1.	Where did you first hear of service dogs as being an option for you?
	When Rügan was around 5-months old we attended a basic obedience class - the trainer of the class planted that seed.  But they told me it would cost me around $10,000.  The more my disability affected my physical limitations the more I thought about that possibility. When I was at a Tri-Cities mall I recognized an accomplished dog trainer and I discussed the idea of Rügan becoming my SD.  She told me she would help me and she also is responsible for leading me to becoming a member of the Assistance Dog Club of Puget Sound.
2.	Did you train your own dog or did you utilize a training program?
	My dog is owner trained. I have been blessed with some very talented owner trainers that have been able to guide me in training Rügan.  It is also my responsibility to constantly be improving our partnership through ongoing training.  I was able to keep up with what the Assistance Dog Club of Puget Sound classes were working on and teaching by way of the training notes that were posted online.  I will really miss those notes.  I am very proud of our accomplishments so far.
3.	Did you have in mind the breed of dog that you would like to have as your partner?
	When I rescued Rügan, I did not have the intention of making him my SD. At the time, the breed was perfect for me because they do not shed.
4.	How specifically, does your partner mitigate your disability? (Tasks only)
	My SD mitigates my disability in various ways. He is trained to retrieve the telephone using a 911 command; when it is dark when I come home, he is able to go into the house and turn on the lights using a dimmer switch that is mounted to his height.  I also take this switch with me and use it in hotel rooms.  When I use my w/c sometimes the position of the chair makes it impossible to close doors and drawers and he is able to close them for me.  He can also open doors using lever handles and straps.  If I am having difficulty moving my arms he is trained to jump into my lap and push elevator and handicap door buttons.  He is able to tug my walker to me and retrieve a dropped crutch.  He does a lot of retrieval based tasks, such as retrieving dropped items, he is trained to retrieve my shoes from a basket and can also tug my socks and shoes off and deposit them in the appropriate place.  He assists me in doing the laundry, and he also is trained for respiratory alert and response tasks.
5.	Has your family and/or friends been accepting and supportive of your decision?
	Our friends are very accepting and supportive of my SD.  They are pleased that he allows me to be more independent and involved in life again (plus they think his is very cute.) However, my family was/is not supportive of my SD - primarily because they are not animal friendly and they do not want to admit to my disability.It does not bother me though because the independence he affords me is invaluable.
6.	How do you handle questions from the general public? Do you take this as an opportunity to educate or do you regard this as an invasion of your privacy?
	Rügan's size and breed tends to generate a lot of inquires.I will usually take the time to educate the public when they have questions - I feel it is a great opportunity. One of my biggest frustrations is when they ask if he is my "guard dog" or when they try and debate with me whether or not they can pet him. It can be challenging at times to be tolerant.
7.	Do you feel that training was a one-time thing and you're "good to go" or do you see it as an ongoing practice?
	It is absolutely an ongoing practice. It takes hard work and true dedication to ensure that your partnership is the best it can be at all times. On average, I will spend at least an hour a day (broken up into 2 or 3 sessions) on training and refining his skills, tasks and basic obedience. This time is not only important for our working relationship but also my overall relationship with my SD partner.
8.	Has your situation changed over time, requiring new and different tasks of your canine partner? If so, how did you teach these new tasks?  Did you do it alone or did you have help?
	My particular disability can affect me differently from one day to the next. Recently, I began experiencing difficulty with raising my arms. This became a real challenge for me especially during my weekly trips to the hospital. Based on tips and feedback I was able to train Rügan to jump into my lap and push elevator and handicap door buttons for me using existing targeting and push commands.This is a great example of how you can modify a task that is usually reserved for larger breed SDs.
9.	How would you describe the relationship that has developed between you and your canine partner? Has this been at times a challenging pilgrimage for you and if so, how?
	I have had Rügan since he was a 5 and a half weeks old. Although he defiantly has his own personality we have had the opportunity to learn and grow in personality together. This allows me to adapt my training methods to what fits his personality. Rather than being paired with an older dog that you have to figure their personality out.
10.	What would you suggest to potential SD partners?
	I suggest that a potential SD owner determine what their particular needs and limitations are before they make a decision to work with a SD. While a SD partnership can provide great benefit, you need to be sure you have some sort of on going training and support system in place. Working with a SD can be life changing but it needs to be a well planned and thought out decision. A SD partnership also requires a lot of special considerations, such as; traveling with a SD, safety, not only you but your SD, dealing with the public, medical care costs for the SD, and other considerations.