Saturday, September 28, 2013
The really big news
Ok as some of you have guessed... That means you Roofy! ... (apologies for the punctuation) Breck will be ours as of 11:00 am MONDAY. Oh man. Am I ready for this life change? Is my wife ready? Is Breck ready? I think so. I know so. I hope I have some time Monday night to post an update. I'll post some video to You Tube soon so you can all see the amazing things he can do. I expect some of you will fall in love like we have.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Current issue of the HOWLER from Can-do-Canines http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=9ngkvxfab&v=001HZh_ryKk0qd5tuHv8Enhb36TUKw4meX9-OKbd9PV-QEpDHRRCBHjPb6vlblOys8hHuaVX_V4UHth53N_jSWtqo_bNV34lOPKtnY_lierQ1Eoup1yuEkU2QbAJoNfTZ7Sky1_jz066eEGmcPIiA2EnSwxruTGLC_MGkBLkK9wGMVwkB4hdbkCSg426eu_uiCv_DC4mwSogZ_jbYEwPZQAa6MGr__FyCH6S9y-AEToE343NO9cKVvldY6tIW-065BCJvLbHM0Vg5st5GjHG6P0Gs3lFDX3CZGZNlmZ6Zfdb4E%3D
We're just biding our time until Breck arrives. House cleaning and buying dog specific items. He's just big enough that his tail could sweep the coffee table clean in one swoosh. I think he's smart enough not to let that happen. His thus is a long way from his head and I'm not sure he know that it's his yet. The other night at training, when it was time to go he'd get his head and shoulders in the car, but his doggy fanny was still grounded. "It's so far from my head it must be somebody else's"
My wife bought me a new keyboard so now I can write more in my blog. The space key was intermittent on the old one. That made it very hard to type sentences, always going back to add spaces between words. I gotta tell you, this is joy. Writing this post was more about testing the keyboard than it was about Breck and Me. I need to add another countdown clock.
My wife bought me a new keyboard so now I can write more in my blog. The space key was intermittent on the old one. That made it very hard to type sentences, always going back to add spaces between words. I gotta tell you, this is joy. Writing this post was more about testing the keyboard than it was about Breck and Me. I need to add another countdown clock.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
We have a DATE!
October 11th
It may be a few weeks away, but what is that compared to a lifetime of fuzzy companionship? Our trainer will be indisposed for a few weeks on important
family business. We can be patient.
We had a good training session tonight. We went to "Fleet Farm" which for lack of a better description is a mega hardware store, a mans mall. We had to obtain a scooter when we got there which amounts to leaving your drivers license and getting a key. While we were picking up the key to my wheels Breck and the trainer walked in. It took a few minutes for him to notice us, but when he did the started to wag and his face lit up. It was clear that "my dog" was excited to see me. The feeling was mutual.
We shopped all over the store for about an hour. He did an excellent job and met each challenge like a pro. He made it through the dog food section twice with only one little very controllable tug. While leaving, Sandie dropped the key which he promptly picked up.
We left the store and drove to a Mexican restaurant. The ride over was a breeze as Breck laid down and never moved a muscle. He did the same inside. He just calmly laid there waiting for us to leave. Another great outing with Breck.
Oh yeah, the Mexican food was good too.
It may be a few weeks away, but what is that compared to a lifetime of fuzzy companionship? Our trainer will be indisposed for a few weeks on important
family business. We can be patient.
We had a good training session tonight. We went to "Fleet Farm" which for lack of a better description is a mega hardware store, a mans mall. We had to obtain a scooter when we got there which amounts to leaving your drivers license and getting a key. While we were picking up the key to my wheels Breck and the trainer walked in. It took a few minutes for him to notice us, but when he did the started to wag and his face lit up. It was clear that "my dog" was excited to see me. The feeling was mutual.
We shopped all over the store for about an hour. He did an excellent job and met each challenge like a pro. He made it through the dog food section twice with only one little very controllable tug. While leaving, Sandie dropped the key which he promptly picked up.
We left the store and drove to a Mexican restaurant. The ride over was a breeze as Breck laid down and never moved a muscle. He did the same inside. He just calmly laid there waiting for us to leave. Another great outing with Breck.
Oh yeah, the Mexican food was good too.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
A good day for Breck
Wow, talk about doggy Christmas.
Breck came over today right after lunch. His trainer ( I keep forgetting to ask her permission to use her first name) brought along with her many items donated to Can-do-canines for their dogs. A wire kennel, some other grooming items. A bag of dog food, which we donated back, and from 1 specific donor a bunch of toys.
