Myla’s Mission

15/01/2024

You may have noticed we’ve been rather quiet.

It’s been a tricky time while we figure out what is best for me and rather heartbreaking for mummy, who’s put so much time and effort into my training, but we had to take the decision before Christmas that continuing with public access wasn’t in the best interests of my health. That’s been confirmed by my ears, skin and tummy being so much calmer since we stopped the public access. I had a severe reaction a few months back that put the fear into my family and have also struggled with lots of lower level symptoms that impacted me in different ways.

Today I achieved my home based assistance dog certificate which shows that I can support my little human at home, and this will allow me to continue to do so when they want to take me away to nice places like Center Parcs.

As it is, nothing had really gone to to plan anyway! We originally hoped I would support my little human at school but it turned out that there are no schools able to accommodate little human’s complex needs.

What we do know is that I have had, and continue to have, a hugely positive impact on my little human’s life. I can support her to complete certain difficult tasks such as getting dressed and tidying up after herself, I provide deep pressure therapy and emotional support, and she now sleeps (or stays awake!) in her own bed rather than in with mummy because I offer comfort overnight.

Thank you to everyone who’s supported us, financially or otherwise. Things may not have gone quite how we hoped but we don’t have any regrets and I have brought so much joy and hope to my little human and the rest of my family. 💜

💜 Todays post is one of celebration but also some sadness. Due to Myla’s allergies progressing to being triggered by environmental factors, it has been decided that we will not be progressing with her Public access training. Instead, we are proud to graduate her as a Home based Assistance Dog. 🎓Animal welfare will always be of utmost priority and therefore whilst it is devastating that her training journey has been cut short, I am sure she will continue to improve her persons quality of life by providing her valuable tasks within the home. Myla has a lovely temperament, a love for work and learning new things and may just have the strongest understanding of the training language I have personally ever seen. I have no doubts that if the circumstances were different she would have breezed through her Public Access and Advanced Assessments. My thoughts are with the team as they process this decision. To beautiful Myla, thankyou for all you have taught me, and the enjoyment I have gotten from each of our training sessions and getting to know you. Congratulations for everything you have achieved 💜 ID a labrador holds a purple certificate in her mouth that says. ‘Home based Assistance Dog’

01/09/2023

I had a positive but challenging public access session today in a number of shops that were VERY busy, with people talking to me and not respecting our space at all, brushing alongside me, stepping over me, crashing baskets all around me and so on.

I also had to a navigate a bag of crisps that had been tipped out on the floor in Poundland, right in the middle of the queue where we couldn’t just go around them.

It wasn’t an easy one but the whole I was absolutely super and also managed not to eat any crisps or even try to 🤣 although I did keep looking back to see if they were still there, as we moved up the queue, which one lady thought was rather hilarious.

27/08/2023

Mummy says I’m the prettiest pup ever 😍

I’ve been doing some amazing work these last few days. Some big strides forwards. And so naturally in tune with my humans.

21/08/2023

Having a lovely walk but sulking because mummy said no swimming!

18/08/2023

I’m an absolute pro at clothes shopping now 🙌🏼 what a superstar!

17/08/2023

Time is ticking by. We are getting prepared for the big day.

On the day there will be opportunities to speak to local councillors about your experiences.

There will also be media presence.

Despite the PR stunts we witness regularly, it's so important the reality of what it's happening on the ground is being seen and heard. We will not be silenced.

For the sake of all our SEND children and young people in West Northants we hope you can join us in protesting outside WNC.

Please see the event pinned to the top of our page. It’s also in the comments of this post.

Thank you

WNSA 🖤

02/08/2023

Lots of fun this morning, exploring new places and then chilling in a cafe when the rain started. Working very hard to ignore the other dog sat opposite me and doing very well.

28/07/2023

Today I did a big public access session, going in lots of different shops and then to see the shoes and the Lego exhibition at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery.

I was a very good girl, especially considering how busy some places were and that it was my first visit to most of them, too.

We had an not-so-nice and completely unnecessary incident at the end with some ignorant people which resulted in me being scared and mummy being upset. But we’ve had some time to relax at home since then and are able to concentrate on the positives of the morning, of which there were many! It’s safe to say though that a significant proportion of the general public is in desperate need of education about how to behave with assistance dogs.

20/07/2023

I’ve been a bit quiet as mummy went into hospital for an operation so my training had to slow down for a little while. However while she was recovering, Part of the Pack came down to do a session with me in the supermarket and I was just amazing 💜

Mummy is now back on her feet and back to taking me out and about more again.

14/06/2023

I wasn’t invited to music therapy (I know! How rude!) so needed to get out for an hour. It’s a bit warm today for a walk at lunchtime so we popped out in the car for a paddle instead.

02/06/2023

Busy out and about this afternoon. Mummy has a pile of work she doesn’t want to go home to so is finding things for us to do out and about. I’m so relaxed now in changing rooms I just went to sleep.

Who knew assistance dog training could be such an effective form of procrastination? 😅

31/05/2023

I was brilliant in the pharmacy this morning. We had a bit of a wait so I thought I’d roll onto my back and ask for tummy rubs. People were laughing. I don’t know why. I take my tummy rubs almost as seriously as I take my food.

I’ve been having fun with the small humans, going on walks and picnics. We’ve had some tricky days though so I’ve also been going out with a nice dog walker too.