This service dog is wowing the internet with her impressive skills
She can put away laundry, grab a water bottle from the fridge, close the dishwasher -- oh, and did we mention that she’s a dog?
Instagram users have been watching the energetic Golden Retriever named Harlow grow into a service dog for the past 15 months.
And each day, she becomes more skilled.
The dog’s 20-year-old owner, Jaquie Blake, suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) -- a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. The woman also experiences migraines, narcolepsy, dizziness and frequent fainting spells.
Luckily, the Florida resident has Harlow by her side.
The retriever is training to be a medical alert and mobility service dog. She notifies her owner when she senses something bad is about to happen and assists Blake with her physical limitations.
“Without her, I would be very limited in what I could do with my life,” Blake explained to CBS News. “Leaving the house by myself would be out of the question, let alone [pursuing] a college education and eventually my dream career (occupational therapist).”
About a year ago, Blake started an Instagram account to track her service dog’s progress.
Today, that account has more than 70,000 followers -- and that number continues to climb.
Blake attributes it to her pup’s progress over the year.
The dog knows how to get her leash, house keys and pick up virtually anything Blake drops.
Some of the most popular videos on Blake’s page -- with hundreds of thousands of views -- involve Harlow retrieving a water bottle from the fridge when her owner says, “Water bottle, I’m thirsty.”
“Everyone seems to love it,” Blake said. “She will go to the fridge, bring me a bottle of water, and then return to shut the fridge. This is important for when I am too dizzy or in too much pain to move, but I still need to take my medication.”
It’s important to remember that a service dog is not just for a wheelchair-bound person, Blake says.
“These dogs can also help people who have invisible illnesses,” she explained. “For example, you cannot see my POTS unless, perhaps, I am unconscious on the floor.”
With Harlow’s increasing popularity, Blake is confident her dog is helping to spread that message.
“She has my back,” Blake said.