Marley's Accessories

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;

                                                             Psalm 37:7a

We get asked often where we located Marley's equipment and accessories. There are several businesses that offer items for Service Dogs. I will only be mentioning the specific items we use with Marley and where they were purchased. 

As you can see we clearly have Marley marked as a Working Dog on both sides of his vest along with Do Not Pet. There are patches identifying what type of Service Dog Marley is and his Organization's patch. 

Purple Autism Service Dog Patch at Working Service Dog.

We have started using this vest because it is brighter and more reflective than the one pictured above. We were hoping the color and single DON'T PET would be more of an attention grabber and have less people try to pet Marley (it seems to have worked). 

You can find this track jacket and collar at Ruffwear

The patch information helps immediately identify Marley to an establishment we are visiting that he is a Service Dog and is allowed into their store, as per the Federal Mandate under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

If you ever have a problem or question about a Service Dog's entry into an establishment  contact the US Department of Justice.

I have to admit people do NOT always pay attention to the patches on Marley's vest and will reach down to pet him as they pass by or will come up to ask us if their child can pet Marley.  

The only place Marley is allowed interaction with other people is in our home.

Marley knows that when his vest gets put on 

it's time to work! 

PLEASE if you ever see a working team DO NOT ask to PET the Service Dog. It has taken a lot of training to teach the Service Dog to ignore other people when working. Petting causes the Service Dog to be distracted. It is also a distraction to the person (handler) who is working with the dog. A small distraction to you is a big distraction to them. Thank you for understanding. 

Marley LOVES to play in the snow! It's funny because he gets so excited when he sees snow that he plows through it running at full blast. As you can see he has a jacket for the Winter which is also clearly marked.  Marley wears this when he works in the cold or snow and it keeps him warm and dry. 

This winter jacket can be found at Lands' End

This is Marley's life jacket which is also clearly marked with patches to identify him as a Service Dog and not a pet. Marley isn't fond of water like most Labradors so going to the beach is not one of his favorite trips! 

This life jacket can be found at Ruff Wear

These "shoes" have been wonderful for the hot pavement and sand in Florida! They protect all 4 paws and Marley wears them when we walk for an extensive period of time (amusement parks, zoos, etc), working in the snow, on the beach and during the summer when the asphalt gets extremely hot. 

The company we purchased the boots through is Ruff Wear

When we take Marley to the beach or movies he has this elevated bed that collapses for easier carrying. It has a mesh middle that allows for air flow which keeps him cool. Marley really enjoys our movie day outings! 

This Portable Pet Cot can be found at Petco

Loading during the Winter for Marley can be more challenging so he uses a ramp. This ramp prevents him from having to jump in or out, reducing his chances for slipping on the ice. 

This ramp can be found at PetSmart

When Marley rides in the Jeep he wears a safety harness with a chest plate which secures him to the seat. It gives us a peace of mind because in the event of a collision we don't have to worry about Marley being injured or becoming a projectile and injuring anyone else in the car. He really likes sitting next to Miles when going for long trips so he has to "click it" just like every other passenger! 

We found the harness and breastplate at Signature K9

Marley rides in the back area of our Subaru which has a pet barrier that keeps him contained. He has a dog bed that he sits on to make his ride more comfortable. 

These pet barriers can be found at Subaru

Our vehicles are well marked informing drivers that we are transporting a Service Dog. Our hope is that people will pay attention while driving and not tail gate. 

The Bumper Sticker was custom created at Zazzle

You can purchase the lettering at Do It Yourself Lettering

Miles is attached to Marley via a US Army Rigger's Belt. A Rigger's belt is outfitted with a triangular steel ring permanently attached to the belt. The leash is then attached to a locking snap link preventing a quick release. This prevents the dog from running away or Miles dropping the leash. We also have a loop sewn halfway down the leash so Miles can get a closer hold on Marley when needed. 

We purchased this Rigger's Belt at US Cavalry

The bag that Miles carries for Marley contains the following:

*a supply of poop bags - can be found at any store

*bottle of water - filled fresh everyday

*foldable travel bowl - can be found at a pet store

*Marley's "shoes" - purchased at Ruff Wear

*reflective ankle bracelets - purchased at Harley-Davidson

*small LED flashlight - never know when you might need one 

(there is also a small one attached to the outside of the bag, it flashes when they are walking at night for visibility)

*bandages and tape - in case of injuries

*cell phone - for emergencies 

*In case of Emergency wallet - purchased at Maxpedition, has their medical information & ID's

*Snacks - for him & Marley

The bag itself was purchased through Maxpedition and is made to accept a water hydration system. 

People have asked us what kind of dog food we feed Marley. He use to be a picky eater who ate every 2 to 3 days. Since switching to Wellness CORE he eats all of his food daily. His coat is soft, shiny and his shedding has decreased. He seems to look forward to eating and gets excited now when Miles puts food in his bowl. He actually pouts when his bowl is empty so we have to keep 1 cup of food in it even though he may not eat it until the next day. I know this sounds strange for praising dog food but when a working dog would rather go hungry than eat his food that says a lot about a product! We have found this product at Petco & Petsmart. 

