Vasya the Rough Collie: Training to Support Asthma, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Depression

What kind of dog does it take to help a human cope with asthma, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression? Stephanie, better known to thousands of social media followers by her username @motherofdoggos, has hung her hopes for a prospective service dog on a white Collie fluffball called Vasya.

 A service dog must possess a specific combination of qualities, and precious few canines have an aptitude for assistance work. Stephanie knew she would need a dog with appropriate levels of energy, health, bravery, gentleness, intelligence, trainability, and – perhaps most crucial for her needs – empathy.

Like many are choosing to do, rather than being on a years-long waiting list and/or dishing out thousands of dollars to an organization, Stephanie decided to select and owner-train her own dog (while consulting with a trainer). But how does one guarantee that a dog will succeed in service work? Well, there is no guarantee. According to the IABBC Journal, “Approximately 50 percent of all dogs bred, socialized, selected, and trained by owners or agencies to become service dogs either fail to complete training or must retire after a short career.” Sometimes even dogs selected and trained by professionals to be guide dogs for the blind later need to be “washed” from the work and removed to a pet home. 

Table of Contents

Washed, But Not in a Good Way

But so far, Vasya has proven to be everything Stephanie could have hoped for. So did she get lucky? No. Before Vasya, Stephanie attempted to train her 2 other dogs, Lakota and Seneca, in service dog tasks. She partially succeeded, as they both perform certain tasks to assist her and her husband Dylan at home. But through no fault of their own (and no failure on Stephanie’s part), neither dog quite had what was needed to be a full-time service dog who could accompany her to work and other public places.

Still, Stephanie wasn’t giving up. She spent years researching breeds. Depending on who you ask, Standard Poodles, German Shepherds, and Collies (Smooths more than Roughs) are often considered part of the unofficial “Fab Four” or “Fab Five” lists of best breeds for service dog work. I asked Stephanie what influenced her to select a Rough Collie over the much more popular Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers.

She said, “I frequently heard Collies were good for Psychiatric Service Dog work due to their empathy and drive to work. I have always been in love with the looks of Collies, though, and I felt their energy levels were a good fit for our household.” Knowing that Lakota and Seneca, as established canine pack members, would be helping to co-train a new puppy, it was imperative to find one that would fit into their family dynamic.

Buyer Beware!

And this time around, she was very particular about finding a solid, ethical Collie breeder after her less-than-stellar previous experiences with breeders of NAIDs (Native American Indian Dogs). Initially, Stephanie had no issues with Lakota’s breeder. Though she said, “It became apparent Lakota was too anxious/reactive for public access work,” she did not blame the breeder and was willing to give the breed another try. Lakota’s faults were few, but his attributes are many. According to Stephanie:

Seneca came into Stephanie’s life next. He was technically a NAID like Lakota, but his composition of foundation breeds was different. While Lakota’s parentage was comprised of mostly German Shepherd and Alaskan Malamute with a dash of Golden Retriever and Samoyed, Seneca’s heritage consisted of Siberian Husky, Belgian Shepherd, Malamute, and German Shepherd.

And Seneca was the much more expensive dog, despite being a four-month-old “clearance puppy” when Stephanie and her then-boyfriend Dylan discovered him. Only later did they learn that Seneca would likely have been put down if he hadn’t found a home soon. In reality, they had probably saved him… And saved him again, since a less patient couple would have given up and dumped him in a shelter or rehomed him.

Seneca was not an easy puppy. “We didn’t know just how bad things were,” Stephanie explained, “but he came to use completely unsocialized, had major fear issues, and excessive destructive tendencies. He took a year and a half to potty train… I can’t count how many times he broke out of his crate – no matter how fortified – and ate holes in the walls, gutted couches and chairs, or ripped up all the carpet.”

But Sen didn’t stay a little hellion, and Stephanie is thankful she weathered the rough stage for him. “Seneca has become such a great companion,” she said. “After he turned four, he chilled out so much… Now he has free roam of the house, is fully reliable off-leash, patient with puppies and children alike, and is a major cuddler.” He is living proof that a rascally young dog, given patience and love, can mature into a dependable adult dog.

Yet despite Sen’s sterling qualities, it was his seeming lack of empathy and inability to read people (though he has since progressed in these areas) that led to Stephanie eventually washing him for pyschiatric service dog work.

A Lot of Flak

NAIDs are not always all they are touted to be. For one thing, the available articles about Native American Indian Dogs that come up on the entire first page of Google search results are more or less regurgitated, slightly reworded variations of the same questionable information written by people who’ve never owned a NAID in their lives. (I know this because I read them all – like the incorrigible dog nerd that I am – and was supremely disappointed by their generic quality.)

For another, Seneca’s own hypothyroidism diagnosis and Stephanie’s experiences discussing NAIDs with other breed owners led her to understand that a limited gene pool, excessive inbreeding, and lack of breeder accountability are causing rare health issues and autoimmune disorders to crop up in this developing breed.

