Kristina and Keiko

I had the pleasure of meeting a very special duo Monday morning – Kristina and Keiko. Keiko was one of the pups chosen to help us build an urban dog photo portfolio, but after having to cancel 3 or 4 times due to inclement weather, it was looking like the shoot just wouldn’t happen. Fortunately, at the last minute, we were both able to find an hour Monday morning to do a brief shoot at a local park in Grand Rapids. One of the reasons I really wanted to meet and photograph these two is the special bond they share.

Keiko is a 6-month-old Shiba Inu, a Japanese breed known for their intelligence and independence – Kristina is a 14-year-old with autism. Kristina was one of the first people Keiko met – from that early foundation this duo has built a strong bond that continues to strengthen every day. It didn’t take long before Kristina’s family noticed that Keiko had an unusual and very calming effect on Kristina. Shiba Inus are not a typical breed used for service dogs, but the family, who has fostered for Paws With A Cause in the past, decided to start training Keiko as Kristina’s companion/service dog. 

As Brooke, Kristina’s Mom, explained to me, “Like many autistic kids, Kristina has a lot of ‘melt-downs’. She rocks, flaps her hands, and has trouble being in large groups of people. Even though Keiko is only six- months-old and is a service dog in training, she already has a huge effect on Kristina. Kristina used to have a daily ‘melt-down’ every morning upon awaking. Brooke noticed when Keiko woke Kristina in the morning that Kristina’s cortisol level remained low enough that she no longer had her daily morning ‘melt-down’. So, as part of their daily ritual, Keiko always wakes Kristina up every morning.”

Keiko’s companionship and presence helps Kristina be brave at doctor’s appointments, new places and in crowds of people – she is also that social bridge that allows Kristina to interact with people better. 

Keiko and Kristina are both homeschooled by Brooke. She spends a huge part of her day teaching both of them – including teaching Kristina how to train Keiko. They both also attend community classes – dance, drama, and Discovery Wilderness School for Kristina and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) classes for Keiko.

Together? They make a pretty magical team that we have no doubt will go far together!