“Smart Paws brought a warm feeling, gentleness and love, [and] knowledge of animal/bird life. There is pain, but also hope and humor. Importantly, [there is] encouragement for others to follow, without fear.”
Helga Milberg
Dog trainer and board member of Tucson-based Handi-Dogs

.A good dog will change your life. When Eloise met Gamble, her first golden retriever, she befriended a gentle, generous soul who understood the art of being a healing presence. Years later, when overwhelming depression and debilitating physical challenges forever changed her lifestyle, outlook, and career, her life went to the dogs. Research about service dogs and the profound impact they can have on a life quickly became her one life-affirming activity. The partnership she envisioned would provide comfort and support by giving her new purpose, allowing her to conquer the many challenges her new life presented.

A mental health counselor, artist, and animal lover, Eloise emphasizes the miraculous competencies of dogs who literally and figuratively open new doors for countless people challenged by physical or mental health problems.

This is also a story about a very special dog named Rusty. Through Rusty, Eloise provides useful information for others interested in bringing a service animal into their lives. Eloise and Rusty explore how dogs have responded to our changing needs from prehistoric times to the present. Eloise’s lifelong experiences with animals and her study of the human-dog bond, including research into the evolution of the dog and their special intelligence, are candidly reflected in her tales about pets and partners.

Smart Paws

iUniverse, Inc.

Contents

Preface..............................................................ixAbout This Book......................................................xi1. A Time Together...................................................32. Choosing Recovery.................................................63. Ah Ha.............................................................104. Expanding My World................................................125. A Creative Childhood..............................................146. Anthropomorphism..................................................177. Animals in Cultures...............................................198. Moving to Arizona.................................................219. Shama.............................................................2410. Back to School...................................................2611. A Job............................................................2812. School Again.....................................................3013. Art, History and Therapy.........................................3214. Growing Up With Dogs.............................................3415. Learning Map.....................................................3616. Gamble Before Rusty..............................................3817. Raccoons and Friends.............................................4018. Campus Pals......................................................4219. Cats and a Monkey................................................4420. Search and Find..................................................4921. Utah.............................................................5222. Keeping Rusty....................................................5523. Along Came Camping...............................................5724. Initiated Camper.................................................6025. Beluga Butt......................................................6226. Bonding..........................................................6427. Velcro Dog.......................................................6628. Improvement......................................................6829. Discovery........................................................7130. Certification....................................................7431. Making It My Space...............................................7832. Sonoran Desert...................................................8033. Disappearing Act.................................................8234. Dancing in Mexico................................................8435. Birds at the Beach...............................................8636. Getting Comfortable..............................................8837. Outings..........................................................9038. Frightening Moment...............................................9239. Crowds...........................................................9440. Pals.............................................................9641. Adora............................................................9842. Lyric............................................................10143. Katie Now and Bella..............................................10344. Happy Home Until.................................................10545. The Girls and Lisa...............................................10846. Ozzie............................................................11147. Charlie..........................................................11448. Smokey Bear......................................................11749. Making Friends...................................................12050. Sashay and Boots.................................................12251. Squawking Parrot, Belly Dancer and Orangutan.....................12552. Dogs in Unique Places............................................12953. Beauty and the Bees..............................................13154. The Ferry Ride...................................................13455. Travels East.....................................................13656. The Comfort Toy..................................................13857. What's To Like About Grooming....................................14058. Family Member....................................................14559. The Nose Knows...................................................14860. Long Ago Lessons.................................................15061. From Wolves and Art..............................................15362. Tea Cup to Giant Mastiff.........................................15763. Traditional Dogs of Asia.........................................15964. Doggie Intelligence..............................................16165. Marvelous Dog Brains.............................................16566. Privileges.......................................................16867. Our Best Friends.................................................17068. Stop That Critter................................................17269. Nutrition Sense..................................................17470. Health Care Advances.............................................17671. Animal Protection................................................17972. Clever Ones......................................................18173. Adaptability.....................................................18574. Partnerships.....................................................18775. New Dimensions...................................................19076. Picking Your Pooch...............................................19277. Family Values....................................................19778. Natural Wisdom...................................................20079. What It Takes to be a Service Dog................................20380. Helper Paws......................................................20681. Our Impact on Others.............................................20982. Thoughtless Treatment............................................21183. My Partner, My Friend............................................21384. Understanding....................................................21685. Playful Learning.................................................22086. Why a Rusty......................................................22487. The Right Partnership............................................22788. Rescue Me........................................................23089. Well Behaved Partners............................................23390. Some Little Facts to Plan By.....................................23591. A Successful Training Model......................................23792. Training Challenges..............................................23993. Treats and Training..............................................24194. Doggies' Special Needs...........................................24395. Life Lessons.....................................................246Post Script..........................................................249A Dog's Creed........................................................251About the Authors....................................................252Acknowledgements.....................................................253Bibliography.........................................................254Endnotes.............................................................256

Chapter One

"God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have...