An Effective Marketing Ploy

It is a very effective marketing ploy of “designer dog” breeders to invoke hybrid vigor as a substitute for genetic health testing – as if mixing more than one breed together will magically wipe away any existing inherited disorders – but genetics just don’t work that way. For instance, a German Shepherd with hip dysplasia crossed to a Malamute with hypothyroidism will produce puppies at risk for both health problems.

Stephanie also found out that Lakota’s breeder, who at least claimed to do genetic testing, “has since become horrible in her kennel conditions and upkeep.” (Stephanie and Dylan actually had the opportunity to foster Lakota’s mom for a while, which she described as “such a wonderful experience.”) Some people are even outcrossing to wolves and illegally selling the hybrids, and Stephanie questions whether there are any truly responsible/ethical NAID breeders at this time.

Feeling strongly about all she’d learned, Stephanie once implored her Instagram followers:

Let's Try This Again

So when it came to looking for another prospective service dog, Stephanie took her own cautionary advice. She wanted a Collie – preferably a Rough. (Most people choose Smooth Collies for service work due to the easier maintenance of a short-haired dog, but Dylan and Stephanie clearly like their dogs fluffy.) The more they searched, the more impressed they were by Kate and her Romany Collies. Kate was everything they hoped to find in a breeder: “extremely responsible, ethical, and known for producing good service dogs and healthy Collies all around.”

Just one little issue – their top choice was in Oregon, while they lived clear across the country in Maryland. Plus, they were getting married soon, so it really was not an opportune time to add a third dog to their pack. But then Stephanie saw a picture of a new Romany Collie pup that Kate called Ypsilanti. “That little girl kept coming up in my thoughts,” she said. “But still, a puppy and wedding planning? Crazy.”

Yet it just so happened that Ypsilanti’s litter would be ready to go to their new homes the very same week that Dylan and Stephanie planned to visit family and friends in Oregon, where they would be just a 20-minute drive from Kate.

Though both parents of the litter were Smooth Collies, they were genetically rough-factored as well, so little Ypsilanti actually turned out to be rough-coated. While Stephanie and Dylan both agreed that coat type and color were backseat priorities compared to the all-important requirements of “personality, health, and drive,” they had also been “secretly hoping for a merle or white Rough Collie.”

It Seemed Like Fate

Though the couple had wanted a Romany puppy for a while, they had not yet signed up for the waiting list. Luckily for them, Sky had given birth to a large litter of 11 puppies.

Vasya, a shortened form of Vasilisa, is a Russian name meaning regal, royal, or queenly. “Katherine Arden, author of the Winternight Trilogy where Vasya’s namesake comes from, gave her personal blessing and approval of the name and of her,” Stephanie said. “Our scrappy Wilding is blessed five times over.”

When the Mother of Doggos announced Vasya to her Instagram following as their “official psychiatric service dog prospect,” she started an unofficial countdown. “We will be picking her up in three weeks! Ah guys, I AM SO EXCITED.” Then, “16 days until we meet Vasya!” Then a herding aptitude update:

Fearless and Unflappable

Finally Vasya’s “Gotcha Day” arrived, September 1 2018, and Stephanie said, “We instantly fell in love with this fearless little furbean.” Vasya’s first few days with Stephanie and Dylan were full and could easily have been overwhelming for a small puppy at the tender age of 2 months! But Vasya took on each new experience as an opportunity for adventure, facing everything with gusto.

She played with the much larger Shaniko the Borzoi puppy, who belonged to their friend Maren, and also bonded with Maren’s service dog Saxafrax (Frax). She met several other dogs and cats, as well as baby goats – which she constantly attempted to herd. Vasya showed such potential that the couple eagerly anticipated introducing her to herding classes at 6 months.

When they flew from Oregon to Florida to visit more family, Stephanie said Vasya “was FANTASTIC on the planes – slept the whole time!” The boys, Lakota and Seneca, had stayed in Florida being dogsat by Stephanie’s parents, and there Vasya was successfully introduced to her new brothers. At last, they had the long road trip back to Maryland and Vasya’s new home.

“She is so fearless and adaptable, and has not backed down at anything she’s come across,” Stephanie reported on Instagram. “This little girl is gonna be a handful, and we are so excited!” Boldness and confidence are excellent qualities to have in a service dog, as they must remain unflappable in novel situations. After they arrived back at their house, Stephanie updated her fans:

Playful and Bossy

Often, the advantage of having a pup and an adult dog at the same time is a puppy will keep an adult young, while an adult will keep a puppy safe. This dynamic would be especially important in the coming months, as Dylan and Stephanie were prepping to take on the “52 Hike Challenge” in 2019 and would be spending lots of time outdoors with their dogs.

