| 8-15-14 Day twelve: Graduation, the day we all worked so hard and were waiting for! First, we had to make it through one final, important lecture, our responsibilities at home. After lecture the dogs got to spend some one on one time with their puppy raisers, then we had a nice lunch together and then it was time to get down to business and eventually, my favorite part, the presentation of the leash, During this very emotional part of the ceremony, my puppy raiser hands over Portland's leash, presenting him to me! I feel very blessed to have Portland and Canine Companions in my life. Because of what they do, I have been given a gift which allows me to be as independent as possible! My dogs have been my life line to independence! |
8-14-14 Day eleven: D-Day pubic access day. After we turned in our written final our attention turned to the working final. This is where we get to show the trainers that we have what it takes to be a successful Service Dog team. Thankfully we both performed well and Portland did everything I asked, as a result we PASSED with flying colors! There was only one thing left for us to do, GRADUATE! |
| 8-13-14 Day ten: We hit the ground running with a fun outdoor obstacle course! It was a great way to review our commands and test our dog’s restraint and ability to ignore distraction. At one point in the course, the trainers placed biscuits on all our dogs paws and the dogs were to leave them until they came back to take them off. Portland did great, he didn't touch it! After we finished the course we all headed to the Columbus Zoo for the afternoon. |
| 8-12-14 Day nine: Today we learned about the art of public relations, underwent a handling challenge, had lunch and Public Access practice at a local mall. Things were going well with our practice test until we got to the push button to go outdoors. For some unknown reason, Portland DID NOT want to push that button and I had to have a trainer step in to help me show him that his resistance (while a normal part of the beginning process) WAS NOT an option. After a long and tiring day where persistence and patience paid off, we wanted to have some fun, so we went to visit Portland's brother Partner and his family. It was during this time that Portland revealed that he views a person sitting Indian-style as an open invite to sit on their lap, whether they want him to or not (the person in the video did NOT do anything to elicit Portland's response)! Too funny! |
| 8-11-14 Day eight: The start of week two had us sitting through a second Learning Theory lecture, practicing speak, quiet, get the leash, go to, fix I and Portland's personal favorite, kiss! After command practice, it was time to pose for class and individual id pictures. Then it was off to lunch at BW2 and back to class for paperwork and more command practice! |
8-10-14 Day seven: One week down and our only day off. This was when Portland's comedic personality started to emerge! We took him out to play and when I first threw the toy, he took off running, then I threw it a few more times and with each throw, the speed with which he ran to the toy decreased and on the "last" one, he looked at the toy and looked back at me as if to say, "you want me to go get that again, I think not." At one point, he looked at a water bottle we had, and when my mom poured a little out, he drank right from the stream; So funny, he loves water! We also bonded as I brushed him, then we went on a short trip to this cute garden center. Later that night, some of my classmates and I had a game night at our hotel while our dogs took a nap. It was such a fun time!
| 8-9-14 Day six: We talked about how our first night "home" went, then it was down to business. We learned about Canine Learning Theory then we practiced the push, light, and switch commands. I was really nervous about practicing light, because in team nine yrs. ago, Yazzen became really resistant to light and refused to flip the switch. Portland however, didn't have an issue and he did well with all three commands. After lunch we sat through the Public Access lecture before heading to Meijer to practice the push, get and up commands. |
| 8-8-14 Day five AKA our first night "home." But first we had to get through the Safety/public Etiquette and Daily Routines lecture. Then we reviewed get, hold and give and also tried "tug" for the first time. Then, the trainers gave instruction for the first night home in the hotel. We were told to have dinner in our hotel and spend the night bonding with our dogs. For me, this meant a chicken dinner complete with a toast to Yazzen and Portland followed by lots and lots of snuggles. |
| 8-7-14 - Day four: Today we had the Grooming and Canine Health lectures followed by command practice of hurry, jump, roll, stand, get, hold and give. We also practiced the all important car command in preparation of Mr. P getting to come home to the hotel with us tomorrow - Yay! |
| 8-6-14 - Day three AKA placement day! This was the day we had all waited for. Before that could happen, we had to sit through a lecture on Resistance. Then the moment of truth - we were about to find out who our partners would be. When I graduated with Yazzen, the trainers had put all dogs in a pile and handed them out one by one eliminating the element of surprise for the last person. This time, we were all presented with scrolls that had our dog's name and picture on them and were told to open on the count of three. I could not wait, it was like Christmas, I unrolled the picture, which revealed the name of Portland II. He was not the dog I thought I was going to get, but he was the one I wanted - My first choice! I could not believe my eyes nor could I be happier. We had only worked together for about ten minutes the day before, and I was sure I was going to get a dog I had worked with a lot, but my connection with Portland was undeniable and the trainers must have been able to sense that. Now, that we had our dogs it was down to business after some fun of course. We had a lecture in Canine Communication, then we got to see them play! After that it was time to work. We practiced the commands under, up, out (tells him to move out in front of me) back (tells him to walk backwards) and move ( tells him to move out of the way). |
8-5-14 - Day two consisted of the lectures on Correction and Canine Motivators. We also practiced leash correction on a "towel" dog first and slowly eased into correcting the dogs. We worked on the commands heel, side, visit and lap. I already found myself developing relationships with the dogs attached to my wrist and felt an instant connection to one dog in particular.
8-4-14 - Made it through day one, which started out with the Orientation to the Canine and Team Training lectures. Then we started working with a “dog” at the end of the leash (middle). From there I worked with three different dogs, commanding them to sit, down, shake and let’s go. This day was hard because if they weren't doing what we asked, we had to get a trainer because we were asked not to do any type of correction with the dogs. Already each of the dogs I worked with was affectionate, attentive and laid back, but each exhibited these qualities in their own way. It sure felt good to be working with a dog again! :)
8-1-14 - Tomorrow begins another chapter in Amy and Vicki's (mom) excellent adventures! We are traveling to Ohio to not only visit our CCI family, but if all goes well, I'll bring home a new partner in Yazzen's successor. There are so many mixed emotions and unanswered questions: What will its name, gender, and breed be? What will his/her personality be like, will we get along and will I remember how to work with a dog on the end of my wrist? One thing's for sure, I'm going to try hard to keep an open mind and not be "that" girl whom doesn't want to get "that" dog this time around - because experience has shown me that things will work out the way they are meant to be. Afterall, God and Yazzen are there to make sure of it!