Day 2 of Training at 4 Paws

Oh boy...what a day.  Last night I stayed up past my bedtime and then had coughing fits throughout the night thanks to this nasty cold that entered into my life as I was preparing for this trip (go figure!).

We arrived a few minutes early to allow Dublin to run free before class started to burn off any "extra" energy.  Judd took him out to the fenced area and also to the bathroom.  Judd decided to take Jacey to Walmart to pick up a few items that we were needing.  They also went for a drive through town and got back towards the end of the morning session.  Jacey did not want to go to the play area, but preferred begging me for our backpack of stuff.  It turned into a meltdown, seeing that there was nothing in the backpack for Jacey besides her water, graham crackers and fruit snacks.  I eventually took Jacey over to the play area and held her.  She wanted a deep pressure hug but as usual, I wasn't allowed to sit down and give it to her...so I stood and held her.  It was nice to snuggle her as our other classmates worked.  I heard most of what was going on even standing in the play area.

We reviewed our commands from the first day - "sit", "down", and "free".  We continue to increase the amount of time we expect Dublin to stay in the command given.  We added "jump" and "heel" to the list of our commands.  Like I said yesterday, Dublin made me look like a pro with heel.  There were only a few times that I had to correct him.  I'm definitely learning about the times to praise and when to correct him.  As other class members went to try out "jump" with their dog, I thought, "Oh, Dublin will get this one."  Maybe not.  When walking towards the table and giving the command, he would instead walk to the side of the table to where he wasn't going to run into and wouldn't have to jump up.  He did this three times.  Jeremy, the head trainer, had to up Dublins reward from dry dog food to a Beggin' Strip.  It worked.  Dublin jumped up on the table. 

We will use the command "jump" when wanting Dublin to get on the bed with Jacey or in the car, etc.  We are not going to allow him on any furniture other than Jacey's bed.  I am definitely learning from watching others in the class.  Jeremy will point out different things for us to observe as someone is working their dog or tell us what just happened and what we need to do.  I was the spotlight on one of these moments when I put Dublin in a down and he shortly jumped back up to a "sit".  I corrected properly but when giving the command for "down" again, I had a treat in my fingers that Dublin was sniffing to death.  I didn't give him the treat but thought that I'd better verbally praise him since I didn't want to tease him with the treat.  I guess when you have corrected your dog for disobeying, you do NOT give praise or treats...my bad!  Hey, at least I'm learning and we still have nine days for perfecting (or something close to it) the things I am being taught!  :o)

I took a quick spin around "4 Paws Market" with a shopping cart, simply walking around the room with the cart and having Dublin "heel".  He did great with heeling and turning both left and right with the shopping cart. 

We also began to add a few distractions for our dogs when they were given a command.  I told Dublin to sit(no need to say "stay" because they are supposed to stay in that command indefinitely until you "free" them).  Once he was sitting, I walked around behind him clapping my hands or snapping my fingers to see if he would break the command.  He did very well with it.  We also stepped over our dogs a few times and then would praise them for staying "down".  We also tossed treats out away from our dogs to see if they would break their command.  If they didn't we praised them and gave them a different treat other than the one on the floor.  Jeremy is a great teacher and explained everything very well as to why we do it the way we do it!

I must say that Sushi, a golden retriever in the class was hilarious!  Apparently she LOVES tennis balls.  It was quite the challenge for her new handlers to keep her in her "sit" or "down" as a ball was bounced nearby.  Jeremy took over to show exactly what should be done when the dog breaks a command.  Jessa, a 4 Paws trainer, began to bounce the ball and you could see Sushi's head go up and down with the ball.  The closer the ball came to her the more temptation there was to disobey.  Jeremy told them that if they can master her staying where she is told with a ball rolling or bouncing by her, that going to the mall will be a piece of cake for them.  :o)  Sushi was so tormented by watching that ball bounce knowing that she wasn't allowed to play with it right then.  I wonder what will be the funny thing my classmates think of for Dublin as I did with Sushi in this situation.