Adventurous and Vocal

Stephanie described Vasya as “an adventurous baby.” Before she accompanied the couple on her first hike, she spent a weekend tagging along with them for some socialization during wedding preparations and celebrations. Stephanie was pleased to see her remain steady through it all, labeled her as #TinyButMighty, and said, “Can’t wait to see how she takes to service dog training!”

She carried that same fearless attitude into her first outdoor adventure at Cunningham Falls State Park and enjoyed herself immensely. Stephanie said, “This was the day we were happy to find Vasya loved the wilderness as much as we did.” They toted her in a backpack so as not to overwork her developing joints, but she instantly demanded to get down once they arrived at the waterfall. “She was so eager to explore; no ledge was too scary, no climb too steep,” Stephanie enthused. “So excited for our little adventurer to meet the world!”

Video of Vasya backpacking in style

Throughout the remaining months of 2018, Stephanie and Dylan planned to fit in as many hikes as possible, which was an excellent way to increase Vasya’s endurance, get mental and physical workouts for all involved, and develop the family bond. Stephanie said that watching the dynamic grow between Vasya and Lakota was an adventure in itself.

As Vasya grew, she was most likely to be found out in front on hikes, impatiently leading the pack. “Vasya’s like a little forest spirit or will-o’-the-wisp, dancing around in front of us and making sure we’re following,” Stephanie told her Instagram following. “She’s also like a harpy, because she screams. So. Much. (#JustCollieThings).” This garnered some sympathetic and understanding comments from other Collie owners.

k9freud: “Collies have a lot to say.”

adventurecollie: “Ah yes, the Collie soprano – we have a bit of that here, too.”

Feisty and Vocal

Not long after bringing her home, Stephanie commented, “I imagine Vasya’s inner monologue is basically, ‘You wanna fight me, punk? I’ll MESS YOU UP. JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL I GROW REAL LEGS’.” While still small in appearance, she was large in presence. Basically, if Vasya was in a room, you would know about it. She was personality plus.

At Stephanie’s and Dylan’s wedding in October, Vasya threatened to upstage the bride and steal the show. She charmed children into giving her belly rubs and playing with her, chewed flower arrangements, contributed some vocal Collie input to the proceedings, and received petting (as well as her leash to gnaw) in exchange for her silence during the ceremony.

Stephanie said, “I can never get enough of her feistiness! Big or small, doesn’t matter, she’ll face them all.” Her refusal to be intimidated by anyone or anything was an asset to her training. Stephanie once joked, “Vasya’s motto is definitely, ‘Scream loudly and carry a big stick.’ She is not to be messed with!” Yet Vasya is able to juxtapose being sassy as well as sweet, feisty as well as cuddly.

A service dog must learn helpful tasks to assist their human, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun and learn some tricks, too. Stephanie’s “forever favorite Vasya trick is chompies,” an utterly perfect expression of her feisty personality. (My Aussie mix Freckles does this trick, except in our house we refer to it as “alligator.” Something about those little teeth snapping together is so entertaining. 10/10 – would recommend.)

...And Vocal

When people say things like, “Herding breeds can be very vocal,” believe them. While Stephanie had been warned and knew that Collies of every flavor (Smooths, Roughs, and Borders) can be quite talkative, it’s one thing to be aware of something and another thing to personally experience it. Stephanie said, “Getting used to a herding breed is both fun and challenging. I hadn’t expected quite the extent of vocalizing a Collie could do.”

Collies have a wide range of vocal abilities. They may grumble, moan, whine, and make assorted sounds which have been variously described as cow, wookie, or bear noises. (Think black bear, not grizzly.) Sometimes they treat people to a sigh of pleasure or a snort of disgust. Occasionally, they will howl musically, or make expressive “roo” sounds of disapproval or affirmation that sound suspiciously like attempts at human speech.

They also do plenty of regular old barking – plenty – but even the barks may vary considerably to suit the occasion. The same 60-pound Collie can produce a deep, bass “watchdog” bark to warn away potential predators, then transition to a high-pitched yap of alarm, frustration, or excitement that you would swear came from the throat of a 7-pound (3 kg) Yorkie had you only heard and not seen it.

In Vasya’s case, Stephanie drily commented, “She’s beauty; she’s grace; she’ll scream loudly in your face.” This very vocalness is one of the reasons many trainers prefer not to use herding breeds such as Collies or German Shepherds as service dogs. It takes a special, understanding kind of handler to work well with a Collie, since a Collie will often communicate audibly and extensively with their people.

