Happy

Today, Leon and I went to physical therapy. He's getting into the routine --went straight to his spot and took a nap.

After, we went to the grocery store. At the advice of our trainer Maria, I gave him something to hold while we walked around the store --and it worked for his sniffing/wanting to greet people issue. Of course, we are still working on this issue --don't want the carrying an item to be a crutch, but want to actually resolve the problem. But it worked well--he proudly carried the little pouch all around the store, to the register when we checked out and out to the car. Also, he opened and held the freezer doors in the frozen food section with the door hook tool --on the first try each time! No more doors whacking me when I shop! :D

Tomorrow, Leon and I are going to the big Reliant dog show in Houston. I will be parking downtown and we will take the MetroRail down to the Reliant Center. One of my friends is competing with her Sheltie in Agility. She is also the trainer we will be working with to meet our first-year Graduate Support Class credits (since we live so far from CPL) --so she will be there to help in between runs. I am hopeful that things will go well --great training opportunity on working under heavy distractions --plus, I hope to compete in Rally with Leon in the future (am aiming for the Conroe Kennel Club show this winter) --so this will help him get used to a show environment as well.

Wish us luck! :)

Craziness

Sick dog all day yesterday. Poor Leon --he threw up 3 times and then was dehydrated last night.Wouldn't drink water.

Pedialyte was a Godsend since I didn't have the money available to pony up for an E-vet visit (I technically have the money, just can't access it myself --have a trustee and all.) He checked out fine at the vet this morning and is back to acting like his normal self. I am relieved that it wasn't worse than it was and that he will be okay.

Tonight at college group, I was really proud of him! We practiced our daily obedience card while most of the group was playing a game with goals and a soft foam ball in the building. Leon did his sit-stay and down-stay with no problem with people running around. He even held his sit-stay while I walked about 10 ft. away, waited several minutes and then called him to me. He just sat there looking at me and not even watching the game going on. He is such a good boy! :D

Progress!

Church this morning went well. Leon is getting into the routine. Laid down with his head under the chair in front of me and snoozed through the service.

He did MUCH better this morning with the golf cart --he had to be coaxed to get on it, but once he did, he sat calmly and accepted treats from my hand.
We need to work on his getting on and getting off. He got off in a hurry, like he still thinks the golf cart is going to turn into a fiery death trap and kill us all.

He was excellent during youth group tonight. Even when the guys were roughhousing, he laid down quietly and watched with calm interest. He mostly napped through the whole thing.

Okay Day

Leon and I had an okay day. Went and saw Harry Potter 7.2 with my roommate. He did well in the theater --looked around a bit (while keeping his down) in surprise when the previews started with a loud clap of thunder--then slept through the entire movie-- just seemed a bit more distracted than normal today while waiting in line and later at the store (looking elsewhere instead of at me, trying to sniff.) .

It's been raining so I haven't been able to take him out for a run with my scooter --but he seems to be happy. I just worry about him. He hasn't gotten to run around and actually play since we got home --no fenced area near here for him to play in. He's just been playing some in the house, but nothing that expends very much energy --just chasing a toy from one end to the other and trying to encourage my roommate's dog to play with him. Today, we came home from the store and put his bed in the living room --and he, Marzipan and I all laid on it to watch Doctor Who and take a nap --we spent most of the evening there except for eating dinner and he got up and laid by me when I sat at the table for a while.

Long, but good day!

Today, I had a doctor's appointment. Leon went in the room and laid down --he took a nap. Even when a couple of nurses came in because they heard there was a service dog --they wanted to see him and ask questions --he just laid there soaking in the compliments of how good he was.

After the appointment, we went to the Woodlands Mall to go to the food court. We went to JC Penny's first for some PT pants. During lunch, he laid under the table quietly. We then rode the carousel. He just laid there --each time he looked at me, I gave him a treat. Hopefully the fact that he took the carousel ride so very calmly is a sign that he's learning that riding on open-sided moving things is okay (he's not a fan of the golf cart at church --we're working on that.) We went to get water and realized that his portable bowl had fallen somewhere --we went back to the carousel and asked if they had seen it --one of the ladies (an older lady) working ran and jumped onto the moving carousel to go look for our bowl --before I could even tell her that I was okay with waiting until the ride was over --she found it and returned it to us.

When I had all the mall I could handle, we left and went to the PT office. We were early and I was more than willing to just sit and chill until my scheduled time, but we started early. Leon laid next to the bed/table/whatever it's called and took a snooze the whole time.

After PT, I drove to a friend's house to hang out for a couple of hours. Leon helped me up (and later down) 2 flights of stairs --friend lives on the 3rd floor of her apartment building. He was really interested in their cat Saul (who was clearly not happy at all with his presence), but controlled himself when told --he laid down and looked at Saul with sad eyes. Leon picked up my water bottle, but had a bit of trouble with "put it in" to throw it away, so we need to practice more with that.

We are now back home and getting ready for bed. Overall, a good day.

Sorry for the delay!

It's been a crazy week, so I'm sorry for not updating the blog!

