Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis is the bane of my existence.

[flecksable_flyer]

Hello Flecksable_flyer,

Welcome to Psoriasisclub.
You have chosen a poetic name, you’ll have to explain that some time.

Over here you are in a community of fellow sufferers indeed. We all care for each other, share information and try to have a good time.

During the day others will welcome your arrival here.
Take a look around and mingling in the discussions is the best way to get comfortable, they are all very friendly.

There may be people who will claim that they are the sane ones over here, don’t get carried away by that. 

Cheers,
Caroline.

Flecksable Flyer was the name of my German Shorthaired Pointer, Flecks for short. She was found by an internet friend running through traffic on the interstate, and she took her to the nearest vet hoping to find her home. I had just recently lost my last Giant Schnauzer (I used to show them), and when I heard that her home hadn't been found, I took her in so I could find her a good home. It just happened to be with us. 

My kids were in dog obedience 4-H, and I was a volunteer leader. I got permission to train her with the 2nd year and up kids. The next year they asked me if I would like to train in agility. I didn't know anything about it, but that never stopped me before. They suggested a trainer, and I started learning literally a week ahead of the kids that spring (I had to complete an obedience course before I started agility).

Flecks absolutely loved it. I had to use very small hand movements or she would run wildly through the course, and once jumped over the table by the short fence around the ring! Sometimes, the hand movements were so small, she'd stop in front of a jump and face me waiting to be told what to do. If they turn away from the jump, it's a refusal penalty, so I had to figure out how to get her over the jump without turning. I'd ask her to jump, but instead of swinging her butt to face away from the jump, she would just jump flat-footed and sideways over the jump! Thus she earned the name Flecksable Flyer.

When I became disabled, I found out I could use my own dog as a service dog, and by then she'd had four years of obedience, three years of agility, and had gone on several vacations with us. I modified some of her commands, added new ones, bought her a specialized harness for mobility, and she became my "cane." I lost her in 2009 to a brain tumor, but she never once failed me as a working dog.

I should fit in here perfectly. I'm definitely not sane myself. Just point me to the other crazy people, and things should work out fine. 

Thanks for the nice explanation Flecks. 
Your dog has meant a lot for you, joy and help, that is clear to me.
How are you dealing with your disabilities now? Do you have another dog? Or a robot? Or other help?

Caroline.

I do have two dogs currently. FENTON! (Oh, Jesus Christ!) is a female, mostly German Shepherd, named after the dog of YouTube fame. She behaves exactly like the original, so she doesn't get special privileges.

And Murdoch is ½Australian Shepherd/½ Malinois named after William Murdoch of the tv series Murdoch Mysteries. He's better behaved, but didn't get the exposure he needed as a puppy to be a service dog of any kind. I don't know how to add pictures, or I'd add them.

I was hoping that at least one of them would be big enough to train as another mobility dog, but neither one tops out much over 45lbs, so they are just unruly pets. They know the basics, but I haven't pushed specialized training. I'm hoping to eventually find "the" dog to train again, but at this point it would have to fall into my lap.

Flecks