Independent Halfling

Describing three-month-old Vasya, Stephanie said, “She has a will of her own and ain’t afraid a’ nothin’!” Such independence is great – up to a point. But above all, a service dog is a member of a team and must be willing to take commands from a handler. At 4 months old, Stephanie reported:

Dylan and Stephanie often compared their pack to characters from the Middle Earth universe, with Lakota making a great Aragorn (the king concealed as a Ranger), Seneca being a perfect Legolas (the handsome elf prince), and their Bulldog friend Atlas representing an ideal Gimli (the gruff dwarf). Though Vasya was getting larger by the week, she was still so much smaller than the boy dogs that Stephanie and Dylan referred to her as a Hobbit. (For those who aren’t fans of The Lord of the Rings fantasy series, a Hobbit was also called a “Halfling,” due to being only half the size of the average human.)

“And this is why Vasya the Wilding is the Hobbit of our fellowship,” Stephanie said in regards to that Tolkien quote. “She’s very much a Samwise the Brave when it comes to surmounting obstacles and her drive to keep people happy and safe.” In The Return of the King, the final installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Hobbit Frodo was basically credited with saving the world from the dark lord Sauron; but Frodo himself testified that he “would not have gotten far without Sam.”

Growing Pains

But before Vasya was compared to brave, self-sacrificing Samwise, she was likened to mischievous, clumsy Pippin (also a Hobbit). There comes a point for most puppies when their bodies are developing faster than their limb coordination. Stephanie spoke of how she sometimes feels like she is stumbling through the woods with 2 left feet, but she added, “Vasya is way clumsier than any of us.”

And as Vasya grew in size, so too did her ability to get into more things. She definitely kept The Mother of Doggos on her toes.

Vasya and her brothers often seemed to share an affinity for mud. As Stephanie put it, “We’ve accepted that Sen is essentially our ghost companion who haunts our daily lives and roams the puddles of the forest.” Regarding one photo of Vasya and Seneca delighting in their dirtiness, Stephanie called them “the two fluffiest, most absorbent pups around” and said, “Gonna have to change my name to Mother of Sponge-os with the way these dogs soak up water. And mud. And suspicious puddle liquids.”

Help for the Holidays

In celebration of Vasya’s first Thanksgiving, Dylan and Stephanie decided to head to Pennsylvania with their dog family to take part in a team-building exercise. Stephanie posted a picture of the fast-growing Vasya and said, “We’ll be spending our holiday hiking in the Poconos with just us and the pups. So much to be thankful for this year, including this cutie!” She also stopped to reflect on her gratitude for the pack as a whole.

In December, there was a lot to look forward to with Vasya turning 6 months old, Stephanie celebrating her own birthday, and of course, Christmas with the family. The Mother of Doggos started a campaign to raise funds for the continuing training Vasya would need in order to become a fully-fledged service dog. Dylan and Stephanie even offered to match donations with hand-crafted gifts from their online shop.

On the festive day itself, Stephanie told her Insta family, “Vasya wishes you all a wonderful, fur-filled howliday! Her first Christmas has been such a success: she’s played all day with the kids, snuck lots of treats, opened the presents, and run nonstop. Love this little girl!”

And for a New Year’s resolution, Stephanie and Dylan determined to take on the 52 Hike Challenge “with our own modifications/requirements to make it more challenging: every hike counted toward it must be with at least one dog, and the same hiking path cannot be repeated.” This would mean traveling farther and farther afield to find new trails for their weekly hikes.

Wonder and Excitement

Dylan and Stephanie got 2019 off to a good start by making time for a weekend writing retreat at the beach, and Vasya’s SDiT (service dog in training) status meant she got to accompany them. Dylan enjoys scribbling away, though Stephanie describes herself as “the more serious writer.” In college she majored in English with a double minor in French and Creative Writing, and she currently writes short stories while working on a novel.

Though Instagram is primarily a picture-oriented platform, many of the descriptions accompanying Stephanie’s photos reflect her literary background.

With a cross-country move being planned for later in 2019, Stephanie said, “This year will be one of change and new adventures, and I think more than anything, that’s what we need. I’m taking a page from my pack’s book and letting the pull of new surroundings keep me going.”

Devotion and Empathy

In January, Stephanie and Dylan lost a family member, and their dogs were hugely instrumental in helping them through the grieving process. Building the bond between a handler and service dog means spending quality one-on-one time, and Vasya’s enthusiasm in particular was a salve to Stephanie’s emotions when most needed.

Good writers are usually prolific readers, and the Mother of Doggos often references books she’s read, quotes directly from them, and provides commentary. Discussing the Winternight Trilogy‘s protagonist and fictional inspiration for Vasya’s name, Stephanie said, “I couldn’t have chosen a better namesake for her. The two are so alike in their fierceness, determination, and devotion. I highly recommend these books for any fiction, folklore, or fantasy fans out there.” (I can second that recommendation.)

In Stephanie’s job working for an international security company, she sees “a lot of horrible things going on in the world on a daily basis.” Unlike most of us, who can just choose to ignore certain things when we want to avoid the stress of it all, Stephanie has to filter through bad news for a living. It weighs heavily on her.

