Welcome!
From Paws to Prose is a tribute to Pamala S. Dean’s first service dog, Tommy Boy Sawyer. She and her furry muses wanted to have a sacred space to honor his service and teachings. It is a place to share all the adventures in dog training and writing practice and process.
Pamala S Dean has always been creating. For years, she was a flourishing artist until physical challenges created shifts. She was a potter, jeweler, and painter. She continues to be a healer, teacher, and iPad artist. When she lost her first service dog, Tommy Boy Sawyer, she began writing him letters in her grief. She has been writing ever since and has added "writer" to her resume.
Tommy Boy Sawyer was an agency-trained service dog from Little Angels Service Dogs. After Sunny had failed his public access training, Pamala contacted LASD feeling she needed help, realizing walking the SD road is a huge learning curve. Sawyer’s dual training of medical alert for PTSD and mobility assistance became a huge asset and help for Pamala. Yet, the biggest gift Sawyer brought Pamala was a deeper understanding of herself and relationships. Although their time together was an extraordinary event, it was very fleeting. Tommy Boy died young, leaving Pamala feeling more alone and disabled than ever before. Yet, through her grief, his teachings helped her find her way.
Sunny has always been a very good boy. As a pup, he found a shoe in the river, claimed it, and it became his chew toy. He was the first dog Pamala trained to of service. Not wanting the public access lifestyle, Sunny preferred to shine his light in-home service. Although he loved learning new helpful tasks, his favorite was to help break down the beaver dams threatening to flood his home. He always dove down deep, loosening up the foundation, returning with a large wooden prize. Additionally, his light mobility and deep pressure therapy tasks were a huge asset to Pamala as she waited for Service Dog Sawyer to arrive.
Grace, a friendly social butterfly, loves everyone. After our pack lost our Little Little Rio, Sunny became more anxious and another dog by his side. Along came Grace. At 8 weeks old, Grace was naturally skilled to alert Pamala, waking her up from nightmares. However, her training as a Service Dog did not begin until age four, after Sawyer. As a mini Aussie, Grace was unable to do mobility tasks. Yet, her alerting skill became more evolved through training. Grace would keep Pamala awake while driving and tell her she was overdoing and needed rest. Plus, she would alert to Pamala needing to relax and just naturally hit the perfect pressure points to help her do so.
Jackson is a Cracker Jack. After Tommy Boy, the agency was unable to provide a suitable replacement. Pamala decided to owner train a pup. Jackson attended classes and private sessions, utilizing public transit. Jackson was an excellent candidate with service dog ancestry. When Pamala inquired about Jackson’s availability, Jackson Browne’s “She Must be Somebody’s Baby,” was playing in her head. Like the song, Jackson became her baby. Jackson provides excellent mobility service and medical alert. He even leads Pamala home or to her car should she become disoriented.
Luna is our “shelter girl finds perfect fur-ever home” success story. Her transformation was an incredible process to observe. A trainer brought her to Pamala as a suitable candidate for a service dog. However, having trauma and socialization issues, Luna started rehabilitation training instead. She had no idea how to play, held her tail between her legs, was slightly reactionary, and had a spiteful edge. A year later, she was holding her tail high in the air and was found playing in the romper room alone. Although she continues to get over-anxious, her spiteful edge has disappeared and she is learning to fine-tune her deep pressure therapy to assist Pamala with decreasing pain. She is a cuddling joy with the most phenomenal ears.
Becca Dora is our playful, chocolate sunshine. Her attentiveness and intelligence have made training an easy, joyful experience. Although she has a lot to learn on her plate, from laundry skills to gluten detection, she is more than up to the task. Her retrieval expertise is impeccable. She loves puzzles, challenges, playing frisbee, and swimming in her kiddy pool. Being a COVID puppy, teaching public access skills has been a challenge. Yet, Becca Dora seems to be quickly catching on and doing what is expected of a professional service dog.
MonkeyCat Is the most incredible being and everything she does is fascinating. (Luna) She used to be Sawyer’s best friend, was always around during training sneaking treats, and now she’s mine. (Becca Dora) We are the same size and like to surprise tackle one another. (Grace) Are you kidding me? She’s just a cat. (Sunny and Jackson) A mean one that looks like a squirrel. Even if you follow her rules, she still hisses and spits, which is rude. (Visiting dog Tiki) She thinks she rules over us dogs, but she is mistaken. Momma Pamala puts her in her place. (All the dogs.)
It doesn’t matter whether it is dog training or writing, the important thing to remember is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Pamala helps Becca Dora practice laundry skills with her Little Tike Washer/Dryer. The orange blur is the sock she is dropping into the laundry basket.
The most important things in life, I learned from four-leggeds. Lesson #1: Just add PLAY and everything is more inspiring, motivating, and easier. Have a block when writing or training? Take a break. Relax the dog. Refresh your mind. Do something to build confidence. Or, as Jackson says, “Just throw that ball and we’ll both feel better.”
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