We met this donor at a meeting of the bear supporters (long story) and she out bid us at a silent auction for the toys. After she bought the toys and much later found out we were bidding for our service dog she saw to it that we got the toys. We are talking about a bunch of toys. Squeaky toys, balls and bones, tug toys, a nice stretchy leash, Nylabones , and more. A cool thing is I can tell him to clean up and he will put the toys away in his toy box.
After getting all the gifts it was time to go to meet "grandma" my mom. Mom lives near us in a building tall enough for elevators. It was a time to work on many skills. hitting door access buttons, riding in new cars, meeting new people and getting on the elevator. Breck met each challenge like a pro. What a dog. Btw he and "grandma" hit it off right away.
We just keep getting closer with every meeting.
Breck came over today right after lunch. His trainer ( I keep forgetting to ask her permission to use her first name) brought along with her many items donated to Can-do-canines for their dogs. A wire kennel, some other grooming items. A bag of dog food, which we donated back, and from 1 specific donor a bunch of toys.
We met this donor at a meeting of the bear supporters (long story) and she out bid us at a silent auction for the toys. After she bought the toys and much later found out we were bidding for our service dog she saw to it that we got the toys. We are talking about a bunch of toys. Squeaky toys, balls and bones, tug toys, a nice stretchy leash, Nylabones , and more. A cool thing is I can tell him to clean up and he will put the toys away in his toy box.
After getting all the gifts it was time to go to meet "grandma" my mom. Mom lives near us in a building tall enough for elevators. It was a time to work on many skills. hitting door access buttons, riding in new cars, meeting new people and getting on the elevator. Breck met each challenge like a pro. What a dog. Btw he and "grandma" hit it off right away.
We just keep getting closer with every meeting.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Some splainin to do.
It was brought to my attention that my dog blog posts sound so negative that it seems I am having second thoughts.
Let me be CLEAR... I WANT THIS DOG. I have been expressing the realization that it was going to be more difficult than I expected. I've been trying to convey to anyone reading this that adding a fuzzy family member, no matter how well trained he may be, will be work. Anything worth having is worth working for. I thought that someone considering a service dog might read this someday and be able to temper their judgment.
So bring it on. By the time he's ready we will be too.
Let me be CLEAR... I WANT THIS DOG. I have been expressing the realization that it was going to be more difficult than I expected. I've been trying to convey to anyone reading this that adding a fuzzy family member, no matter how well trained he may be, will be work. Anything worth having is worth working for. I thought that someone considering a service dog might read this someday and be able to temper their judgment.
So bring it on. By the time he's ready we will be too.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Training at home
Well it finally happened. Our trainer brought Breck to our house.
I was a nervous wreck. You'd think I never had a dog before. I was so concerned that something he had access to would be poison to him. He didn't get poisoned but true to a dog's nature he had his nose in everything, given the "leave it" command he left it. I found out rather quickly how difficult keeping an eye on him with my limited mobility was going to be. Tougher than anticipated.
Speaking of tougher than anticipated we went for a walk with my scooter yesterday. All went exceptionally well until he got "busy". The leash was to short so he was straining. Let me tell you that dog is strong. So strong in fact I was worried he was going to pull me over. That would be a very bad thing. I can't lift myself so I'd be stuck on the ground needing rescue.
It was fun having him in the house, But as usual that excitement had to be tempered with a dose of reality.
Btw,we also found out that Bali (the dog of the friend that suggested we apply to Can-do-Canines) is Breck's aunt. Very cool, we love Bali.
I was a nervous wreck. You'd think I never had a dog before. I was so concerned that something he had access to would be poison to him. He didn't get poisoned but true to a dog's nature he had his nose in everything, given the "leave it" command he left it. I found out rather quickly how difficult keeping an eye on him with my limited mobility was going to be. Tougher than anticipated.
Speaking of tougher than anticipated we went for a walk with my scooter yesterday. All went exceptionally well until he got "busy". The leash was to short so he was straining. Let me tell you that dog is strong. So strong in fact I was worried he was going to pull me over. That would be a very bad thing. I can't lift myself so I'd be stuck on the ground needing rescue.
It was fun having him in the house, But as usual that excitement had to be tempered with a dose of reality.
Btw,we also found out that Bali (the dog of the friend that suggested we apply to Can-do-Canines) is Breck's aunt. Very cool, we love Bali.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Going to Target
I love this picture
Today was a good day. We worked with a distraction, another younger service dog. Breck could not have acted better. We went to the pet food aisle. Breck could not have acted better. We went to the pet toy aisle. Breck could not have acted better. He did give the stuff, whether food or toys, a sniff, but on the command "leave it" he immediately relented.