Though Vasya was not yet 7 months old, her mental development was progressing almost as quickly as her fluffy coat was growing in. She learned a lot by watching her big brothers, especially Lakota, who had the most experience reading Stephanie’s emotions. “He immediately comes to me when I’m feeling off, either cuddling, performing DPT (deep pressure therapy), or standing next to me on guard,” Stephanie said.

Vasya was fast learning to ape those behaviors. Even Seneca surprised Stephanie by how close he stayed to her and Dylan as they grieved. “He’s so quiet and mellow that he can be hard to read, but he’s far more intuitive than I give him credit for,” Stephanie concluded. “Not expecting him to work has really let me see that side of him.”

Hiking and Healing

Spending time outdoors hiking with their dogs and taking pictures of them was more than just a pastime – it became a way for Dylan and Stephanie to heal. There is a great deal of simple comfort to be found in immersing yourself in the things you love.

If you’ve been paying attention to the timeline, some of you may be wondering right about now: hiking? In the winter? In Maryland?? Those who have ever had the mixed blessing/misfortune (depending who you ask) to live in or visit a snowy region in the depths of winter may well shiver at the thought. And you may even question Stephanie’s sanity for making statements such as, “Snowy hikes are our favorite!”

Having grown up in the Great North, I can say that perhaps it does take a certain type of madness to venture forth in frigid temperatures and enjoy the experience, despite all expectations to the contrary. But consider this – hiking through winter woods means you will almost always have the trails to yourself! As Stephanie said, “Hiking when it’s freezing has its challenges, but it’s worth it for the eerie, abandoned coldscapes.” And with a move to hot and sunny Florida planned for later in the year, it could be their last chance to experience a northern winter for a while.

Subtle Growth

After a February hike with Vasya, Stephanie commented, “She may be fearless, but she’s not foolish. This girl won’t step in the river unless she has to.” This hesitation was a good sign. For the sake of safety, boldness in a budding service dog must be tempered with caution and good sense.

When Vasya turned 8 months old, Stephanie lamented the rapid growth rate of puppies and said, “Can we make a law that requires puppies to grow twice as slowly, please??” By that time, Vasya was about 55 pounds (25 kg) and nearly done growing physically. Apparent changes in size after that were largely an illusion, as her coat had yet to attain its maximum floof.  But there was still a lot of mental development to be done, though that progress was more subtle and slow, like spring growth creeping out in late winter.

Keeping Up with Vasya

While the weekly hikes were a wonderful way to teach Vasya about cooperation and discretion, on a simpler level they were an outlet to release her pent-up energy. “It takes a special soul to climb a mountain through snow and ice and come back still wanting to run and play,” Stephanie commented. Clearly, Vasya had that herding breed stamina.

The dogs’ approach to the forest began to alter their humans’ perspectives on nature and life in general. By April, Stephanie was reflecting on what she’d learned in the first 15 hikes of the year and offering introspective #PhilosophyFriday thoughts.

Video of Vasya’s Chompies trick

Having a Herding Breed

In the spring of 2019, Vasya reunited with Shaniko, her Borzoi friend and playmate, when Stephanie took her along to visit her friend Maren at the Borzoi Club of America National Specialty show in Pennsylvania. At the time, Stephanie said, “It’s really made me want to get into showing. Might have to get a show Collie next.”

Whether or not Borzois (also known as Russian Wolfhounds) were introduced to Collie bloodlines back in the day to “refine” them is actually a point of contention amongst Collie aficionados today. Still, Collies’ long noses and even the white coloring (like Vasya has) do lend some credence to the theory that Rough Collies are distant cousins to Borzois.

Stephanie said that seeing Vasya side by side with the elegant Borzois really “highlighted just how much of a Hobbit she is to those Elvish doggos.” In regards to Vasya’s own pack, Stephanie reiterated, “She remains the Hobbit component of our little fellowship.” Adapting to a herding breed was still baffling and amusing for the Mother of Doggos.

In June, Vasya learned to channel that energy into her breed’s original purpose when she had her first herding lesson. Her past instinct tests and subsequent behaviors indicated she had more inherent herding drive than many Collies of her same bloodlines, so it was no surprise that she took naturally to herding.

But Vasya’s strong shepherding drive could be an impediment on their woodland walks. Naturally, any squirrel with the audacity to descend to the forest floor needed to be chased until it ascended into the trees where it properly belonged. “We only work on her off-leash training in safe locations with no chances for her to dart off,” Stephanie explained. “She has that herder need to make wide circles around us, which isn’t ideal if we’re hiking, so we want to get her off-leash heel perfected.”

Many Collies (my own female Yoshi included) have a strong urge to keep the pack together. Vasya was inclined to enforce togetherness, but she sometimes had her work cut out for her when it came to keeping her canine brothers close to her humans. Usually Seneca was practically perfect off-leash, until he found water. Then all bets were off, as Stephanie joked that he became “an unstoppable force” until he could immerse himself in the H2O. Lakota too was quite the water dog.

