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The Making of The First Self-Trained Service Dog in Canada
I grew up with severe anxiety. In grade two I became so fearful that I stopped going to school. I tried to do as much school work as I could at home. By the time I was in grade 11, however, I was really having a hard time grasping the material without in-class lectures. My school, impatient, said that I needed to start attending class. When I was still unable to come in, my vice principal told me that I was being expelled due to my poor attendance. He told me that I was “taking a seat away from a student who actually wanted to learn.” I did want to learn, I was just struggling.
Several years earlier, I had rescued a husky mix named Koby. I felt calm around him. As a last-ditch effort, I asked my vice principal if Koby could come to school with me as a service dog. I had spent years bonding with and training him. He knew how to get me medication and water when I had panic attacks. I’d even taught him how to administer deep pressure therapy, a calming technique that an occupational therapist in my elementary school used to perform on me.
The principal laughed in my face and said that having Koby at school was "impossible." I am not one to give up. I was afraid that my expulsion would discourage me so much that I’d never finish high school. I spent my last semester researching. I talked to over a hundred different organizations to try and see if there was any chance that Koby, a rescued pet, could become a legal service dog.
After tirelessly petitioning the school board and practicing Koby’s training, they finally got back to me. The school board agreed to create a pilot project to test Koby as the first self-trained service dog in Canada. He passed! Instead of being expelled, I graduated high school with honors. Koby walked across the stage with me at graduation.
I grew up with severe anxiety. In grade two I became so fearful that I stopped going to school. I tried to do as much school work as I could at home. By the time I was in grade 11, however, I was really having a hard time grasping the material without in-class lectures. My school, impatient, said that I needed to start attending class. When I was still unable to come in, my vice principal told me that I was being expelled due to my poor attendance. He told me that I was “taking a seat away from a student who actually wanted to learn.” I did want to learn, I was just struggling.
Several years earlier, I had rescued a husky mix named Koby. I felt calm around him. As a last-ditch effort, I asked my vice principal if Koby could come to school with me as a service dog. I had spent years bonding with and training him. He knew how to get me medication and water when I had panic attacks. I’d even taught him how to administer deep pressure therapy, a calming technique that an occupational therapist in my elementary school used to perform on me.
The principal laughed in my face and said that having Koby at school was "impossible." I am not one to give up. I was afraid that my expulsion would discourage me so much that I’d never finish high school. I spent my last semester researching. I talked to over a hundred different organizations to try and see if there was any chance that Koby, a rescued pet, could become a legal service dog.
After tirelessly petitioning the school board and practicing Koby’s training, they finally got back to me. The school board agreed to create a pilot project to test Koby as the first self-trained service dog in Canada. He passed! Instead of being expelled, I graduated high school with honors. Koby walked across the stage with me at graduation.
It didn’t end there. Together Koby and I have worked on breaking the stigma of service dogs by speaking all over the country, in colleges, on TV, in magazine interviews and in newspapers to raise awareness of how dogs can cure anxiety.
Soon, Koby’s and my pilot project spread across Canada. Now millions of students have the opportunity to bring their self-trained service dogs to school, as long as they pass the test. Koby and I won a Hall of Fame award from Purina in 2019 for starting the program. The cover photo of this book is from that awards ceremony. I never imagined that my difficulties would end up helping so many people. I feel so humbled and proud to have Koby as my dog and best friend.
I am now in school to become a teacher to inspire students. My anxiety has improved so much that I no longer need to bring Koby with me to school. We still, however, have plenty of adventures together. I have captured these moments with my 35mm film camera and have included them on the following pages. This book is dedicated to Koby, without whom I would not be the person I am today.
Soon, Koby’s and my pilot project spread across Canada. Now millions of students have the opportunity to bring their self-trained service dogs to school, as long as they pass the test. Koby and I won a Hall of Fame award from Purina in 2019 for starting the program. The cover photo of this book is from that awards ceremony. I never imagined that my difficulties would end up helping so many people. I feel so humbled and proud to have Koby as my dog and best friend.
I am now in school to become a teacher to inspire students. My anxiety has improved so much that I no longer need to bring Koby with me to school. We still, however, have plenty of adventures together. I have captured these moments with my 35mm film camera and have included them on the following pages. This book is dedicated to Koby, without whom I would not be the person I am today.
Taken at Kerncliff Park in Burlington, Ontario in 2019.
One of Koby’s hidden talents is that he can howl the words “I love you.” He really sounds like he’s speaking English!
To take this picture I used his “up pup” command to get him to jump on a rock. Then I said “wait,” which means he’s supposed to stay still. From there, I started getting him to howl “I love you” and then I snapped this photo.
One of Koby’s hidden talents is that he can howl the words “I love you.” He really sounds like he’s speaking English!
To take this picture I used his “up pup” command to get him to jump on a rock. Then I said “wait,” which means he’s supposed to stay still. From there, I started getting him to howl “I love you” and then I snapped this photo.
Taken at my house in 2019.
Koby loves to learn tricks and I decided to enter him in the trick contest at Woofstock, the largest dog festival in North America. He won second prize with his “I love you” trick. His prize? Bags full of dog treats and toys. I used his edible winnings to bake and decorate a dog birthday cake for him. As you can see, he loves it!
Koby loves to learn tricks and I decided to enter him in the trick contest at Woofstock, the largest dog festival in North America. He won second prize with his “I love you” trick. His prize? Bags full of dog treats and toys. I used his edible winnings to bake and decorate a dog birthday cake for him. As you can see, he loves it!
