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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Thanks frens, we think the cancer would take him but it is kidney failure which was the same with Ridley. It happened so fast but tomorrow he won’t be suffering anymore. It’s so hard to watch.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Hey frens, Dexter has been in kidney failure and we’ve done everything to try to get him better but nothing has worked. He will go over the bridge tomorrow and we are absolutely heartbroken. 💔

A black cat sleeping on a green mattress in front of a brown cabinet.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Sending best wishes for Phoebe's spay! River'spay was uneventful but she wouldn't eat after, but was completely normal otherwise, then started vomiting & ended up in the ICU - they never were able to find a cause other than reduction in hormones/inflammatory response. A bit of stomach meds fixed it.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Aww poor Uncle Dunc - hope the surgery goes well and he feels better - give him some scritches from us and of Phoebe too.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

We were home alone b/c Bruce was still in the hospital Dad is talking to our trainer to see if we can get a device that I can push with my nose or paw if he doesn't repond & we are alone. It can call several numbers including EMS My job duties keep increasing but I don't mind if it keeps Dad safe.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Yes I'm really happy about that because he loves me and I love my big brother. I love Daxy too but I'm afraid of her since she is the big boss and uses those built in swords on me all the time.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Yes he still needs the hip surgery as the heart issue was found the day before the planned surgery so they had to cancel it. Now he is cleared to have it so he sees the surgeon Monday. Hopefully soon.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Updates: Dax - had follow up with internal medicine for IBD and all is good too - doesn't need another for 6 months. River: Progressing in her training for DAD - is live alerting to blood sugar both inside & outside the home. She is generalizing training. Now to calibrate the alerts a bit better

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Updates: Dexter - recently had a cardiology appointment to investigate a heart murmur but everything looks good and they will monitor every 6 months. He also had an oncology appointment and everything looks good there too - gained a bit of weight so they were pleased.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Thanks friends, they are doing better my Dad Bruce was supposed to get a new hip but they discovered he had a faulty heart valve that had to be replaced first. Then Harry, my employer, had a very low blood sugar, he remembers me alerting but then had a seizure and he couldn't wake up.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Friends my Dad hasn't posted much lately b/c he's been "busy" plus both my Dads had major health conditions lately but I'm doing my job to help them heal, especially my T1 diabetic Dad - I'm very diligent in my job. I go for a hike weekly with a vet tech & the same dogs which is off-time for me!

Three dogs sitting for a picture in a field - one small tri-colour Shetland Sheepdog.

A tri-colour Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) named River standing on a pebble trail wearing a pink harness. Her leader's foot is in the picture at the forefront as well.

Two dogs at a pond - one moving away from pond and one standing in the pond.

Two dogs standing on grass - one tri-colour and the other larger dog is brown with white spots

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

River: What do you mean Dad I am on my mat! 😂 Dad: You're a little rebel always pleasing and doing what you are told but at the same time pushing all the boundaries just to see what you can get away with. Cheeky little girl. (secretly, we absolutely love that about you)

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Service Dog Activities: Again, some settle time in the Ikea cafeteria! River maintained almost 1 hour on her settle mat which is amazing - she got up a couple of times but quickly settled again. Again, the restaurant was very busy with people and carts everywhere which she completely ignored.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Oh no, hope it's not too painful - careful wagging there pal until it heals.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

SDIT: here is River walking with me using crutches - notice that she is paying attention to me and not pulling the lead. When she sniffs some treats on the shelf a quick "leave it" and she complies. 👍

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

SDIT: We went to the US yesterday for a few things at Target - it was busy though the video focussed on River so you don't see that - we were there over an hour and she did remarkably well - never reacted to people or carts, not even to the kids waving at her! ⭐️ Proud Poppa! This is in reverse.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

Has he learned yet that the cats are in charge? I had to learn that quickly as Daxy put me in my place!

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

It's been cooler here but not so wet so no muddy paws - now if we were at the trailer since it is right at Lake Erie and rains a lot it would be always muddy!

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Hi Cleo, you are so pretty - but what have you done with Uncle Olls?

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

We're here Ollie and yes we need more shelties! You can never have too many

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Crazy but understandable - we will keep X for now too and see how things go but as someone mentioned they might merge with that other one and if that happens we will have to reevaluate.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Thanks - we are still on X but had this account but haven't used it.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 05/12/2023

Yes it is a lot of work but she is so smart it makes it easier. She is already doing tasks that are in step 2 (sniffing the scent tin) and step 3 (pawing the can). We do reward those behaviours but continue reinforcing step 1 until we are confident she is correct 90-95% of the time.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

River’s had her very first scent training today and we took a video but unfortunately video is not supported here on Blue Sky (yet hopefully) so if you want to see the video it is posted on our twitter account @Ridley_Aka sorry pals I thought I could post it here too.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

The reason for the 3 month freezer, 3 day fridge or 3 hour is that it can start collecting bacteria and we don't want the dog alerting to the wrong scent. You can't even touch your scent samples unless wearing gloves/sterile tweezers. It truly is amazing what these dogs can do!

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

It's amazing Uncle Olls as currently you can't even get a DAD from the agencies that train them in ON - first they want you to get rid of any dogs you have but are now only providing them for people who have one from them that is retiring. Self-training is the only option.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

The only requirement for a Service Dog in Ontario is a letter from a medical professional indicating a need to mitigate a disability. (we have it) - River still needs lots of training so we won't be taking her places where she'd fail like a restaurant until we have confidence in her behaviour.

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

While we will do most of the training for DAD ourselves we also intend to work with a local trainer as well when she has time as we are on a wait list right now. The whole process will take about 2 years if River is successful but she has access as a trainee!

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

If anyone is wondering how we learn how to do the scent training we are following the program at MD Dogs in the US. They have a book and videos plus a private FB group that they make available at ZERO cost for those who want to train a DAD. Phenomenal resources for free!

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

Dad says we are almost ready to start my scent training to become a DAD dog. He has to collect at least 10 low blood sugar samples, & 10 high before we can start. They are frozen for storage & once thawed can only go in fridge for 3 days or if out for 3 hours they get discarded!

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 20/11/2023

It's -4 here today Uncle Olls so not much better! With all my floof the cold and wet doesn't really bother me as I'm a Sheltie! I could stay outside for days pretending I'm herding sheep in the Shetland Islands! 😂

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River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads @riverthesheltie.bsky.social · 19/11/2023

We get that totally - we used to go pick wild blueberries as a kid in NL and today when we buy them in the grocery store they just don't have much taste to them.

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