River (the Service Sheltie), Dax, and Dexter and their Dads
@riverthesheltie.bsky.social
River a tricolour Shetland Sheepdog who lives with her cat siblings Dax & Dexter both sister/brother house panthers! We live with our Dads in Toronto, ON. River is training to be a Diabetes Alert Dog (DAD) to help her Dad with Type 1 diabetes.
Hey frens, Dexter has been in kidney failure and we’ve done everything to try to get him better but nothing has worked. He will go over the bridge tomorrow and we are absolutely heartbroken. 💔
June 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Hey frens, Dexter has been in kidney failure and we’ve done everything to try to get him better but nothing has worked. He will go over the bridge tomorrow and we are absolutely heartbroken. 💔
Updates:
Dax - had follow up with internal medicine for IBD and all is good too - doesn't need another for 6 months.
River: Progressing in her training for DAD - is live alerting to blood sugar both inside & outside the home. She is generalizing training. Now to calibrate the alerts a bit better
Dax - had follow up with internal medicine for IBD and all is good too - doesn't need another for 6 months.
River: Progressing in her training for DAD - is live alerting to blood sugar both inside & outside the home. She is generalizing training. Now to calibrate the alerts a bit better
April 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Updates:
Dax - had follow up with internal medicine for IBD and all is good too - doesn't need another for 6 months.
River: Progressing in her training for DAD - is live alerting to blood sugar both inside & outside the home. She is generalizing training. Now to calibrate the alerts a bit better
Dax - had follow up with internal medicine for IBD and all is good too - doesn't need another for 6 months.
River: Progressing in her training for DAD - is live alerting to blood sugar both inside & outside the home. She is generalizing training. Now to calibrate the alerts a bit better
Updates:
Dexter - recently had a cardiology appointment to investigate a heart murmur but everything looks good and they will monitor every 6 months. He also had an oncology appointment and everything looks good there too - gained a bit of weight so they were pleased.
Dexter - recently had a cardiology appointment to investigate a heart murmur but everything looks good and they will monitor every 6 months. He also had an oncology appointment and everything looks good there too - gained a bit of weight so they were pleased.
April 26, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Updates:
Dexter - recently had a cardiology appointment to investigate a heart murmur but everything looks good and they will monitor every 6 months. He also had an oncology appointment and everything looks good there too - gained a bit of weight so they were pleased.
Dexter - recently had a cardiology appointment to investigate a heart murmur but everything looks good and they will monitor every 6 months. He also had an oncology appointment and everything looks good there too - gained a bit of weight so they were pleased.
More hiking pictures
April 26, 2025 at 6:58 PM
More hiking pictures
Friends my Dad hasn't posted much lately b/c he's been "busy" plus both my Dads had major health conditions lately but I'm doing my job to help them heal, especially my T1 diabetic Dad - I'm very diligent in my job.
I go for a hike weekly with a vet tech & the same dogs which is off-time for me!
I go for a hike weekly with a vet tech & the same dogs which is off-time for me!
April 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Friends my Dad hasn't posted much lately b/c he's been "busy" plus both my Dads had major health conditions lately but I'm doing my job to help them heal, especially my T1 diabetic Dad - I'm very diligent in my job.
I go for a hike weekly with a vet tech & the same dogs which is off-time for me!
I go for a hike weekly with a vet tech & the same dogs which is off-time for me!
River: What do you mean Dad I am on my mat! 😂
Dad: You're a little rebel always pleasing and doing what you are told but at the same time pushing all the boundaries just to see what you can get away with. Cheeky little girl. (secretly, we absolutely love that about you)
Dad: You're a little rebel always pleasing and doing what you are told but at the same time pushing all the boundaries just to see what you can get away with. Cheeky little girl. (secretly, we absolutely love that about you)
November 25, 2024 at 12:11 AM
River: What do you mean Dad I am on my mat! 😂
Dad: You're a little rebel always pleasing and doing what you are told but at the same time pushing all the boundaries just to see what you can get away with. Cheeky little girl. (secretly, we absolutely love that about you)
Dad: You're a little rebel always pleasing and doing what you are told but at the same time pushing all the boundaries just to see what you can get away with. Cheeky little girl. (secretly, we absolutely love that about you)
Service Dog Activities: Again, some settle time in the Ikea cafeteria! River maintained almost 1 hour on her settle mat which is amazing - she got up a couple of times but quickly settled again. Again, the restaurant was very busy with people and carts everywhere which she completely ignored.
