Twin Trees Tommy Service Dog

Tommy, Show Dog or Service Dog;

How can he be both?

By Karen Evasuik

I was in an auto accident in 2002. I was a passenger in a van going to a dog show. My collarbone was dislocated and all but one disk in my neck was injured. Before the accident I had headaches but nothing like what I started to experience. Migraines that would last for days. Spots and waves of queasiness. Splitting pain from light. Migraines that hurt to put my head on a pillow. It would help if I could catch one coming on, and take medication for it. Since then I've had many surgeries and procedures on my neck and a couple on my shoulder. About six months after the accident, my Keeshond “Tommy”, started waking me in the middle of the night. It was strange of him to do so. He always slept through the night, mostly in the middle of my husband Steve and I - upside down with a big smile on his face. I would put him outside thinking that he needed to go out to potty and that was why he was waking me. Tommy would just stand at the back door and look at me like I was nuts. During one of these outside trips I discovered the need to take medication; a headache was coming on. At first I didn't connect the two until we were out to dinner with friends, talking about it. My friend put me in touch with the people who run C.A.R.E. We registered Tommy as a Service Dog (his designation falls under Seizure Alert or Medical Alert) and started our training. For me training was mostly listening to Tommy.

I found that Tommy would interrupt me when I was on the computer too long, again a headache coming on. He'd just put his paws up on my arm and look at me. He never jostles me. I think he knows it would hurt me. Tommy is always very gentle with me. I personal have a theory that most dogs could do what Tommy does. If and that is a big if, their people listen. I've been asked what does it matter if your awake, didn't you feel it coming on? My concentration is shot. When I am working on the computer I am working so hard to remember what I am doing that I have to be broken out a trance like state. I am have short-term memory loss. Very frustrating! Training for Tommy has been more on the obedience side. He's been a successful show dog; it wasn't a hard step for him. Only two things have been hard -sitting is one, when he was trained to stand no matter what! The other thing is not to greet everyone he meets. He has a Service Dog apron and on it says” Please don't pet me … I am Working.”

It is funny how complete strangers will feel perfectly comfortable coming up to me and asking about Tommy and of coarse asking to pet him. When we put on his apron, he turns into another dog, all business. It doesn't mean that he doesn't want to be petted; he almost vibrates with being “Good”. So far we have been on six round trip flights on a plane and many train and cab rides. We meet all kinds of people and have made many lasting friends. Most people can't believe he's a Show Dog and a Service Dog. Like he could be one not the other!

On our way to the AKC Eukanuba Invitational in Los Angeles 2003 , Tommy alerted for the first time in public at the airport. I had explained to the lady beside me all about Tommy (yet again) and what he does. People can't help but ask. While we were talking, Tommy gently put his paws on my lap and tried to look deep in my eyes: I had a bad one coming on. I put him back in a down and tried telling tell him we just needed to wait five more minutes (they had called attention to board) and I would have water to take medication. Tommy finally jumped in my lap, like saying, "hey listen to me!" I guess it scared the Lady. She asked if she could help and very nicely went running down the concourse to the newsstand and bought me a Diet Coke. She came back at a run and I took my meds, Tommy just laid down calm as could be. She couldn't believe that she got to see him work. Yes, I was awake and yes I did feel it coming on, it was just a conformation of our bond that he would do that in very busy public place.

When we are on a plane, Tommy sleeps at my feet. Most of the time they put us in the bulkhead, which has a bit more floor space. He has gotten so use to take off and landing he hardly raises his head.

It was fun having interviews at Westminster in 2004. Jan Corrington took good care of me after Tommy won the Breed. Jan introduced me to Charlsie Cantey. What a nice Lady! She wanted to know all about Tommy and would I mind if they did an interview on live TV before we went in the ring? Here I am still in shock from winning the breed and she wants me to talk, before going in the ring? We worked it out so she would do all the talking and she had it already to go. When the time came we were in position with a helper to bait Tommy off camera. The spotlight went up and Charlsie started a test run and suddenly they (USA) said they ran out of time. So much so, that they wouldn’t let us do a go round in the ring with any of the Non Sporting Group dogs. I think it would have helped a lot of the dogs get use to the ring and run off some energy.

No time for anything but GO! David Frei ended up telling everyone about Tommy and had to leave a few things out. I couldn’t believe how many people saw that broadcast! I had people in the airport in New York and Colorado, pointing at us. One little gal said “ Look Mama, there’s that Lady with the dog that smells seizures!” Well close enough! People still come up to me at the supermarket or in the mall saying they saw us. Tommy loves being an ambassador for his breed. I love the fact he is my closest companion and teammate.

The End (Or just the beginning?)

BISS Ch Twin Trees Stray Cat

"Tommy”

Side Note: When we were at Westminster in 2005, Tommy and I had a lot of interviews. During about the fifth one, he got up from sleeping at my feet, to put his feet up on the leg of the interviewer. He went straight to her left eye and started snuffing her eye and side of the head. I know my mouth fell open! She asked what he was doing and I asked her back "How do you feel? Do you get migraines?" Her eyes flew open wide and comprehention came into her face as she understood what I was saying. Tommy had just alerted on her, a stranger! As far as I know this was the first time he had ever done so. We all got goose bumps. It is one thing for him to work for me, but to do that in a room full of people to a stranger -- well it was just amazing! I think that interviewer got more than she bargained for!

I've since then gotten many emails and letters attesting to the fact that there are many dogs out there who do what Tommy does. Not just for headaches but low blood sugar, seizures, and even anxiety attacks.

