To see Amichien Bonding used so well in extreme circumstances is always heartening. I'm currently on the Dutch stage of my road trip back to France with my beloved open top (no working roof) Beetle Sasha, named after our black German Shepherd from years ago. The only time I got rained on was as I left England - a reminder why I am taking the car down to France lol.

Yesterday I met up with Myrthe, a friend who has for several years suffered with cancer in various parts of her body, all of which has left her struggling to look after herself. The pain she feels constantly does not diminish her spirit and she is an inspiration to us all.

To aid her in everyday tasks that we take for granted, Myrthe has an assistance dog called Fenna, a beautiful long haired German Shepherd. From the beginning to the end of the day, Fenna will help Myrthe get out of bed, get dressed, open and close the curtains and doors, turn lights on and off, get the shopping, (this requires a lot of self-control for Fenna, especially when picking up sausages!) even take off her shoes.

Fenna was trained with positive reinforcement and patience, and is capable of learning new skills when needed, yet she is no robot. She is still a dog and acts like one, still playful, occasionally distracted by new things, but Myrthe's patience with her comes from a deep understanding of Amichien Bonding so she does not get angry or impatient. She knows Fenna will get there.

I saw Fenna demonstrate some of her skills and even filmed them with a view to putting them onto the site for everyone to see. It is a truly wonderful thing that dogs are capable of helping those who cannot help themselves, and equally wonderful when an owner understands that despite all the marvels it can perform, the dog is still a dog. 

Myrthe talked about mutual respect, and I can't think of a better way to describe it. Even recently, when Myrthe had a particularly bad episode and was in a great deal of pain, that respect was evident. Fenna left her alone except when needed, sensing that it was best to give her the space. We are aware that dogs can smell cancer, and they can feel our emotional state, and the change in the dog's behaviour was evidence of that.

So if you have had a bad day or are feeling unwell, don't be surprised if your dog's behaviour changes. The good news is that with this process you know there is something you can do about it.   Tony