Gunny: Army Reserve Soldier Service Dog

I am an Army Reserve Soldier who has been placed on Active Duty for the last eight years. Two years prior to returning I have been receiving treatment for traumatic brain injury. This is where Gunny became an important part of my life.
 
My doctors believed a service dog will help me with my balance and my mobility issues. My dog could also help me with black outs, anxiety and seizures. I was sent to a non-profit facility that works to give veterans suitable dogs to fit each soldier’s unique needs. In many ways Gunny fits my specific needs, in others ways it was not a good fit. Gunny was hard for me to control making my anxiety worse. He gets upset when a man or another dog comes near. I called the training school back to get help with these issues. Their advice was for me to jerk on his choke collar and to show him who was boss. I do not have much physical strength so this is not effective for me. After four months of Gunny and I living at Fort Benning I have to go home.
 
At home I have four other dogs. One is a male Boston terrier, Willie, who within a short time attacked Gunny. I was home alone and was forced to break them up myself. Luckily, Gunny listened to me and let go of Willie. This same scenario happens a second and a third time. On the third time Gunny was not letting go. Fortunately my daughter was at home so she held Gunny while I pried Willie out of his mouth before he could give him the death shake.
As it happened, that day was my vet appointment with Dr. Drummond Rieger. She recommended I contact Kingdom K-9 immediately. I now know that Kingdom K-9 and Sidney were the best thing for both Gunny and I!
 
After working as a team with Sidney, Gunny no longer pulls on his leash. No more lunging or growling at people. He is better at ignoring other male dogs and can walk off leash with only voice commands.
 
Recently, I had to fly with Gunny out of the Atlanta airport to Key West. He behaved very well off leash. He held his down stay while the TSA patted me down. He allowed the TSA to touch him with my permission. Since that trip he has flown to Tampa for his final service dog test. Gunny navigated the airport superbly! He was also the best mannered dog at the testing site, even better than dogs who had been service dogs for as long as seven years!
 
Thank you so much Sidney. You made my dog and I a TEAM! – Joye Brown