Posted 2/1/2008 10:28:38 PM
Whew!
An amazing 48 hours has come and gone with so much progress.
Just 4 days ago when we first met Chancer I could never have imagined we would have come this far this fast! Without my copious notes in front of me I cannot even remember all the commands we've learned and practiced. The training system at 4 Paws is so comprehensive it is mind-blowing.
Yesteday we learned 2 major commands; "Come" and "Place". We each received a special mat for our dogs and that is Chancer's "Place" at our home. The rule that the dogs have learned is that they must always have at least 2 paws on the mat for them to be "legally" in "place". I have no idea how they taught this to the dogs, but every single dog knows the boundaries.
We practiced having our dogs in "a down" while distracting them with noises, stepping over them, pulling on their tails, ears, waving our hands in front of them, etc. Then, more for the children for whom the dogs are trained, all the SDs know several tricks which we were taught yesterday; "High Five", "Wave", "Shake", and the alltime favorite, "Play dead". Yesterday we started working on behavior interruption, for which our command is "Nuzzle". When Iyal is upset or melting down, Chancer goes over to him and licks his face or "noses" him to interrupt the behavior. Any repetitive motions can be disrupted using this command. "Lap" also brings Chancer over to lay his head on Iyal.
Yesterday afternoon we ventured out into public for the first time with our dogs. 3 of us accompanied by our dogs and one trainer had a field trip to Lowes Hardware Store. We "heeled" the dogs around the store, stopping to shop, and talk with people and make sure that the dogs would respect us outside the classroom as well as they were during training. Chancer was brilliant. He would check in with me every few seconds by looking up at me to make sure he was doing the right thing. Many of the commands become "implied". As the trust develops between the dog and the handler, they automatically go into "a sit" or "down" when you stop "heeling". They have learned to anticipate what is expected of them and we have already started to drop off vocal and hand commands for certain things.
Today (Day 4) we reinforced basic obedience and learned "under" for taking the dogs into restaurants. Tonight, back at the hotel room, we had a visit from some very special friends of ours. Rabbi Sam Joseph and his wife, Dori, visited us from Cincinatti. Sam was Harvey's room mate during their first year of rabbinic college at Hebrew Union College (HUC) in Israel. He is now a professor at HUC in Cincinatti. We had a wonderful visit and they were so excited to meet Chancer and learn about the program. I had to prompt Chancer a few times to "leave" the food alone that was out on the table in the hotel room. But without prompting him, Chancer put himself "under" the table and chairs where we were sitting and went into the appropriate "down". That was very cool!
During the afternoon, we learned how to "tether" Iyal to Chancer using the harness on the dog and special vest that Iyal wears. Basically, the dog is put into a "down" and does not move. Jeremy, the trainer, used Chancer as the example for the class. He literally dragged Chancer across the floor of the classroom, to show how Chancer was not disturbed by being pulled. It was pretty hysterical...and we have it all on video tape! We wanted Chancer trained in this because Iyal's inability to think through an action to a consequence, can play itself out in running into the street without looking. Should I see Iyal take off, I heel Chancer by my side and the 2 of us together serve as a pretty strong anchor. Iyal is attached to Chancer's harness through one "leash" and I am attached to Chancer by another. Iyal also has his very own 2 foot leash that he holds when we walk Chancer. Really amazing.
Tomorrow we go to the mall.
Yesteday we learned 2 major commands; "Come" and "Place". We each received a special mat for our dogs and that is Chancer's "Place" at our home. The rule that the dogs have learned is that they must always have at least 2 paws on the mat for them to be "legally" in "place". I have no idea how they taught this to the dogs, but every single dog knows the boundaries.
We practiced having our dogs in "a down" while distracting them with noises, stepping over them, pulling on their tails, ears, waving our hands in front of them, etc. Then, more for the children for whom the dogs are trained, all the SDs know several tricks which we were taught yesterday; "High Five", "Wave", "Shake", and the alltime favorite, "Play dead". Yesterday we started working on behavior interruption, for which our command is "Nuzzle". When Iyal is upset or melting down, Chancer goes over to him and licks his face or "noses" him to interrupt the behavior. Any repetitive motions can be disrupted using this command. "Lap" also brings Chancer over to lay his head on Iyal.
Yesterday afternoon we ventured out into public for the first time with our dogs. 3 of us accompanied by our dogs and one trainer had a field trip to Lowes Hardware Store. We "heeled" the dogs around the store, stopping to shop, and talk with people and make sure that the dogs would respect us outside the classroom as well as they were during training. Chancer was brilliant. He would check in with me every few seconds by looking up at me to make sure he was doing the right thing. Many of the commands become "implied". As the trust develops between the dog and the handler, they automatically go into "a sit" or "down" when you stop "heeling". They have learned to anticipate what is expected of them and we have already started to drop off vocal and hand commands for certain things.
Today (Day 4) we reinforced basic obedience and learned "under" for taking the dogs into restaurants. Tonight, back at the hotel room, we had a visit from some very special friends of ours. Rabbi Sam Joseph and his wife, Dori, visited us from Cincinatti. Sam was Harvey's room mate during their first year of rabbinic college at Hebrew Union College (HUC) in Israel. He is now a professor at HUC in Cincinatti. We had a wonderful visit and they were so excited to meet Chancer and learn about the program. I had to prompt Chancer a few times to "leave" the food alone that was out on the table in the hotel room. But without prompting him, Chancer put himself "under" the table and chairs where we were sitting and went into the appropriate "down". That was very cool!
During the afternoon, we learned how to "tether" Iyal to Chancer using the harness on the dog and special vest that Iyal wears. Basically, the dog is put into a "down" and does not move. Jeremy, the trainer, used Chancer as the example for the class. He literally dragged Chancer across the floor of the classroom, to show how Chancer was not disturbed by being pulled. It was pretty hysterical...and we have it all on video tape! We wanted Chancer trained in this because Iyal's inability to think through an action to a consequence, can play itself out in running into the street without looking. Should I see Iyal take off, I heel Chancer by my side and the 2 of us together serve as a pretty strong anchor. Iyal is attached to Chancer's harness through one "leash" and I am attached to Chancer by another. Iyal also has his very own 2 foot leash that he holds when we walk Chancer. Really amazing.
Tomorrow we go to the mall.
And to tell you the truth...I am so much more excited to take Chancer in with me...that I don't even care if I see "Clearance" signs in the windows of the stores!
So glad I found you! I have been curious about a service dog for my son with FAS for a long time. I am enjoying reading about your experiences. I know Jodi too, what a great person! Keep writing when you can!
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