Birthday Girl

Vasya had truly accomplished a lot in her first year of life, including developing a relationship with the two older dog brothers who had initially been unsure about welcoming her into the pack fellowship. To commemorate her first year of life, The Mother of Doggos offered this video montage and appreciation post on July 4th.

Video of Vasya’s 1st birthday

From North to South

In August, Vasya and her clan moved to Florida for a short-term stay with family. This allowed Stephanie and Dylan to sell their house “without the impediment of three dogs to move around during showings.” Temporarily living with Stephanie’s parents (plus their 2 elderly Miniature Schnauzers) gave the young couple time to save money and prepare for their permanent move to the Oregon/Washington area where more of their family and friends lived, and where they were already accustomed to making an annual trip. 

As many who have raised a dog can testify, “puppy brain” can last far beyond the first year of life! Some dogs aren’t mentally mature until between the ages of 2 and 3. Even past the celebration of her first “Gotcha Day,” Vasya was still keeping her people alert, particularly as she retained the tendency to explore new things mouth-first. “Just today, I had to grab a lighter out of her mouth,” Stephanie reported in mid-September. “Who knows where she found that. Still, Vasya is definitely the easiest puppy we have ever had!”

Unsurprisingly, Vasya also had the easiest time adapting, probably by virtue of both her age and personality. With the area they were staying in being humid, subtropical, and coastal, it was practically a whole new world. Lakota and Seneca, with their northern snowdog blood, had difficulty adjusting to such a different climate. Seneca seemed particularly thrown off by the feeling of a different type of grass underfoot.

From Forest to Ocean

Stephanie also struggled with the regional change. “Though I was born here,” she said, “I have never felt it to be home as the forests of the Northeast did.” But Vasya was still raring to go explore, they had a hiking commitment to keep, and they couldn’t spend all their time indoors sheltering in the air conditioning.

So Stephanie devoted time to learning about the local species of flora and fauna. “Robin Wall Kimmerer writes that in order to become native to a place, we must first speak its language,” she explained. “I am learning the language of this new land as much as I can, so I can get that sense of familiarity again and help the dogs to embrace it, too.” In the end though, it was Vasya who helped Stephanie embrace their new home.

True to her name, Vasya had a regal way of viewing everywhere she tread as her realm. “The little huntress strolls through her woods as if she is queen to every thing she sets paw upon,” Stephanie observed. “Collies truly are a royal breed – or at least, they like to pretend they are.” (My own male Collie, Sir Gustav, has a similar high opinion of himself. You have to admire their confidence.)

Much to Vasya’s delight, she also became reacquainted with the sea. “Vasya has become quite the beach Collie in our short time in Florida,” Stephanie said. “She walked into the surf like it was nothing, and has had SO much fun finding crabbos and chasing birbs.”

From Smeagol to Eowyn

In yet another reference to a Lord of the Rings character, Stephanie had once compared the gawky, fumblefooted version of Vasya to Smeagol, a malformed, sly creature who was probably once a hobbit. When I asked Stephanie if her view of Vasya had altered, her response was, “She has had quite the glow-up! Dylan and I both agree she’s much more Eowyn now: fierce yet compassionate, nearly fearless, commanding, and a little independent-minded in what she thinks is best!” (Eowyn was a princess who defied convention to protect her people.)

Vasya’s puppyhood clodhopper days were behind her, yet she had her relapse moments. “She has gotten very dexterous as she ages, though she has still fallen in the pool three times now due to overconfidence in her turns when really fired up,” Stephanie told me. “She’s also rolled off the bed a few times while sleeping!”

One odd but nonobvious aspect of Vasya’s physical appearance was a set of double nipples on her belly. Stephanie was initially worried that she might have a lipoma, but it turns out that misplaced or extra nipples in dogs are not very uncommon or much cause for concern. (My own girl Yoshi also has a pair of duplicate nipples.)

Closing Out the Year

One quality Vasya never lost was her constant inquisitiveness. Stephanie posted a picture of Vasya on her Instagram account with this accompanying Albert Einstein quote: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Then she added, “Not saying Vasya is Einstein, but she’s definitely a curious little bitch!”

Her pun prompted this response from Collie owner and dog trainer extraordinaire k9freud, “Collies are ALWAYS curious! (#busybody)”

“And such control freaks!” the Mother of Doggos replied.

As planned, Dylan the Dog Dad, the Mother of Doggos, and Canine Company completed Hike #52 of the hiking challenge in December. Their search for uncharted territory had taken them into 5 different American States. “We’ve scrabbled up mountains, explored old growth forests, slogged through swamps, and adventured everywhere in between,” Stephanie said. Their next goal is to take the dogs hiking in all the US mountain ranges.

