Little One: A service dog who needed a break

Little One is a problem solver.  

As a service dog, her primary responsibility is helping her mama move in a world that doesn’t always accommodate people with disabilities. 

She navigates busy stores and senses danger for and stress in her mama, turning to comfort her when she needs to. 

We’ve met Little One’s mama, Laura, a couple of times before in this space.

She’s a big Big White Dog Photography fan, and I appreciate her as a friend too. 

A Lab among shepherds 

I’ve seen Little One among her pack. 

If a dog could give rolleyes, hers would be permanently locked into position, thanks to the German shepherds that surround her. 

Little One is a gorgeous chocolate Labrador retriever, and sticks out among Vinny, an extra-large black German shepherd, and the black-and-tans, Jazzlo, Zander and Zenith. 

“I met her when she was just hours old,” Laura says. “I knew at a very early age she was different from the others. She was a problem solver, doing things the other dogs in the litter were not.” 

Laura latched onto the little one … er, to Little One … and started training her to replace her existing mobility service dog who was nearing retirement age. 

“She has exceeded all my expectations from an early age.” 

A service dog like no other 

Little One has become Laura’s partner, a constant source of guidance and support, even as Laura trains the three younger shepherds to give the Lab periods of rest. 

“She has given me back so much independence and allows me to do so many things,” Laura says. “Vinny and Lobo were in the process of retiring when I was training her and she quickly learned to take over where they left off and then some. I don’t even know how many tasks and commands she knows.” 

Little One continues to learn new tasks all the time. 

Among her most import responsibilities is keeping Laura focused. 

The functions of a service dog remains a largely misunderstood concept in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.  

Persons with disabilities, like Laura who was in a life-changing motorcycle accident 10 years ago, are able to resume independent lives with the help of a service dog but they face a number of challenges. 

Kids wanting to play with a working dog 

Humans with pretend service dogs 

Employees/managers denying entry to businesses 

Laura, who facilitates education as the founder and CEO of the Northwest Service Dog Alliance, relies on Little One as a stress reliever in those moments. 

“Even when we have had access denials at events she has been a rock and kept me focused until we have sorted them out and been granted passage,” Laura says. 

Every hard worker needs a break 

Little One takes her job seriously.  

With her harness on, she is stoic and resolved to be a working dog. Laura allows her to say hello to friends and accept rubs and scritches (people … ASK FIRST). 

Laura knows how hard Little One works and understands that every dog needs her day.  

She signed Little One up for a session to appear in the Paws of the Inland Northwest fundraiser book and we had a blast. 

We took Little One to one of my favorite play spots at Plantes Ferry and walked for a bit. 

Her eyes sparkled at the chance to run up and down the field for me. She posed like a fashion model, and she happily scarfed down treat after treat after treat. 

The girl got spoiled. 

Spoileded, as say in Chez Schneider.