Harper May My pandemic service dog in training

It all started when I first wanted a service dog. I felt that I needed more help with independence and friendship.

I felt like I needed something to help me feel safer in public, especially with friends or alone. Because of anxiety and paranoia, I felt safer sticking close to my parents or friends and only leaving them to go to my favorite section of stores, certain places I’ve been to multiple times on my own, or only walked around the block because it's the only route I have memorized and being afraid of getting lost if I went a different way.

I’ve loved dogs my whole life and have had them in the family for a long time. There was never a time when our house wasn’t filled with a dog or two, but terrier mixes, never purebred dogs, they were most.

While terrier mixes are great, they have qualities that I don’t like. That’s why, over a year ago, I started wanting a German Shepherd. I’d been wanting a service dog for the past few years. The organizations I’d applied to said I wasn’t qualified or age out by the time I could get a dog.

I decided owner training was the best and only option.

“Hey, Mom and Dad, Can I have a German Shepherd? A puppy?” I asked one day. I knew it was a long shot and they’d say no, but I asked anyway.

“No, puppies are a lot of work and a huge responsibility,” Dad told me. “Why do you want a puppy?” My mom asked.

“I want to train one as my service dog,” I told them.

My parents groaned. I had been wanting a service dog for a while, especially once I developed OCD, Anxiety, and having issues with making and keeping friends because of my Autism.

I knew that German shepherds don’t always make good service dogs, especially for what I’d need one for.

However, I was willing to research a good breeder and training place to help my dog succeed. Maybe the dog could one day be an agility sport dog, too, but before that, I had to pester my parents for a puppy.

I researched breeders, trainers, and everything I could. I found a breeder and a few dog training places during my free time. I’d make supply lists and read up on the breed. Using German Shepherd books, I owned and bought new ones for more information on how to properly handle them during the 1st 12 months of life. Eventually, in January, my dad gave me a plan. “If you can get a job and raise the money yourself, you can get a dog,” he told me. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I won’t let you down, I promise.” I said excitedly, hoping I would be able to prove to my parents that I could get the money needed for my dog. I started my job search immediately. I was able to get some interviews but wasn’t hired. I’d fill out job applications every chance or when I found a place to apply.

Then, COVID hit, and getting a job became much more complicated. Unfortunately, the job search was already complex because of my disabilities. “I still can’t get a job. I’ve had successful interviews, but no one has contacted me back,” I said to my parents. It’s okay, Paige. You’ll find a job. Just keep trying, " my dad said over and over again. It became so repetitive that I’ve got it drilled into my head.

“Ok, Dad, I’ll keep trying,” I told him, even though I knew I would still be unsuccessful. I was right.

Coronavirus kept getting worse and spreading everywhere. I kept trying to apply for jobs and got a few interviews, but that was it. I never heard back despite how well I thought I did in the interviews, and each interview and no responses afterward hurt.

Then, we visited the breeder in March, right as the stay-at-home order was put in place that weekend. It felt weird going somewhere when we were told to stay home, so I decided to go with the breeder we visited. We talked about what kind of puppy would be best, and Grant, the breeder, said a female puppy would be the best fit for me as it would be my first German shepherd. I picked out a great name for her: Harper May.

A few months later, on June 8th, my parents decided it was time to get a puppy because it was summertime, and I had free time to work with a puppy. That day, we decided. My puppy was born.

When we met her on July 25th, we played with her and her sisters. I took videos and photos and received lots of love bites/kisses. They were all happy and healthy and loved all the attention. They smelled clean because they’d all had baths and happily loved the attention they got afterward. We decided to go with the white collar of the litter.

We brought her home in August first; I’ve been working with her ever since.

Puppies are a huge responsibility, and I knew that from the beginning. Despite this, I had the puppy blues for a few days after she arrived. She bit and went to the bathroom in the house, and I was worried that I wasn’t doing enough to help her become a good dog.

“That’s called the puppy blues,” my mom said one morning as I came over to her. I nodded. I didn’t want to worry her, but I knew she was right.

“I’m just worried I’m not doing enough to help her,” I said.

“You’ll figure it out in time. It takes a lot of work.” Mom reminded me.

Since Harper is my dog, I do almost everything with her. I feed her, train her, and walk her. She’s doing well so far, and I can’t wait to continue this fantastic journey with her.

She’ll be a great working dog someday.

She's taught me a lot about responsibility as a dog owner and the importance of doing what’s best for her and me. I stay up to date with the American Kennel Club to know what to do as a responsible dog owner, and I’m glad to have the experience now instead of waiting until I’m on my own.

Harper is my first purebred dog and the first dog I have that’s registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club). I hope that I can raise her to be a healthy, happy, working, and sport dog. I’m learning a lot about caring for something that isn’t a bad attempt at caring for myself. I’m learning how to care for a dog and myself properly. I’m grateful I got to work with Harper and help her become the most incredible dog she can be.