Adventures of Huckleberry Pup (Vol. 4)
Time to check in with our adopted Patriot Assistance Dog Huckleberry (aka Huck). Receiving the training necessary to help a veteran in need is what the PADs project is all about. Trainers work hard to teach Huck and other dogs the necessary skills to support a veteran’s transition from active duty to civilian life. Below are some core skills Huck is learning that will enable him to support the veteran he will one day be paired with.
Help Veterans Suffering from Anxiety Attacks
Military personnel who frequently encounter dangerous (at times life-threatening) situations during active duty often return home with severe anxiety issues, as well as depression. Service dogs like Huckleberry help to alleviate the intense anxiety and stress a veteran experiences and play a key role in supporting their return to mainstream civilian living.
The trainers are teaching Huck skills and commands to help with anxiety attacks such as:
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Emotional Response- How to recognize and respond to sad emotions. When Huckleberry detects his owner is sad, he will lick them to help snap them out of their sadness and anxiety they’re experiencing.
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Watch My Back-
Getting anxious when someone comes up unexpectedly from behind is quite common for combat veterans. Trainers are working to teach Huck the “watch my back” command. The command is designed to alert Huckleberry to stand behind his owner and alert them when someone is approaching from the rear.
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Get My Bag-
Veterans may have a bag where they keep medications to treat anxiety attacks. The “get my bag” command alerts Huck his owner needs their bag in a hurry. Hearing this command is a trigger for Huckleberry to retrieve the bag and get it to his owner quickly.
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Take Me Out-
Getting out of a cramped space or a building where there are a lot of people is important when a veteran is having a panic attack. The “take me out” command alerts Huckleberry to quickly find the exit to the building and get his owner to it.
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The Nudge-
Nudging is another important skill Huck is learning. Interrupting a panic attack is the primary purpose of this skill. However, a nudge is also used to alert a veteran to something they may not have noticed
Help with Day-to-Day Tasks
A disabled veteran also needs help with a variety of day-to-day tasks. Trainers are working hard to teach Huckleberry the skills needed to help a disabled veteran in a number of ways, including:
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Open the Door- The “open the door” command alerts Huck that a door needs to be opened immediately. Handicap doors that require the push of a button to open are the most common reason for this command
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Get My Shoes-
Getting dressed in the morning without some help is a challenge for a disabled veteran. The “get my shoes” command triggers Huck to find and retrieve his owner’s shoes.
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Picking Up Dropped Items-
Accidents happen and things get dropped. Veterans in need of help with retrieving dropped items will have no problem with Huckleberry around. Trainers report that Huck is rather good at picking up dropped items quickly.
Huckleberry is learning numerous other commands designed to support the veteran he’s paired with and make their lives more stress-free. Integrand is honored to support the PADs campaign and happy to know that Huck is well on his way to certification as a Patriot Assistance Dog!
Your support for PADs will help ensure quality training for dogs to support veterans in dire need of their services. Donating is easy via the PADs Campaign Page. Your generous support is a meaningful way to thank a veteran for the sacrifice they made for our country.