Such is Life

Stephanie was right that 2020 was going to be a very exciting year, but I think most of us could do with less excitement… On a personal level though, Stephanie was referring to the earlier-than-anticipated addition of a fourth (or sixth, depending how you count) dog to their pack.

“Ever since I met Maren’s Shaniko, I fell in love with the Borzoi breed and wanted nothing more than a Shaniko pup of my own,” Stephanie said. “He was goofy, affectionate, and heartbreakingly beautiful with his floating gait and majestic floof.” When she had attended a Borzoi dog show, she described it as “a special kind of utopia, as I met an amazingly kind and fun group of Borzoi folk and was surrounded by hundreds of weird noodle dogs.”

By then, Stephanie had already spent time studying the breed and didn’t hesitate to promise her good friend Maren of @saxafraxborzoi that she would co-own a puppy from Shaniko’s first litter, because it was expected to be an event far in the future. “Except life had different plans, as it often does,” Stephanie said wryly. And so little Rusalka (fancy name: Saxafrax Wild Rushes Adrienne C’est la Vie) came home. “She’s already getting used to our crazy pack of puppers, cuddled with us all night, and has loved every single human she’s met,” Stephanie said.

Suddenly, Vasya wasn’t the baby of the family anymore! She had a puppy to raise, and she took her responsibility very seriously. “One day in and Vasya and Rusalka have been playing all day!” Stephanie said on Instagram. “Unfortunately that also means Vasya has shown Rue her secret digging spot… Hopefully true to her name, Rusalka won’t mind when we bathe her.” (In Russian folklore, a rusalka is a water nymph or spirit.)

Adopt or Shop

Stephanie also announced her plans to enter the conformation show world with Rue, which may have left some of her followers less than pleased. The “adopt don’t shop” slogan and hashtag is popular on Instagam, sometimes accompanied by very anti-breeder opinions. As someone who has both “adopted” and “shopped,” owns a crossbreed as well as 2 Collies, and sees the benefits of rescuing and breeding – I appreciated this entire post from Stephanie.

One of Stephanie’s most engaged followers, @blkgermanshep, commented, “Excellent post. We absolutely need well-bred, purpose-bred dogs. If we don’t, then the only dogs available will be the offspring of the irresponsible!” Of course, Stephanie didn’t need to take the time to defend her choices to purchase both Vasya and Rue and compete in hobby pursuits with them, but it was nice that she did. 

Canine Co-Parent

With 4 humans and 6 dogs temporarily living in one household, it was bound to be chaos at times, but Stephanie and Dylan worked hard to ensure it was occasional and controlled chaos. “Enforcing boundaries and ensuring everyone has their own space helps a lot!” Stephanie said. To their surprise, Vasya was a huge help in that endeavor, especially when it came to pacifying the elderly pair of Schnauzers who’d had their space invaded.

While Vasya and Rusalka were fast friends from the get-go, Lakota was initially indifferent, and Seneca occasionally considered playing, only to end up on the same grumpy wavelength as the Schnauzers who just wanted their previously calm lives back. “Sometimes I look into Seneca’s eyes and feel like I truly understand him,” Stephanie claimed. “I stared into those icy pools, and they conveyed deep truths: ‘I am so sick of these nosy motherfluffers.’ Yes, we truly understand each other.” As Stephanie put it, Seneca could have quite the “grumblestare” when perturbed.

Task Training

Vasya’s natural mothering qualities extended to the humans of her pack, too. In a way, this made it easy to train her for certain tasks such as deep pressure therapy. “We trained DPT largely by shaping her instinct to nurture and be close when we’re in distress, so it was half natural and half honing,” Stephanie explained. In April, an incident befell Stephanie’s mom that showed just how firmly Vasya adhered to her DPT training.

K9freud, with her thorough understanding of canines in general and Collies in particular, commented, “Collies just know what’s needed and get so offended if you second guess their efforts!”

“SO offended!” agreed the Mother of Doggos.

Vasya also learned to do several interruption tasks, like gently pawing at Dylan’s or Stephanie’s hands to forestall anxious behaviors like nail biting and licking Stephanie’s face to stave off panic attacks. Lakota still had the responsibility of providing medication reminders at home, and Vasya too was learning to emulate that task.

Though Stephanie’s self-consciousness kept her from posting much online about Vasya’s public access and task training, she and Dylan had been working hard with Vasya from the beginning. When possible, they took her with them everywhere they went. Ironically, Vasya’s natural maternal and herding instincts – the very qualities that made her an excellent SDiT – also provided a unique training challenge.

“The biggest point of public access training has been settling/remaining calm when in busy situations, for which we were seeking help with a trainer,” Stephanie said, “as she likes to micromanage and gets frustrated when there are people (especially children) who are running around without her supervision.” Stephanie’s social anxiety made that aspect of owner-training difficult and necessitated the help of a professional to get past that snag.

