Success Stories
The Successes of Working Teams
From the inception of Above the Clouds Siberian Service Dogs and Yakutian Laika’s we have helped numerous people by matching service dogs with clients. Below are some stories clients shared.
ATC Service Teams
Mystique (Misty) & Cheyenne
Misty knows several guide tasks now, some of which are basic directional cues such as right, left, forward, and back. She also knows how to lead me to an exit, an entrance, locate the car in a parking lot, find specific people I’m with at the time by name, follow certain people (an employee helping me locate an item in the store for example) and guide me around various obstacles or alongside curbs, sidewalks, store isles, or the walls of buildings. She has learned to automatically guide me around other people, dogs, and various obstacles we encounter daily.
Fun fact: Misty will even guide me around sewer grates in the ground, despite them being safe to walk on. 😆
Mystique is vital to keeping me safe, mobile, and independent. All of these tasks (and more to come!) I’ve taught Mystique since getting her last summer. We are currently saving up for a guide and mobility harness to help give her better support, as well as give me better tactile feedback from the proper handles needed for both types of work. Mystique is my most trusted guide. I have full faith in her as my vision continues to deteriorate, she truly is becoming my eyes. 💕🐾
I had a great time at the Clinton Fall Festival with my family this weekend! I got to indulge in some fair food (I’m a sucker for funnel cakes), watch some amazing performers showcase their talents, and support local vendors, artists, and crafters! 🪡
Mystique did amazing and tasked as needed throughout the entire day. It has been years since I’ve been able to attend a festival, and thanks to her, I was able to attend safely while being able to enjoy myself! When we were in crowds, she was able to guide me through them safely, without any incidents where I would have tripped or bumped into someone if I didn’t have her. She was my eyes and my most trusted guide. Misty performed DPT as needed, especially when things got a bit overwhelming for me. This was the biggest and most crowded event we have attended since COVID-19, but she rocked it! She did a great job blocking while I shopped and was stopped at various booths.
Having her by my side to help with my disabilities has truly made me more independent and not only allowed me to grow as a person, but to have fun and find myself in the process! We hope to come back next year with some friends to make even more memories! 💕🐾
Cheyenne-
Banshee & Stazia
Banshee assists me in everyday life as an autistic adult, she helps me go into to stores without having an episode, she performs DPT when I’m anxious or about to have an episode. She stops me from scratching or hitting by pawing my hands away from my face. She performs exit when I don’t feel safe in the environment. She is always aware of my surroundings and makes sure I’m doing okay. Banshee and I have come a long way from where we started. We have started working on distractions, walking with a hands-free leash practicing staying by my side. Off leash training in stores and going more places that are challenging for the both of us. Our bond is not only strong she knows exactly what to do to fit my needs. Banshee is very tame and the perfect match for me, as autistic people don’t do well with very demanding animals.
Stazia P. Reno, NV-
Yukon and Sarah
From the beginning, Yukon took to me as his forever person. We continue to bond every day. Yukon loves going to the ranch and running. He has helped me in so many ways. Not only is he a great companion, he helps me by bracing for me for balance as I put shoes on standing up. He also does a great job blocking when there are strangers around. Yukon is great company and we continue to work on new things with our trainer. He is great at pressure therapy when I’m feeling anxious and depressed. He helps keep me grounded. He does very well at alerting to me when something isn’t right. Even before I know something is wrong. He also does great in crowded restaurants. He behaves perfectly. Yukon is amazing and has been a fantastic addition to my little family. Above the Clouds has done an amazing job getting him prepared to be a service dog. I can’t thank Barrett enough for the joy that has been brought to my life.
Congratulations to Sarah and Yukon, Yukon passed his OFA hips and elbows with flying colors!! He has completed all requirements for mobility and stability, so he now gets his official harness and is “fully trained” this is a long process with lots of hard work and testing at every turn. What we do is not quick, I am so very proud of this boy!!
Sarah S. Amarillo, TX –
Tyene (Tye)
My service dog Tyene changed my life for the better in so many ways. She comes with me everywhere: in cars, trains, busses, boats, and planes. And running with her every day has helped me get into better shape, which has also helped to improve my mental health.
Last summer, she flew all the way from New York to Israel and back without any trouble. She also sits patiently through all of my medical school classes. She has also been to California, Florida, and Canada, and everyone loves her wherever we go!
Since she does such great work as my service dog, I decided that I wanted to share her with others in need, so I recently decided to train her to work as a therapy dog as well. Due to her extraordinarily calm demeanor and high level of intelligence, she easily passed the therapy dog evaluation, and now she is doing great work visiting people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and libraries.
You might also recognize her from her commercial for the Farmer’s Dog, which is still airing all around the country! I am eternally grateful to Above the Clouds for all of their incredible work, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. These dogs are truly special, and I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be interested to reach out and learn more.
This little girl had previously been bitten by a dog and this was her first time getting close to one again. She loved reading to Tye and showing her the pictures!
Tyene scored the highest rating on the evaluation!
Anonymous-
Miso & Kristen
Miso has been everything I had hoped for in a Service Dog. She is a loyal companion, trustworthy and does her job beautifully, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. Everywhere we go people comment on how well behaved she is. It’s a blessing to know that I can take her anywhere and know she will behave. She is also incredibly smart. Her ability to differentiate between “work mode” and “puppy mode” is fascinated. She’s like two different dogs when we are working and when we are relaxing. I highly recommend above the clouds for your service dog needs. The disposition, temperaments and training is unsurpassable.
Kristen C. Retired Army Veteran-
ATC Training Teams
James & Nero
Nero and I were one of the first online class participants, ATC was instrumental in providing the tools we needed for success. We attended both the Basic Training and the Pre-CGC classes to work toward our goal of Nero providing Stability / Mobility service work. We continue to learn new tasks together and become a stronger team each day. The ATC online training provided me with training knowledge that I could continue to use throughout our partnership and helped me understand how to develop Nero’s skills.
Thank you Above the Clouds Siberian Service Dogs!!!
James P. Reno, Nv-