	Tommy, Show Dog or Service Dog; How can he be both? By Karen Evasuik I was in an auto accident in 2002. I was a passenger in a van going to a dog show. My collarbone was dislocated and all but one disk in my neck was injured. Before the accident I had headaches but nothing like what I started to experience. Migraines that would last for days. Spots and waves of queasiness. Splitting pain from light. Migraines that hurt to put my head on a pillow. It would help if I could catch one coming on, and take medication for it. Since then I've had many surgeries and procedures on my neck and a couple on my shoulder. About six months after the accident, my Keeshond “Tommy”, started waking me in the middle of the night. It was strange of him to do so. He always slept through the night, mostly in the middle of my husband Steve and I - upside down with a big smile on his face. I would put him outside thinking that he needed to go out to potty and that was why he was waking me. Tommy would just stand at the back door and look at me like I was nuts. During one of these outside trips I discovered the need to take medication; a headache was coming on. At first I didn't connect the two until we were out to dinner with friends, talking about it. My friend put me in touch with the people who run C.A.R.E. We registered Tommy as a Service Dog (his designation falls under Seizure Alert or Medical Alert) and started our training. For me training was mostly listening to Tommy. I found that Tommy would interrupt me when I was on the computer too long, again a headache coming on. He'd just put his paws up on my arm and look at me. He never jostles me. I think he knows it would hurt me. Tommy is always very gentle with me. I personal have a theory that most dogs could do what Tommy does. If and that is a big if, their people listen. I've been asked what does it matter if your awake, didn't you feel it coming on? My concentration is shot. When I am working on the computer I am working so hard to remember what I am doing that I have to be broken out a trance like state. I am have short-term memory loss. Very frustrating! Training for Tommy has been more on the obedience side. He's been a successful show dog; it wasn't a hard step for him. Only two things have been hard -sitting is one, when he was trained to stand no matter what! The other thing is not to greet everyone he meets. He has a Service Dog apron and on it says” Please don't pet me … I am Working.” It is funny how complete strangers will feel perfectly comfortable coming up to me and asking about Tommy and of coarse asking to pet him. When we put on his apron, he turns into another dog, all business. It doesn't mean that he doesn't want to be petted; he almost vibrates with being “Good”. So far we have been on six round trip flights on a plane and many train and cab rides. We meet all kinds of people and have made many lasting friends. Most people can't believe he's a Show Dog and a Service Dog. Like he could be one not the other! On our way to the AKC Eukanuba Invitational in Los Angeles 2003 , Tommy alerted for the first time in public at the airport. I had explained to the lady beside me all about Tommy (yet again) and what he does. People can't help but ask. While we were talking, Tommy gently put his paws on my lap and tried to look deep in my eyes: I had a bad one coming on. I put him back in a down and tried telling tell him we just needed to wait five more minutes (they had called attention to board) and I would have water to take medication. Tommy finally jumped in my lap, like saying, "hey listen to me!" I guess it scared the Lady. She asked if she could help and very nicely went running down the concourse to the newsstand and bought me a Diet Coke. She came back at a run and I took my meds, Tommy just laid down calm as could be. She couldn't believe that she got to see him work. Yes, I was awake and yes I did feel it coming on, it was just a conformation of our bond that he would do that in very busy public place. When we are on a plane, Tommy sleeps at my feet. Most of the time they put us in the bulkhead, which has a bit more floor space. He has gotten so use to take off and landing he hardly raises his head. It was fun having interviews at Westminster in 2004. Jan Corrington took good care of me after Tommy won the Breed. Jan introduced me to Charlsie Cantey. What a nice Lady! She wanted to know all about Tommy and would I mind if they did an interview on live TV before we went in the ring? Here I am still in shock from winning the breed and she wants me to talk, before going in the ring? We worked it out so she would do all the talking and she had it already to go. When the time came we were in position with a helper to bait Tommy off camera. The spotlight went up and Charlsie started a test run and suddenly they (USA) said they ran out of time. So much so, that they wouldn’t let us do a go round in the ring with any of the Non Sporting Group dogs. I think it would have helped a lot of the dogs get use to the ring and run off some energy. No time for anything but GO! David Frei ended up telling everyone about Tommy and had to leave a few things out. I couldn’t believe how many people saw that broadcast! I had people in the airport in New York and Colorado, pointing at us. One little gal said “ Look Mama, there’s that Lady with the dog that smells seizures!” Well close enough! People still come up to me at the supermarket or in the mall saying they saw us. Tommy loves being an ambassador for his breed. I love the fact he is my closest companion and teammate. The End (Or just the beginning?)
	BISS Ch Twin Trees Stray Cat "Tommy”
	Side Note: When we were at Westminster in 2005, Tommy and I had a lot of interviews. During about the fifth one, he got up from sleeping at my feet, to put his feet up on the leg of the interviewer. He went straight to her left eye and started snuffing her eye and side of the head. I know my mouth fell open! She asked what he was doing and I asked her back "How do you feel? Do you get migraines?" Her eyes flew open wide and comprehention came into her face as she understood what I was saying. Tommy had just alerted on her, a stranger! As far as I know this was the first time he had ever done so. We all got goose bumps. It is one thing for him to work for me, but to do that in a room full of people to a stranger -- well it was just amazing! I think that interviewer got more than she bargained for! I've since then gotten many emails and letters attesting to the fact that there are many dogs out there who do what Tommy does. Not just for headaches but low blood sugar, seizures, and even anxiety attacks.