Another thing we did was change locations for where we were standing when giving our dog a command.  I would place Dublin in a sit and walk behind him.  I would then give him the command for "down" and he was very good about listening and paying attention to me.  By doing this, it allows our dogs to learn that "sit" and "down" and other commands mean the same thing and should be done no matter where we are standing in relationship to the dog.  This teaches allows Dublin to know that I expect the same thing from him no matter where I may be in the house.  He did really well with this and always wanted to turn and face me as he moved to his new position.  It was great to see that he is really paying attention to me!

Jeremy also went over the difference between "no" and "off".  You would think that you could use them interchangeably but you can't!  When giving the command "no", I am telling Dublin that this is a behavior that I do not want...EVER.  For example, jumping on people.  This is never allowed so if Dublin does this behavior I am to correct him with his training collar and a "no".  "Off" is used for something that your dog may normally be allowed to do but at that moment is not allowed.  For example, we will allow Dublin on Jacey's bed at bedtime to sleep with her but I may not want him on at any other time.  I would use the command "off".  I may also use this command if I want Dublin to jump down out of the car.  I could also use the word "free" for this.  This was a very good thing to learn as I don't want to confuse Dublin as to what my expectations are of him. 

Jacey again fed Dublin his dinner, one tossed handful at a time.  She then got to pour his water into his water bowl.  Jacey enjoys these tasks very much.  I know that there was a lot more discussed in class, but at this moment my brain and body want to shut down for the night.  I'm pooped!  I now understand what previous classes mean when they say they were drained by the end of the day, both physically and mentally!!!  I would so love to go climb into bed right now (8:15) and not see the light of day until tomorrow morning.  BUT....I know that I need to go practice with Dublin obeying commands with distractions so that I may feel confident with his ability to listen to and obey me - especially if we are going to the mall on Friday.  Eeeek!

Today has been a great day filled with lots of information that empowers me to be Dublin's capable handler.  I can't wait to see what I will look like next Friday as we graduate with Dublin, the Service Dog.  (Hopefully Jeremy won't fail me!!!)  Until tomorrow...enjoy!

First Day of Training at 4 Paws

Well, I can officially say, we made it through day one of training - only ten more to go!  :o)  Our travels to Ohio went fairly smoothly consider Judd's back went out on him the day before we flew.  I was pretty much in charge of keeping Jacey entertained and safe.  She did quite well on the airplanes (two flights) until the end of the flight when we had approximately twenty minutes left - go figure!  Either way, she did better than we expected of her.  She loved the airport "people movers", escalators, and the trolley we got to ride.  She got a bit giggly over them!  So, other than our first flight taking off an hour and a half late because an engine needed oil, things went well.

Waiting for our plane to take off for an hour and a half!

Jacey riding the trolley in Minneapolis to our gate.

Jacey and Daddy by the rental car.  (She's saying "doggy")

Jacey crashed at the hotel our first night.  A great relief after a long day of traveling.

Sooooo....

You're probably wanting to hear about our day today!  IT WAS FABULOUS!!! 

Jeremy reeled in our expectations this morning before bringing out the dogs and let us know what to expect. I thought it was good information and made good sense in that we are transferring who his trainer is over to us and that it will take time to establish a relationship of trust. I can't wait to see how I look with Dublin at the end of training.

We got to go meet Dublin in his crate before class began.

We were not the first family to have our dog brought out and it was agonizing waiting for our turn, especially for Jacey.  She didn't want to stay with us, she wanted to go to the dog next to us or back to the play area.  Not exactly where we wanted her to be when Dublin was brought out.  I had to hold her while she had a meltdown because I wouldn't allow her to do what she wanted.  Jeremy, the head trainer, saw Jacey's meltdown and told me that Dublin would be next.  :o)  So, if you're in an upcoming class, if you are waiting and waiting for your turn for your dog to be brought to you, just have your kid have a meltdown and they'll have sympathy on you and your turn will come sooner!  I hate to say it, as I'm sure you already know, you probably don't want to go that route!!!  :o) 

Jacey continued to meltdown in my arms and wiggle about like a worm until Dublin was just about to us when she finally listened to me saying, "Hear comes Dublin, Jacey", over and over again.  We were given a ziplock back of treats for Dublin and I held Jacey's hand open with a few treats in it.  Dublin quickly gobbled them up, slobbering all over her hand with his tongue.  To hear her giggle with PURE delight, was a great joy to both Judd and I.

