Good for you! I am sure Tito will do just great!

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Birthdate: February 5th 2012

Gotcha Day: March 30th 2012

Thanks for the support and good wishes! Lenna, I loved your story about the airport! Too funny!
This morning I was sitting on the edge of my bed getting dressed, which means Tito is carefully retrieving my clothing items from a short table in the bathroom and I am sitting on the bed putting them on as he brings them (I'm feeling lazy today). I normally put my clothes there the night before. Anyway, as he was standing patiently in the middle of my bedroom with my underwear hanging out of his mouth while I was putting a sock on, I couldn't help thinking, "Now THERE's a photo I need to post on the forum!!!" But first I'd need to teach him to retrieve the camera

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

Karen, autoimmune diseases are weird. Lenna can attest to this I'm sure, since RA is also autoimmune. I can go long periods of time feeling very good, then it will flare up and I will be just downright miserable. The flares last anywhere from days to months. Normally they adjust my steroids upward then, but that causes its own sets of problems.
But I do go for long periods of time feeling pretty good, so please don't feel sorry for me.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

I think it is awesome and I just know Tito will be a great service dog for you Barb.

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U-CH, CGC, TDI Top Flights Reap What You Sow " BaWaaJige"

With everything else Tito has mastered this should be a piece of cake for him. Sounds like he's already providing lots of help.

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Zoe, Rockwall Nantucket Breeze, BN, CGC, Delta therapy dog
Zeke, our introduction to the world of Golden Retrievers

While yes I can agree with your descriptin of autoimmune diseases, Ashley is the one with RA, I've got Lupus, yet another autoimmune disease . When it's good, it's REALLY good but when it's bad it's UBER bad.

I put my foot down and said no more steroids a few weeks ago, due to the weight gain I've experienced - I just need to figure out alternatives, and drop this weight!

But no steroids for a few weeks means right now I'm in my own little slice of hell. Thankfully Remy seems to know when it's bad and stays at my side.

I'll say it again, Barb please keep us apprised of your progress. I know for me it was extremely rewarding to train Remy. It sounds like you are already reaping those benefits with your Tito.

Barb,
What a team you and Tito are, whether your playing some dog game or making your way through life. I'm so glad you have each other.
I do see a few service dogs out and about and they always bring a smile to my face.

Barb, while I'm sorry you have a medical challenge, it's wonderful that Tito is able and willing to be your helpmate. It took my mom forever to get a handicapped hanger for her car for the same reasons you stated, but it certainly has helped her a great deal since she overcame her reluctance. Go Team Tito, yet again:-)

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Golden retrievers think life is a party thrown especially for them

oops, sorry. I'm very familiar with Lupus, too. They think that, in addition to the polymyositis I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, but it doesn't really matter what the "working diagnosis" is because, as you know, they treat them all the same.
I wander around from 10 mg to 80 mg of prednisone per day. Um yep, can sure relate to the weight gain issue, which doesn't help a muscle disease. But without the steroids, I can't walk. I do methotrexate every now and then, too, the injected form, which does help. But I won't do the other biologic agents, the risk of secondary cancers is just too high. At least for now I won't.
I seriously can't make it without the steroids. The muscle aches are too bad, and my joints swell to put pressure on the nerves in my hands and feet, which causes a whole new set of problems. It's why I had a walking "boot" for 12 weeks last winter.
Anyway, I sure hope you feel better quickly without the steroids. I can sure appreciate the hell you are living in right now.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

I got an email from the harness people yesterday asking for all of Tito's measurements, which was kind of exciting. The harness is custom made. I needed his height, width at the chest, girth around the chest, diagonal girth around his belly to his shoulders, his weight, and the height of the mobility assist handle off of his back. A mobility assist handle is much smaller than a "guide handle" like you see on vision assist dogs; Tito's will be 6 inches off his back. Also it goes the other way; the vision assist dogs' handles face the front of the dog, whereas this is sideways on the harness so that it spreads out the pulling weight across his shoulders.
I learned something else interesting from the harness people, too. You should never, ever put a back pack on your dog, especially on a mobility assist dog who is being asked to shoulder (pardon the pun) some of your weight sometimes, too. A dog's structure is such that weight over their spine is very bad for them. Instead, you need a "shoulder pack" that puts the weight on their shoulder blades, not their spine. Now I'm not talking the little packs (I ordered one for Tito) that hold only your keys, phone, and a few poop bags. I'm talking a back pack.
One thing I learned from the book I read about training your mobility assist dog is that it's very good for your dog to know how to "back up". Luckily, Tito already knows that (I knew rally would come in handy for something someday, LOL). But if you want to put them under a booth in a restaurant, or on the floor in front of your seat in an airplane if you don't have the bulkhead seats, or on a bus, train, etc., it's better to have them back in so they can see out and also not have to try to turn around in that narrow little space when it's time to leave. I wouldn't have thought of having him back in.

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"