Growing up with Golden Retrievers, Labs and Irish Setters, I became an avid dog lover. I currently have 2 small rescues, a miniature Schnauzer, and a miniature Boston Terrier as well as my stud Irish Setter (Ruby) and his girlfriend Maddie, a chocolate standard poodle and McKenzie, another standard poodle. I also have a pup from a previous litter, Flynn who has been trained to be my personal service dog. I live on over an acre with ¾’sfenced with privacy fence. Everyone lives inside and has access to a doggy door and big fenced in yard 24/7. And yes there are times I am very grateful for a king sized bed!! We are all one happy family!

I worked as a nurse for about 25 years up until 2017 when I suddenly became unable to walk, speak etc. after a routine surgery. After finally ruling out MS and many other conditions and disorders I went to John Hopkins in Baltimore 9 months later and was diagnosed with a rare and permanent neurological disorder that mimic’s having ALS, MS and Parkinson’s at the same time. I became severely depressed and felt a sense of loss of what to do with my life. I was used to taking care of people and now I was the patient….permanently. I wanted to continue to care for others even thru my limitations but wasn’t sure if I could and how.

 

An acquaintance gifted me with her young and beautiful standard chocolate poodle during this time to pair with my Irish Setter and mentored me on breeding. With lots of research and instruction, I found a way to help others by providing high quality puppies whether it is a great rounded, calm temperament and demeanor for a pet or as a potential service/therapy dog. At that time North Alabama Irishdoodles
was born! ……AND THEN CAME FLYNN!

 

Flynn was from a previous litter born July 4, 2018 to Mr. Ruby and Ms Maddie and was homed with a very active older lady in St. Petersburg, Florida when he was 12 weeks old. She took him to the beach and taught him left and right so that he could go with her on her bicycle rides. She said she had dogs all her life but Flynn was by far the easiest she had ever trained. Unfortunately, a few months later she became ill and was not going to be able to take him with her to where she was going for medical care and housing and she brought him back to me to rehome.

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During the next couple of months I worked to rehome him but no one qualified to give him the life I thought he deserved. I did rehome him once but I found out he was being abused just days after they got him  and I immediately took back custody of him. During this time, I noticed that he was starting to pick up on my medial issues. Of course I really didn’t know or understand what he was doing until I started putting 2 and 2 together and the trainer later confirming his actions. He began alerting me prior to my tremors by constantly pawing at my hands to keep them down and eventually lying his body across me arms.

 

He also started to alert me to low blood sugars, dizziness and passing out by lying down on me where I could not get up and by a relentless strong nudging of my hands while standing or walking. He would walk tightly around me to counterbalance me to prevent me from falling which was very frequent symptom during one of my flares. He was naturally blocking people from getting within my space and allow room in case I did fall. With sensory issues and the lack of at times, he would sit behind my legs and be my watch out and if anyone came up close that he felt was not right, he would let them and myself know with a little growl.

 

At this time he was close to being 9 months old which is the age they have to be to take the test to see if they have what it takes to be a service dog candidate. I never imagined or thought I needed a service dog with my disorder but I was very curious and for kicks and giggles took him to a national known organization, Off Leash K9 to have him evaluated. The trainer advised me she only passes 1 out of 300 to move on to service training. Flynn passed within 5 minutes of a 30 minute test!! He spent 3 weeks at training and other than his natural alerts and tasks mentioned above, he does Deep Pressure Therapy, mobility and balance, blocking, “get”, and bring the item that I drop to me and alerts to many other issues. He is a natural but we continue to train and work on new tasks almost daily. I feel that between my disabilities and my experience with Flynn that I now have a purpose in my life again and I have made it my mission to provide the very best that I can with my program and my puppies to provide you a great furever companion.