A day in the life of Hazel

I'm sure many people are wondering, "what does she do all day?".

Here is a brief look at a typical day for Hazel.

As soon as we wake up in the morning, which is usually around 6:30am with the cannon (I'm serious it's a cannon) going off, Hazel is let out of JJ and Elliott's room and we go for a 30-40 minute walk depending on whether we actually got up with the cannon or pulled the pillow over our heads.

Once we're back from walk, the boys are usually up and eating breakfast and Hazel gets to do the same. So she'll lay down and wait until given permission to eat her breakfast. After breakfast it's time for her supplements. She gets 2 preventative glucosamine/chondrotin tablets covered in peanut butter and one fish oil capsule that we have started to give her every other day (she was starting to smell really fishy haha!).

After that she gets to relax and take it easy while JJ gets dressed. Some mornings however (like this morning actually), it's grooming time! So this morning Hazel and I went outside and brushed (the birds love the fur for their nests haha!) and then came inside and did her nails (love the dremel!). She just got over an ear infection (JJ also gets them when coming back to our high altitude here in Colorado) so we cleaned her ears with a standard cleaning solution. After grooming time this morning, it was time to get into her pack (getting dressed) and get ready for the bus.

All dressed up and waiting for the school bus!

Today JJ struggled getting onto the school bus to head to school. When JJ struggles, he drops to the ground and just goes dead weight. This is much easier to cope with when he is attached to Hazel because he cannot then bolt (as he used to do) either back towards the house, or into a dangerous situation like traffic! Hazel calmly waits for him, while we help him to get up and ask him to grab his handle. We did finally all get on the bus where I gave Hazel's leash to the bus aide and she got Hazel situated under JJ's seat.

 

 

 

 

Hazel under JJ's seat, taken by Kati while she was here training with us.

For safety reasons, JJ and Hazel are not tethered in a vehicle. If there were an accident, both need to be separate so they can be removed safely and then tethered once out of the situation. As you can see in the picture, the tether that JJ would normally wear is around the leg of the bus. This is not because she is running around out of control, this is simply for her safety because she's on a slippery bus floor and she's furry, she slides a bit!

Once they are at school, JJ's "transition" aide collects them from the bus and they move through their school day routine. JJ's "transition" aide is not a 1:1 aide for JJ in the classroom, we call her the "Transition" aide because she is only with him for the difficult transitions of getting off the bus and getting back on the bus. These areas are when he needs Hazel and consistency the most and the school has been wonderful to provide JJ with the same aide daily for these routines.

JJ and Hazel at school. This was taken by Kati during her training time with us.

Once JJ is back on the bus to come home, I meet them at the end of our driveway and lead JJ and Hazel back into our house. This is where the daily routine changes based on the day.

Some days JJ will have therapy in home during the afternoons. Other days we have doctor appointments or clinic based therapy that require us all to load up into the car and head out together.

Yesterday was a doctor appointment day. So we drove to Denver as a family  for the boys to have some procedures done. Hazel and JJ are not tethered in the car, although JJ wears his tether while in his carseat, it is unattached from Hazel's pack. This allows her to get  comfortable, especially on a longer trip.

On our way to Denver yesterday, JJ was watching a movie while Hazel grabbed a nap.

 JJ and Hazel are tethered any time they are out of a vehicle and working. The tether connects to a belt that goes through JJ's belt loops on his pants, or just around his waist if in track pants. The belt does not hurt him in anyway, even when he drops to the ground, it is just a nylon belt (like a typical nylon leash).

Taken from first day of tether training with Kati, this is what the tether system looks like!

Once we get home from wherever we are going in the afternoon, Hazel gets out of her pack and is told "free!". She then rolls around on the floor in the living room, runs with her face along the carpet and generally acts like a goofball. She then will get to play ball in the green space behind our house. You can watch her playing at this link; Hazel playing ball.

The late afternoons tend to be lower key since the boys are resting after the day. She eats dinner after we do and gets to chew on a bone or play with her bear. Hazel goes to bed with the boys but we bring her back out after they are asleep. This is her time to rest with us while we watch TV or work around the house, she plays, snuggles with us or just snoozes on the floor (or couch!).

Once we get ready for bed, she goes back into the boys room and up onto JJ's bed where she is for the rest of the night.

And then we start all over the next day!!

She has a good life, she's a busy girl and she loves her job.