I know we have a long way to go, but tonight was the first time we acted as a TEAM! He listened to me, but even more importantly I listened to him. The work seemed more natural even our trainer noticed the improvement. I think we'll make this work.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Breck at the Mall
We met our trainer at the mall. She had Breck with her. Being a Tuesdays afternoon the mall wasn't too busy. This made it the perfect time for our first outing.
Breck behaved well. He watched me as we walked, checking in so often it was hard to praise him as he did. One of the major differences is my increased responsibilities. Besides keeping in touch with the dog, I had to keep track of other patrons especially children, scan the floor for items the dog might find edible which is almost anything of a size he can swallow, and watch where we were going.
We worked on going through doors and navigating elevators. We didn't have any major problems although in the elevator I forgot how to control him. He did fine but had there been trouble would not have remembered what to do. I know he'd behave but I'm not comfortable with him knowing what to do and me not. I think that's a setup for him to feel he's the boss and become the leader.
All in all we are getting along fine, my confidence is building but new challenges are at every turn.
Breck behaved well. He watched me as we walked, checking in so often it was hard to praise him as he did. One of the major differences is my increased responsibilities. Besides keeping in touch with the dog, I had to keep track of other patrons especially children, scan the floor for items the dog might find edible which is almost anything of a size he can swallow, and watch where we were going.
We worked on going through doors and navigating elevators. We didn't have any major problems although in the elevator I forgot how to control him. He did fine but had there been trouble would not have remembered what to do. I know he'd behave but I'm not comfortable with him knowing what to do and me not. I think that's a setup for him to feel he's the boss and become the leader.
All in all we are getting along fine, my confidence is building but new challenges are at every turn.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Reflectons on Rocky
Rocky
Rocky was my dog in the mid 80s. He was a springer spaniel.
A coworker came up to me one day saying "your a dog person right?" I was once again living by myself, this time in a home I owned. She said she had a dog that needed a good home. I had a home that needed a good dog. The next day she brought the dog to work. I took him home that night.
It was obvious that he had never been in a house. He entered very cautiously. He didn't know how to climb a staircase. He didn't understand his boundaries. But that first night he convinced me what an extraordinary dog I had. I left a steak on the cutting board and left the room. A few minutes later I heard a plop. It was my steak hitting the floor. A natural thing for a dog that had been living on his own and getting by. I yelled "NO" from the other room, sure that I was learning an expensive lesson and my new dog was having the meal of his life. When I returned to the kitchen Rocky was sitting just staring at the steak. He had listened to me and despite the massive self control he was resisting the steak. That was a 'good boy'. He didn't get the steak but he was lavished with "Dairy queens" my fun term for ice cubes.
I never give a dog people food. The exception being a small piece of cheese on very special occasions. To create that small piece of cheese I used one of those metal cheese cutters with the wire and roller. The device, when shook, made a tiny metallic rattling noise. Whenever I got that cheese cutter out the small noise had the dog come running. I lived in a rural area where " rocky was free to run. No matter how far he roamed, rattling that cheese cutter was his signal to come now. And he always did.
More on rocky at a later date. This blog is supposed t be about Breck.
Rocky was my dog in the mid 80s. He was a springer spaniel.
A coworker came up to me one day saying "your a dog person right?" I was once again living by myself, this time in a home I owned. She said she had a dog that needed a good home. I had a home that needed a good dog. The next day she brought the dog to work. I took him home that night.
It was obvious that he had never been in a house. He entered very cautiously. He didn't know how to climb a staircase. He didn't understand his boundaries. But that first night he convinced me what an extraordinary dog I had. I left a steak on the cutting board and left the room. A few minutes later I heard a plop. It was my steak hitting the floor. A natural thing for a dog that had been living on his own and getting by. I yelled "NO" from the other room, sure that I was learning an expensive lesson and my new dog was having the meal of his life. When I returned to the kitchen Rocky was sitting just staring at the steak. He had listened to me and despite the massive self control he was resisting the steak. That was a 'good boy'. He didn't get the steak but he was lavished with "Dairy queens" my fun term for ice cubes.
I never give a dog people food. The exception being a small piece of cheese on very special occasions. To create that small piece of cheese I used one of those metal cheese cutters with the wire and roller. The device, when shook, made a tiny metallic rattling noise. Whenever I got that cheese cutter out the small noise had the dog come running. I lived in a rural area where " rocky was free to run. No matter how far he roamed, rattling that cheese cutter was his signal to come now. And he always did.
More on rocky at a later date. This blog is supposed t be about Breck.
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