother didn't like my dads dogs. My brother had to clean the yard. Service dogs are amazing and I am grateful for having had them in my whole life.
I recommend loop switch there great for sensory overloed in a shop because I dident relise I hear everything around me when I don't have them in just thought u let u know there also very dicreate and u can change the amount of noise you hear, your after motivating to get up and train my assistant dog :)
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I just looked it up and this is something that could definitely help me! Also I’m so glad I’m able to help with motivation so you can train your pup. Hearing that gives me motivation to keep on training and posting videos🫶🏼🥹✨
Hey, thank you so much for commenting! It’s been almost a year since we went and we went with someone who worked there so he knew all the potty spots- no map needed. So unfortunately I don’t have a map, but I remember the two main ones we went to were the ones near men in black and then the one next to what was at the time Poseidon’s Fury. I remember the Poseidon’s Fury one is tucked away behind the bathrooms in that area, so not much foot traffic and more private which was super nice! I’m sorry I don’t have a map, next time we go I’ll definitely make sure to grab a map and mark where the potty spots are to show everyone! Also I’m so excited for you! You’re gonna have SO much fun!!! Best of luck to you and your pup🫶🏼✨😊🦮
For anyone reading this: I know that dog training can be difficult sometimes, but you're doing great. Keep up the good work, and your dog (and your own sanity) will thank you for it! ❤️💕
Ello! :D I have a couple questions! :D 1 How old was he when you got him? 2 What was the first thing you ever taught him? 3 how did you train him not to bark at other dogs? 4 how did you teach him to be able to be off leash in a store? :D 5 where did u get his silicone treat pouch? Also dont feel like u have to answer all this i know its alot :3 Love the gear looks amazing with his coat color! :D
Some questions for the q&a if it’s not too late! 1. could you explain how you use the beep on the e collar for recall? I’ve been trying to do the same with my dog but i’d like to hear your process on it. 2. what are atlas’s favorite treats? favorite toys? 3. Are there any other tasks you’re planning on teaching him? 4. What tasks or training do you want to improve on with him?
Questions: (there are many lol 😅) 1. How long did it take to train Atlas to use the doggy treadmill? Does he like it/is it fairly easy to get him to do the treadmill when there's bad weather or is it just an activity he tolerates, and he would rather go outside (maybe still in bad weather lol)? 2. Is Atlas allowed on furniture in your home? What factors led you to that decision? 3. Do you have Atlas interact with other dogs "off duty" in a dog park or pet friendly store, etc.? I was thinking about getting a service dog and wondering how to balance their need for socialization and learning how to communicate with other dogs (like Atlas being able to read another dog while on duty telling him, don't get close to me, so Atlas can give him more space) and not develop fear of other dogs from lack of dog contact or be unable to communicate and understand what other dogs are trying to communicate with him. 4. Is Atlas your first dog? 5. Did you use a professional trainer for any part of Atlas's training? 6. When Atlas was not ready for public access, what did you do with Atlas if you had to leave for an extended amount of time like going on vacation for several days or being away for 8 hours or more for work/school? 7. How do you balance Atlas's training needs, his off duty needs (like play time), work/ school, and you just living your life? Do you have a schedule or system to help make sure it stays mostly balanced? 8. Do you let Atlas greet as many people he wants while off duty or not training? Just wondering if you do, and if it causes confusion for him knowing when it is okay or not okay to say hi to people. I was thinking about getting a service dog and wondering how to balance their need for human attention and not develop fear of strangers from lack of stranger human contact. 9. Oddly specific question: In the airport, sometimes there's a security dog that sniffs you for contraband (and every person) , so just wondering if this has ever happened to you while you were with Atlas, and what the dog to dog interaction was like.
Q&A question: im planning on getting a puppy to train to be my service dog but im really nervous, what were some things you were nervous about before you got atlas?
How much longer does it take you in the morning to get atlas and you ready instead of just you. Im getting a sd and wanted to know how much itlll sway my routine
Thanks for sharing the new trail you guys found. It looks like a really pretty place and atlas definitely seem to be enjoying himself. He did great with the off leash recalls and obedience. Any tips and tricks on how you build those skills would be appreciated. It’s currently something I’m working on/struggling with with my SD. She’s really good with her recall and staying by my side in public weather I’m holding the leash or not, but when she’s off leash having sniffy time at the park or some thing it’s sometimes difficult to get her to come straight back to me from whatever she’s doing.