November 25, 2024 at 12:08 AM
Service Dog Activities: Again, some settle time in the Ikea cafeteria! River maintained almost 1 hour on her settle mat which is amazing - she got up a couple of times but quickly settled again. Again, the restaurant was very busy with people and carts everywhere which she completely ignored.
SDIT: here is River walking with me using crutches - notice that she is paying attention to me and not pulling the lead. When she sniffs some treats on the shelf a quick "leave it" and she complies. 👍
November 17, 2024 at 7:15 PM
SDIT: here is River walking with me using crutches - notice that she is paying attention to me and not pulling the lead. When she sniffs some treats on the shelf a quick "leave it" and she complies. 👍
SDIT: We went to the US yesterday for a few things at Target - it was busy though the video focussed on River so you don't see that - we were there over an hour and she did remarkably well - never reacted to people or carts, not even to the kids waving at her! ⭐️ Proud Poppa! This is in reverse.
November 17, 2024 at 7:07 PM
SDIT: We went to the US yesterday for a few things at Target - it was busy though the video focussed on River so you don't see that - we were there over an hour and she did remarkably well - never reacted to people or carts, not even to the kids waving at her! ⭐️ Proud Poppa! This is in reverse.
River’s had her very first scent training today and we took a video but unfortunately video is not supported here on Blue Sky (yet hopefully) so if you want to see the video it is posted on our twitter account @Ridley_Aka sorry pals I thought I could post it here too.
December 3, 2023 at 10:12 PM
River’s had her very first scent training today and we took a video but unfortunately video is not supported here on Blue Sky (yet hopefully) so if you want to see the video it is posted on our twitter account @Ridley_Aka sorry pals I thought I could post it here too.
The only requirement for a Service Dog in Ontario is a letter from a medical professional indicating a need to mitigate a disability. (we have it) - River still needs lots of training so we won't be taking her places where she'd fail like a restaurant until we have confidence in her behaviour.
December 3, 2023 at 10:26 AM
The only requirement for a Service Dog in Ontario is a letter from a medical professional indicating a need to mitigate a disability. (we have it) - River still needs lots of training so we won't be taking her places where she'd fail like a restaurant until we have confidence in her behaviour.
While we will do most of the training for DAD ourselves we also intend to work with a local trainer as well when she has time as we are on a wait list right now. The whole process will take about 2 years if River is successful but she has access as a trainee!
December 3, 2023 at 10:23 AM
While we will do most of the training for DAD ourselves we also intend to work with a local trainer as well when she has time as we are on a wait list right now. The whole process will take about 2 years if River is successful but she has access as a trainee!
If anyone is wondering how we learn how to do the scent training we are following the program at MD Dogs in the US. They have a book and videos plus a private FB group that they make available at ZERO cost for those who want to train a DAD. Phenomenal resources for free!
December 3, 2023 at 10:16 AM
If anyone is wondering how we learn how to do the scent training we are following the program at MD Dogs in the US. They have a book and videos plus a private FB group that they make available at ZERO cost for those who want to train a DAD. Phenomenal resources for free!
Dad says we are almost ready to start my scent training to become a DAD dog. He has to collect at least 10 low blood sugar samples, & 10 high before we can start. They are frozen for storage & once thawed can only go in fridge for 3 days or if out for 3 hours they get discarded!
December 3, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Dad says we are almost ready to start my scent training to become a DAD dog. He has to collect at least 10 low blood sugar samples, & 10 high before we can start. They are frozen for storage & once thawed can only go in fridge for 3 days or if out for 3 hours they get discarded!