Out of treats, but Dublin smells them on Jacey still.

Jacey decided to take Dublin for a short walk around the room.

We were lucky to have some fellow classmates take pictures and video of this encounter with Jacey and Dublin.  It was truly music to my ears hearing her giggle.  I just looked to see if I brought my cord to upload video, and apparently it was left in Montana.  Sorry!  I'll be sure to upload video when we get home of their meeting because it will bring a huge smile to your face. 

The morning consisted of Jacey feeding Dublin his treats and giggling.  We loved on him and she showed her affection in patting somewhat hard.  After the treats ran out, Jacey ran off!  :o)  We broke for lunch, leaving Dublin in his crate while we went to find food. 

After our lunch break, Jeremy talked a little of how placements are made and why they place dogs at a year.  Hearing it made so much sense.  You don't want to have a dog that is three years old and used to being pet in a "normal" way to end up in a home where there is a child with special needs that may not pet the same way.  You want them young so they can learn to adjust to the child and all the things about that child.  An older dog may not be interested in "tolerating" the child's behaviors or sounds.

We started training with the basic "sit" and "down" commands.  We started out rewarding Dublin immediately as his bum touched the ground, to making him wait for it as we walked around him.  We then moved on to down and eventually walking around him as he stayed down.  With the little bit of dog obedience training that I went to with Sasha and Nicky, it was interesting to see a few differences.  We aren't to say "stay" because the dog is trained to stay there indefinitely until they are "freed".  Jeremy mentioned going to a restaurant and having to give the dog a command to stay every so often isn't what you want to have to do.  Dublin made me look like a pro at what I was working on with him.  But I feel like there is so much yet to come and to master within the next ten days.

Jacey was really good about staying in the play area.  She enjoyed books in the morning and MARKERS in the afternoon.  Yep, what do you do?!  Take something away from your child, knowing that you're going to get a meltdown and yet you need to be listening to training???  In the end, Jacey didn't have a meltdown and got a bath when we got back to the hotel room...all is well again!

...BEFORE Markers...

...And AFTER Markers!!!

Does anyone know who this child belongs to?!  :o)

Homewood Suites is a wonderful hotel with great employees.  The room is great.  Judd told me when we got here what a great job I did finding this place, but it wasn't me!  4 Paws has an agreement with Homewood that gives us a discount and 4 Paws five dollars a night that we are here.  I learned about Homewood from previous classes and through 4 Paws.  It has been fabulous.

Jacey got to feed Dublin tonight to help with bonding.  I put his food into his treat bag and allowed her to take out small amounts at a time for him.  Of course, it immediately went on the floor with a few giggles from Jacey as Dublin went into a feeding frenzy searching out his dinner.  She eventually fed Dublin all of his dinner and then I had her fill his water bowl by pouring a glass of water into it.  She enjoyed this and eventually wanted to get down on his level. 

At bedtime, I thought I would try out having Dublin at the end of the bed.  Jacey thought it was great, but eventually started head-butting him on his back.  So at this point, Jacey had enjoyed her time and I allowed Dublin to lay in his kennel.  It didn't take much time after this for Jacey to fall asleep.

I can't believe that we are here in Ohio, sitting in a hotel room with Dublin.  I never dreamed of this day being here so quickly when we were first told that our application was accepted.  It is because of the generous people that made our fundraising go so quickly.  We are here because of many of you reading our blog.  Thank you all.  I am deeply humbled by being here and have a very happy heart when hearing Jacey giggle over Dublin.

Well, I'd better sign off for the night so that I can wish my kiddos that are back in Montana a good nights sleep.  Until tomorrow!

Amy