Thank you so much for watching! Atlas definitely enjoyed himself and I think we found a new favorite trail for all of us! As far as building that off leash skill, a long line has been one of the biggest tools I used to build that skill in Atlas from a young age. Starting from in the house on a tether, then in the backyard, then in the front yard, then on walks, and eventually in fields and areas he likes to sniff! Starting from in the house to help build the skill while tethered helped with him learning what the recall words were and what was expected of him in a non distracting environment, and then slowly building up the criteria by slowly moving to more and more distracting environments. Also repetition plays a huge part in helping them learn. Using that long line tether to help gently lure them back to you is a big help in teaching them that they should come when called even if they’re distracted. For me personally I see his off leash free time as a privilege. He lost that privilege for months up until very recently because he was unreliable, so I had to start from the ground up and keep him on his long line until he became very solid again. So don’t feel discouraged or like you’re a bad handler if it feels like you aren’t making any progress and you’re sliding back! Also for us personally the e collar has helped with clearer communication- we don’t use the stim, only the tone and it’s enough of a sound in his ear to help redirect his attention to me. But I know the e collar is not for everyone and I definitely recommend working with a professional to help condition the dog to it if the e collar is what you decide is best for you and your team! 🫶🏼
@@helperpupatlas7377 hi Violet. Thanks so much for sharing Your training experiences/tips and tricks for building those of flesh off leash skills. I recently did purchase a long line so we had something to take to the beach that I wouldn’t mind getting sandy and muddy and give her some free space while also keeping her connected to me but it hadn’t occurred to me to necessarily use that as part of our off leash manners building while in places like the park but it definitely sounds like a good idea. We had a similar experience where I recall off leash she was really good initially but recently when she’s in places she really enjoys sniffing it’s harder to get her coming directly back to me I think it’s because we’re going out to them less now that I’m working in the office and it’s colder so she’s just more curious about the smells because we don’t do it as much but I still really want to work on the skill and you’re right there is nothing wrong with taking a few steps back and reworking some things in order to need to make them more solid. Dogs change as people due as times and circumstanc that they’re in evolve so it makes sense for the things we need to work on would alter as well. Thanks for always being willing to be a supportive and encouraging voice and for sharing anything you have experience with that might be helpful. I really appreciate it. And I’m glad you guys all found a new trail that you enjoy and that you were able to rework with Atlas until he’s now earned back off leash time.
Hey like i know you did service dog 🐶 gear but I do have a question for you like did you know about Rurrwear Boots and Socks 🧦 or no but it's not hard to try on your service dog 🐶 at least once
Hey! I haven’t done a gear tour video yet just cause I’m trying to get a little more gear before doing a video like that. I have heard of ruffwear and I’ve heard great things about them, but at the moment I can’t afford much especially cause I just moved states! Thank you for the recommendation!! I’ll keep them in mind for the future✨
Omg i too am disabled, working as a Doordash driver to pay the bills because no jobs are hiring and i can only apply to certain jobs because of my disabilities! It gives me hope that you were able to find a job, and i'm so happy you are in a better place now! Im manifesting that for me! 😊❤️
Aww thank you so much and I’m glad my video could help you feel that you’re not alone in your journey!! I hope you’re able to find something soon and that it’s a sustainable job with your disabilities❤️✨
I have a disability and need a dog but I still have to go to work every day and be a normal person and you’re Chanel helps me to keep my chin up and positive. Thanks for the awesome content and the positive vibes you guys give out.
Aww thank you so so much!! I’m so glad my content is helping and creating positivity🥹 Also I completely understand- having to go to work and pretend to be as normal as possible. Just because you don’t or can’t bring your service dog to work doesn’t mean you don’t need them in your everyday life and it doesn’t make you any less disabled! You are valid and you got this! I’m cheering you on🫶🏼✨🦮🥹
Hi! I really like to follow the journing of your service dog in training! Thanks for sharing with us 🥰 Do you have any tips for training with an elevator when the dog is a bit scared to get in?
Aww thank you so much for watching and supporting our videos and our journey!! It means more than you know to hear that we are able to help someone through our videos🫶🏼✨ As far as advice I say start small by just working near the elevator and slowly work your way into the elevator without actually going up or down. Gauge how your pup is doing, don’t go past their threshold and don’t move to the next step until they are comfortably and reliable listening to cues without fear. Take it literally step by step working far away from the elevator, taking a step forward when they seem comfortable and continue until you’re able to step foot in the elevator. Make sure to praise a ton and use high value treats! I’m not a professional, but that is how I tend to approach training challenging or scary things with Atlas. And if your pup is not showing progress or getting worse or even if you feel you aren’t able to work through it with them definitely get a professional trainers help! I hope that helps❤️✨
Thanks for making videos. I've been looking into getting a service dog for the last year or so and i appreciate being able to see your experience with it.
