Happy Thanksgiving

There is a lot to be thankful for today! I hope that you and your family have a lovely day, just like we're planning. Turkey and all of the trimmings, family and friends (dogs, cats and humans) all around us...all tucked into a warm little house.

I just gave John a big hug to thank him for everything he does for me...it made him laugh, so that's good.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
~SDS

Flyball (I hope!)

Hi all~
I'm trying something new...testing out a video from this past weekend's flyball tournament. Hopefully it works! The first dog you'll see is yours truly...don't blink or you'll miss me!


Flyball Video

I'm having trouble making it anything other than just a direct link...sorry! If Mom wasn't so computer illiterate, I'd have her help me!


~SDS

And I'm the one being denied access...

We were out to eat last night at Golden Corral...with the flyball team, after a great weekend of flyballin'. I was under the table, as usual, fast asleep. Flyball makes me very tired!

The table next to us had numerous kids of all ages, running around the entire building. The parents were sitting at the table talking and having a lovely time, while the kids ran everywhere. Mom almost tripped over them twice. At one point, they came over about 6' away, crouched down and started barking at me. Being a good Service Dog, I remained quiet and polite. Mom however, had enough...and turned to talk to the kids. She told them "Don't bark at the dog." The kids stayed there, and kept "woofing". Mom was tired and cranky, and finally turned around and said loudly, "LEAVE THE DOG ALONE!". There might have been a little growl too.

The kids ran off. The parents didn't notice a thing. But the kids left me alone.

And I'm the one people don't want in restaurants. *shakes head*

The world is a crazy place...
~SDS

Why it's so important...

Mom is always telling puppy owners about the important stuff. Why it's important to crate train, why it's important to have your puppy eliminate on cue, why it's important for your puppy to handle being alone, and more.

It's hit home this week, why she lectures them so much.

Xander tore an ACL this week (on Tuesday), and he's on strict crate rest and leash walking.

Luckily, Mom practices what she preaches, and things are going smoothly. Xander's a bit depressed because he can't run around with all of us, but he's doing okay. His leg hurts a lot, I can tell.

Mom has him in a crate in the office, so he can see everyone. He has a big cushy bed and lots of stuffed Kongs and chewies. He can only go out in the front yard (the back yard has steps), and only on a leash...luckily he potties on command and on leash. Mom keeps saying that this would be much harder with a dog not used to going in a crate or eliminating on cue. She thinks of all of the dogs she knows that can't do stuff like this, and groans just thinking about how to take care of them.

We're off for the weekend to a flyball tournament...the good thing is, I get to take Xander's spot, so I get to run more! But poor Xander, he's gonna be so sad. Mom's gonna have to make sure she has lots of peanut butter (his favorite) for his Kongs.

~SDS

Meeting the mail carrier

A blast from the past for the picture today...a Score-pup pic!
Bryce went out and met the mail carrier today...so he can cross two things off his socialization checklist...a mail carrier, and gloves, since she was wearing latex gloves (to sort the mail). He was all wiggly and happy to see her...a very good meeting!

It's important for all dogs, to be introduced to people in uniform and people that work around the house. Most of us know a dog that barks at the mail carrier...my own sister, Inara, is crazy when she comes to deliver the mail. (Mom's nipping that little habit with the help of the Control Unleashed, Look At That game) It's much better to give the puppies good experiences, rather than having to fix problems down the road.

It's important for all dogs, but especially important for Assistance Dogs...we see people in uniform all of the time when we're out in public, and often times, they're not real happy to see us. I can't tell you how many irate security guards, and managers have come over to try and deny us access. So often times, those people in uniform that we see have really threatening body language. Dogs have a great ability to read people...so it's important for us to have many, many good experiences so we have a solid history of meeting nice uniformed people. That way, we don't get upset and bark or get nervous around them when they're heading towards us.

Score for instance, as a puppy, met firefighters (in boots and suits), police officers, security guards, mail carriers, and anyone else that would hold still long enough for Mom to rush up and shove Score in their face for petting and treats. I think she's planning on doing the same for Bryce. She's crazy like that. (BTW, Score ADORES people in uniform, to this day)

I am fine with people in general...I don't care what you look like or what you say or do, I just stick with John and ignore most everyone else. Mom didn't work with me with this really, it's just how I am. She says it's mostly because of my breed. Aussies are not bred to be everyone's friend...we're reserved by nature. She says it makes for a good Assistance Dog, as I'm friendly but concentrate on the job at hand.

~SDS

Ouch!

Well, John and I have have homework.

*Sigh*

Mom says it's something we have to work on together. Seems I'm getting too excited when we go out places this season, and I'm chomping too hard when I go to tug John's coat off. We were at a fundraiser tea yesterday...(for Caring Carroll, a coalition in our county that helps with non-medical needs of home-bound residents)...and I went to tug John's coat off, and Mom heard his yelp across the room.

So she's making us work on this at home...and teaching me to remember to use a soft mouth. It's been a while since I've tugged off his coat in public...and I guess I forgot. (Yeah...I forgot, that's it) Mom said that she's gonna make John work on this, because she's tired of hearing him yell "OUCH!"

I'll keep you updated on my progress...a Service Dog's training is never done! *sheesh*

~SDS *with a new, improved, softer mouth*

Hearing dog prospect?

He's got places to go...
Mom says she has never seen a puppy so attuned to noises in its environment like Bryce is. Fidos trains two types of Assistance Dogs...Service and Hearing. The Hearing Dogs help people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing...by alerting them to sounds. The trainers know usually around a year old if the dog is really interested in sounds or not. You can tell when they're puppies too...but it sometimes will change as they grow older.

But Bryce is the first one to pay attention to every little noise in the house. Mom swears he's a Hearing Dog in the making. He listens to the TV when funny noises happen, he listens to all the bells and whistles in the kitchen, and even went to investigate the dripping water noise from the downspout while he was playing in the backyard. Just now, she was bringing him into the office so she could keep an eye on him...she started closing the door as he was coming through, and he stopped to investigate the sound of the hinges (they're new and they squeak a tiny bit).

He's a bold puppy, so he usually investigates or tries to...rather than noticing a sound and running away scared. Mom's having fun by letting him go see all these noises, and making happy talk when he goes the source of a sound.

Bryce has a long road ahead of him, but he's already making great strides towards being a wonderful Assistance Dog...maybe a Hearing Dog like my friend Chloe!

~SDS