Marley does get "time off" from having to work. 

He enjoys running in the yard, taking naps 

and hanging out with his friends!

We hope this information has been helpful! If you have a Service Dog please let us know what kind of equipment you have found useful.

Happy Birthday Marley

Do not be conformed to this age,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,

so that you may discern what is the 

good, pleasing and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

We are so thankful to Marley's original owner 

for donating this wonderful dog to 

Service Dogs of America.

Marley is a November puppy….

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY

Mmm.....Deer antler

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY

Marley is excited to have a present

& is ready to eat his cake decorated with treats

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY

Can you open that for me Miles?

He liked his "cake" & gift of chew bones

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY 

Yummy…."cake"

Now can I open my present?

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY

Can I eat the "candles" now?

I sure do like getting these wrapped things

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY 

 Thank you Miles for my gift….it is tasty

Marley, An Autism Service Dog

I will thank the Lord with all my heart; 

I will declare all Your wonderful works.

                                Psalm 9:1

Marley is a Labrador Retriever. He was born and raised by Service Dogs for America in 

Jud, North Dakota. Marley was Miles' Autism Service Dog and they worked together for 10 years. 

They had many great adventures together including Marley’s 3yrs of retirement! Marley had a wonderful life of adventure for 15 years, he is truly missed by all❤️

We decided to look for Miles an Autism Service Dog when our pet of 10 years passed away. He had lost his best friend who had always been there for him. This loss left Miles feeling very sad and he could not get past the grieving stage. After much prayer and research we found Service Dogs for America. 

Our hope was that a Service Dog would help Miles stay calm him when he became anxious, guide him through a crowded area if his sensory sensitivities are overwhelmed and comfort him when he got upset. Marley performs the above tasks and much more for Miles. Marley is Miles' best friend who goes everywhere with him, no matter where the adventure may take them!

There are many types of Service Dogs for medical conditions:

Mobility Assistance Dogs - provide mobility assistance to those using wheelchairs or other devices providing mobility assistance.

Emergency Medical Response Dogs - provide appropriate alerting behaviors in response to a seizure event (mainly diabetes and epilepsy). In the best-case scenarios they provide alerting behaviors prior to a seizure onset.

Specialty Dogs (such as Autism) - these dogs perform a variety of tasks and remain watchful for symptoms of elevated stress levels and interrupts repetitive behaviors and potentially self-harming actions before they occur. They can also help post traumatic stress disorders for veterans or assist Wounded Warriors. 

There are two choices when looking for a Service Dog. The first choice, for most people, is a FREE Service Dog. You can find several of these organizations in the US and one of the better known organizations is Canine Companions for Independence. The only drawback to a free dog is the waiting list. It can take up to 2 years before you are contacted for an available Service Dog. So if you are looking ahead this is definitely the way to go! The second choice for receiving a Service Dog is to pay the full purchase price of $15,000 and up. Most places might require you to fundraise all of the money before receiving one of their dogs. Make sure you check out more than one organization when looking for a Service Dog. 

Miles' training through Service Dogs for America lasted 3 weeks. The staff at this organization were helpful, patient and friendly. Learning a new task can be very daunting and overwhelming for Miles but the staff at Service Dogs of America made Miles feel very comfortable. 

His first week was spent learning commands and how to perform everyday tasks while maneuvering a dog around objects in their path. The dogs have many verbal and hand command signals they obey. Miles had to learn how to give these commands correctly. He practiced with a few other dogs that were potential matches including Marley. The organization had already thought that Marley would be the perfect match for Miles in personality and temperament but they wanted to be sure. After a week of working with all of the other dogs Miles was told Marley would be his Service Dog. 

For the next 2 weeks Miles and Marley were inseparable. They worked everyday at becoming a team. We would take them out for shopping trips, sightseeing, to restaurants for lunch and they spent plenty of time playing together. It was very important that they form a bond of friendship and trust. It didn't take Marley long to figure out he liked being part of a family!

At the end of the 3 weeks in North Dakota, Miles and Marley took their public access test and we took Marley for his final checkup with the Vet. The staff at Service Dogs for America made us feel like part of their team. The community of Jud made us feel welcomed and like one of their own. It was an amazing experience!

Marley enjoys working and going everywhere with Miles. This includes school, restaurants, movie theaters, museums, stores and more.

Marley knows that when his cape gets put on it's time to work! PLEASE if you ever see a working team DO NOT ask to PET the Service Dog. It has taken a lot of training to teach the Service Dog to ignore other people when working. Petting causes the Service Dog to be distracted. It is also a distraction to the person (handler) who is working with the dog. A small distraction to you is a big distraction to them. Thank you for understanding. 

The life of a Service Dog is not all work. Marley knows the difference between working and "a day off." When the cape is off he's free to play, run and be a dog. 

Marley has made a huge difference in Miles' life. We are thankful for the friends, family, Soldiers  and of course the kindness of strangers that have made all of our fundraisers, to pay for Marley, a success. Blessings to you all! 

Do you have a Service Dog? Share your story with us!