Aww thank you so much for commenting!! It truly means the world to me to hear that it’s helping someone! Also I’m so excited for you and wish you the best of luck on your service dog journey!!🫶🏼✨🦮
job searching is very difficult! i used to work as a waitress and took a six month period away from working all together because it wore on me so much. i know work at a game store and it doesn't pay very well but they are accommodating. it's a struggle to find something that fits, something that pays a livable wage, something that isn't constantly causing flare ups, it's hard! being disabled is hard. be kind to yourself and remember you're doing your best, and if able-bodied people felt the way you do everyday they'd be calling out sick to work. it's okay to struggle 💜
Thank you so much!!! I needed to hear all this! It is really hard to find a job that gives some sort of balance when you have a disability. And I often forget the aspect of if a “normal” or “able” person were to feel and go through what I do on the daily with my health they would be going to the ER and/or urgent care and taking time off. Thank you so so much for your kind and encouraging message!! I needed it more than you know❤️🫶🏼✨
The vest is from One Tigris it’s the Apollo One Short back style vest. I got it from Amazon, but you can also go to the one Tigris website and find it there I think!
@@helperpupatlas7377 Thank you so much. I have a 7 mo. old English Cream Golden Retriever puppy that I am training to be a service dog. I am getting professional help as well but am training a lot by myself. It's not for the weak for sure. Thanks for your content.
You’re welcome!! Thank you for watching and supporting our videos and our journey!!! The service dog journey and training is certainly not for the faint of heart! I wish you and your pup the best of luck❤️✨🫶🏼🦮
Thank you for the update Violet. Congratulations on the new job. You’re definitely right that was easier said than done it’s so important not to let yourself get your self-worth wrapped up in job searching, or even a job you have. I have been doing the same thing looking for a job as a recent college graduate I really discovered that a lot of my identity was wrapped up and being a student and then once I wasn’t one anymore and it took longer went by that I intended when I had not found a job, especially when a job I had studied for and I got a degree related to and really wanted an applied it was really hard to except that my putting all that effort in wasn’t getting me anywhere and so it was really easy to view my self-worth as tied to not finding the job and so meaning I was somehow not worth as much as I was when I was a student. Which is of course ridiculous. We are still the same people whether we working or not working and just as valuable regardless of whether or not we are holding the job we’re looking for. You’re also right there any job is found to have pros and cons. Right now I’m working a temporary position and in many ways it’s the hardest one I’ve had specifically because of the job tasks and my disability. But it’s also very nice because my coworkers are super friendly, my boss is very patient and understanding, and the office is a really great environment for my service dog. So I think it’s important to acknowledge knowledge it’s both positive and negative come with any role we work. And then any job will have positive and negative whether someone working with a disability or is working And does not have one. Also, congratulations on the subscribers. And I for one am very glad that you chose to make your channel and be part of the community in your own way because you’re one of the most genuine, authentic, kind, down to earth, real, honest handilers I’ve come across. And your videos have any time made me feel less alone both as a service dog handler and someone who is involved in the training process for task and other work with my service dog. And also just in general
Aww thank you so much!! It brings me so much happiness to know that sharing our journey has helped you and others. I always appreciate you commenting, watching, and supporting our videos and our RU-vid channel and always hope you and your pup are doing well!❤️✨ Yes 100% it’s easier said than done to not wrap your self worth and identity in the things we do. It all always just kind of blends together and it’s hard to separate yourself from your job, school, training, etc when it feels like those things are all we do. I’m so grateful to have finally found a job, but doing doordash has taught me to try and not wrap up my identity and self worth in my work. Humans are so much more complex than any job title! 🫶🏼
It’s simply because I don’t want him to become 100% reliant on treats. I want him to also be able to take my praise as a reward. With him becoming fully trained I’ll still use treats to let him know he’s doing good once in while or if we’re in a unique scenario in public that I’ve never trained him through or if we are going out for the soul purpose of training. Also life happens and sometimes I won’t always have treats on me! Now that he’s almost considered fully trained he rarely needs treats and takes my praise as a reward. If you treat 100% of the time when they already know something they expect it 100% of the time and may end up not wanting to work if there aren’t treats involved. I hope this makes sense!