Pandemic Pandemonium

As has happened for so many people worldwide, the 2020 coronavirus craziness hit the pause button on Stephanie’s and Dylan’s life plans. “The pandemic has certainly extended our plans for staying down here, as the real estate market isn’t great for options and Dylan’s employment was affected by the closures,” Stephanie told me, but added that “we are lucky to be with family during this time.” Yet the past few months have been particularly hard month for Stephanie, since she doesn’t have the luxury of unplugging from the news cycle when it gets to be too much.

Yet true to her empathetic nature, Stephanie refused to stay focused on herself. She told her 8,000 plus followers, “If anyone is having a rough time, please know you can always talk to me, and also? If you just want a derpy video of the dogs or to request a virtual pet or shoutout or anything, just say the word! The pups are more than happy to share their happiness and love!”

Continuing Education

Vasya’s public access training has necessarily been much reduced compared to the amount of public practice they were logging pre-pandemic. Her herding lessons have also been put on hold until they relocate to America’s west coast, due to the longer driving distance to reach a trainer and the complications of working in the intense Florida heat. Meantime, the couple plan to attempt a more summer-suitable form of exercise and entertainment.

While Vasya has given herself a few accidental dunkings in the inground pool, she has yet to swim voluntarily. All the dogs enjoy wading, but so far Dylan and Stephanie have had no luck coaxing any of them into the pool. “This summer we hope to strap Vasya into a life vest and get her going, so we’ll see if she likes it!” Stephanie said.

Task goals for Vasya include training her to create a barrier with her body that will give Stephanie some space and breathing room to prevent her from becoming overwhelmed or claustrophobic in crowded areas, as well as learning to locate building exits when necessary. Vasya may also provide reasons for Stephanie to remove herself from tense situations. For instance, if Vasya is trained to whine in response to a subtle signal, that would give Stephanie the perfect excuse to take her for a potty break. (They’re about halfway done with that task.)

The Mother of Doggos also intends to train Vasya to wake her if she experiences asthmatic distress while sleeping, and to have her fetch medicine when needed. Detecting and alerting to the presence of black mold – “a major asthmatic trigger” for Stephanie – is also on the helpful task wish list.

If you would like to contribute towards Vasya’s continuing service dog training, you can donate to her “Vasya Goes to School” Go Fund Me account. Funds may also help to give Vasya a fun break from work, since Dylan and Stephanie hope to continue her herding lessons as well as possibly take up the Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test) sport with her once they’ve relocated to Oregon. According to the AKC, Fast CAT “is a timed 100-yard dash where dogs run one at a time, chasing a lure.” It would probably be a blast for Vasya.

After all, dogs, rather like people, learn best when they are enjoying themselves, and Vasya’s sweet, fun-loving spirit is a big contributor to shaping her into a great psychiatric service dog.

“When the party accepts a quest and the reward is a pack of toilet paper. TIME TO EARN THAT ROLL! #DungeonsAndDoggos”

“Trying to play with your neighbors while practicing social distancing.”

If you’d like to keep up with Vasya’s continued service dog training and other adventures of her pack, follow them on Instagram @motherdoggos or TikTok @themotherofdoggos.

🌲🐾Kota, Sen, Vasy, and Rue🐾🌴
Dog Trainer
The Best Dungeons & Doggo Pawty
Lakota – MalamuteX, Paladin
Seneca – HuskyX, Bard
Vasya – Rough Collie, Cleric
Rusalka – Borzoi, Rogue

Dedicated to Maren’s heart dog and service dog, Saxafrax, in loving memory. Stephanie said, “Saxafrax was an amazing dog, and her and Maren’s bond through service work is what inspired me to look into service training in the first place. Maren helped me with all my research and finding a good trainer. Frax was the first herding dog I ever fell in love with, so I don’t think we’d have Vasya if it weren’t for her.”

Recommended related dog accounts to follow:

Some of Vasya’s siblings and kin are @yukon_the_smoothie, @romanymcqueensavagebeauty, @dantetheroughcollieservicedog,  and @pnw_canines.

You can follow some of Rusalka’s relatives! Stephanie said, “Rusalka was co-bred by @saxafraxborzoi, Adrienne Borzoi, @wildrushesborzoi, and @laureateborzoi! They’re all amazing.”

Keep up with Lakota’s family! Stephanie said, “He has had play dates with almost half of the pups from his 12-sibling litter now, including @2_pittsburgh_pups and @kms_dukie.”

Gawk at Seneca’s glorious clan! “He has a lot of siblings and half-siblings that are STUNNING – @uma_gram, @wolfpackmountain, @loki_the_nas, @the_shadow_moon_experiment, and others,” Stephanie said.

Further Reading:

Service Dog Tasks for Panic Disorder, PTSD, and Depression

Should Service Dogs Have Pet Insurance?

All pictures and quotes attributed to @motherofdoggos unless otherwise specified. Some comments edited and abridged.