I got it from Amazon! It’s called a Barkbay tactical vest! I’m not sure if they make them the same way still since I first got him this vest in 2021. Also thank you so much!! ❤️✨
It’s all good! I haven’t made a business email for my socials yet so that companies can contact me. All I have is my personal email currently. I’m not comfortable giving that out through the comments since it’s very public. If there was another way to private message I’d give it to you there, but when you do get an Instagram account please reach out! I’d love to showcase your products!✨
I totally recommend waiting after saying leave it a wait for that holding stare duration so start at 5 seconds and slowly increase I’d also recommend not giving a treat straight away!! I did that with my girl and it’s worked very well! But your progress is so amazing and incredible to see so well donee
@@helperpupatlas7377 oh yeah it definitely something I struggled with too! It took a while to get hang of haha!! And your so welcome I love your videos
When the ladies said they were very impressed with your work with Atlas I felt heaps of pride for you!!! Atlas is such a good boy and it’s been amazing to see him grow with you since you got him!
Aww thank you so so much Samara!!!! That makes my heart so happy to hear 😭❤️ Also I hope you and Auggie have been doing good!! I’m so sorry we’ve kind of disappeared, so much has happened in the past month and I’m so overwhelmed with everything. But know I’m always here to talk and that I keep you and Auggie in my thoughts and send all the good luck and vibes your way✨🫶🏼🥹❤️
@@helperpupatlas7377 it’s no problem at all! I KNOW how life gets sometimes (that bugger)! We are here always as well! Proud of y’all and so lucky to have gotten to start a friendship recently!
My sweet 3 yo SD was doing great (she passed her AKC CGC both basic & urban) & her PA work was fantastic….then we were rear ended in traffic! We weren’t hurt but she freaked out about getting back into the car. We spent 9 mo working w/our vet & trainer w/o success & I had to wash her from SD work!😩 now I’m watching ur vids with a new perspective - training a new SDiT! I hope my new pup follows in Atlas’s paw prints! Thx for sharing ur journey!🐾
Aww thank you so so much!!! We definitely aren’t perfect, but knowing that our videos is helping you and others is so motivating! I’m so sorry to hear that happened with your other SD!! That is truly one of my biggest fears and can definitely cause a pup to wash from service work. That is so devastating that happened to you.. but I am so happy to hear that you were able to get another SD prospect and are beginning training!! It’s always so exciting, but I’m sure it’s also bittersweet for you because of what happened with your previous SD. Atlas and I wish you both the best of luck and I hope to hear more updates about you guys’ journey!!!❤️✨🦮🥹
thanks for posting this. Don't be too hard on yourself. He's a puppy still trying to master this and it will take some time. I appreciate what you've done so I can train my little girl well she's not that little but she has a long ways to go.
Aww thank you so much!! I hope to hear more about you and your pups journey!! Best of luck and Atlas and I are sending all the good vibes your way in your training✨🫶🏼🦮
This help a lot. I want to learn to train my own pup. So my son can have service dog for the deaf. And yes there are service dogs that help with deaf people if they don't need it. But mine so
Service dogs are awesome! Be aware that not all dogs have what it takes to learn tasking and do it reliably. 80% of dogs that go through training dont pass. So if your pup doesnt show an interest in learning dont force it.
My dog always sat on me all the time even layed on me it was very calming unfortunately Australia public transport denied my permit and as I travel by public transport I had to surrender my dog .. makes me very sad that Australia is such a harsh country on people who need there service dogs for daily life .. the Discusting discrimination on people with disabilities in Australia is sickening..service dogs are the best
I’m so incredibly sorry to hear that you’ve had to deal with such awful discrimination and treatment. I don’t know much about the service dog laws in other countries, but I really want to learn and even spread awareness about the laws in different countries and not just in the United States. I wish there was something I could do to help. I only wish that someday you get justice for what was done to you and your service dog🫶🏼😔
You and atlas are such a good team. Congratulations on all the progress you made and how well he’s doing. Also give yourself kudos for handling those ladies so smoothly I know from personal experience how it can be difficult managing your dog and yourself and your condition and the public all simultaneously while trying to educate and also get through with your shopping and complete what you’re actually there in the store to do it so good job with all that.
Thank you so so much!! It is definitely hard to constantly have to divide my attention so I can focus on what needs done and also handle Atlas, let alone adding a third element of trying to educate the public! It’s hard for me to talk to strangers and hard for me to process what they say and my responses, but it’s something I know I definitely need to work on. I really appreciate how you’ve followed our journey and been such a huge source of support and cheering us on!! You have no idea how much it encourages me and how much it helps me to know we’re not alone in this journey! Also I hope you and your pup have been well and have been making big leaps in your training✨🫶🏼🦮❤️