Things are going well --Leon and I are still settling in at home. I still have unpacking to do, but we have pretty much gotten into the routine, which is not as active as normal since it is summer (no classes.)

We haven't done much except for run errands this week and go to college group on Wednesday night. Our first trip to the grocery store since coming home was Thursday and it went really well --nothing really to report.

Yesterday, we went to my Physical Therapy evaluation, Best Buy, and the credit union. The staff at the PT center were impressed with Leon and were very happy that I now have him. I'll start PT next week (3x a week), so Leon and I will at least be out of the apartment for a while on those days.

Best Buy went well. One of the employees asked good questions and was curious about Leon's harness and what he did for me. I was happy to answer his questions. :)

By the time we were done at the credit union, though, fatigue had hit me full force, so we both went home to rest. Spent the rest of the day sleeping off an on.

Today, we relaxed all morning. Then, to get out of the apartment for a bit, we went to Subway for a salad (I got a salad, not Leon.) There was a family with 2 kids ahead of us in line. The kids looked at Leon and read his patches to their dad. The kids continued to watch us as we ordered and went to our table. Leon went under the table and took a snooze while I ate. After, I threw away my trash (Leon retrieved a straw wrapper that I dropped) and the kids watched us as we left. I had almost forgotten how sometimes people look at you like you have a third leg/eye or something when you have a service dog --not something most folks see on a regular basis. :)

We then practiced our daily obedience card at Michael's. Leon did VERY well in this distracting environment. I even found some bells/maracas in the kids section and shook them/dropped them to try to get him to break a stay, but he didn't! I found a little wind-up ladybug and put it on the floor to see what Leon would do --he had mild surprise at first, but just quietly sniffed it to investigate, wagging his tail happily. I wish I could have bought it for him, but $3,99 for a tiny wind-up ladybug is just too much.

I found something I wanted to buy for $3, so we went to check out. Leon did a great "go pay" at the register and I got to talk to the lady about how he pays for my purchases when I use my scooter and the counter is too high for me to reach. As we were leaving, a lady at the next register over had seen Leon "go pay" and asked "So, does he get to go to Petco now?" lol I told her that we were going home, but I did pay my dog for doing a good job and pointed to my treat pouch. She smiled and wished me a good day.

We've just been chilling all evening. I feel bad that, on days like yesterday and today when I am not doing great that Leon has a lot of downtime --he's been bored for most of the day. I need to come up with more thinking/training games for us to do together when I'm not feeling well enough to go anywhere for very long.

Going to church in the morning --this will be Leon's first Sunday at my church!

We've Graduated!!! :D

Leon and I have now officially graduated from Canine Partners for Life!! :D

The graduation ceremony today went well --stories of hopes for the future and increased independence were shared and tears welled up. It was sad to say goodbye to my classmates, the trainers, the staff and all the wonderful support people who have encouraged us so much the past 3 weeks. We'll keep in touch, though.

I fly back to TX tomorrow. I am really exhausted after doing laundry, so I'll probably go ahead and go to bed and pack in the morning. I really, really dislike packing --but I must in order to go home to the Houston area.

I made a goal sheet as an assignment --goals for Leon and I to accomplish in the next six months:

--Get to the point where Leon is not stressed or scared when the force dryer is used on him

--Retrieve a dime off of the floor

--Carry my lunch from the food court to the Writing Center on campus (where I work)

--Gain proficiency at opening doors with the door hook thing

--Ride on the Houston MetroRail together

--Enter an AKC Rally Obedience Novice-level competition and get at least one qualifying score

I am looking forward to working together with Leon to accomplish these things --and also looking forward to having a better quality of life with Leon by my side.

Philly Trip/Certification Test/Wrap-up

Journal #18: June 30, 2011

Today, we traveled by SEPTA train into Center City Philadelphia to go to the Reading Terminal Market and the Gallery mall. The train ride itself was pretty uneventful –took Leon’s harness off and put it in the overhead thing and he laid down in my foot space. It took about an hour to get to Philadelphia from Thorndale Station. When we arrived, I dressed Leon and we drove my scooter off of the train.

The Reading Terminal Market was just as crazy as I remember it being. Food booths/vendors everywhere –lots of lights, huge crowds of people –very much overwhelming sensory-wise. But we did it—Leon handled all the craziness in his usual calm, steady manner –we got our lunch and sat at the table with 2 other friends –chatted so I wouldn’t focus on all the chaos around me. Then we got ice cream from another vendor and met the group outside to head to the mall.

The Gallery mall was an interesting place. Not a huge space floor area-wise, but tall –4 floors of stores –the bottom floor being the train station. We had been given a list of tasks to do at the mall:

1. You must use your dog to go up and down steps if you are able to walk.

2. You must use your dog and the door hook to open two doors. The dog must stay and hold the door for you while you go inside.

3. Your dog must retrieve at least six different things for you during today’s trip.

4. Your dog must carry two things for you while walking around today.

5. You must have your dog do at least two go pays.

6. If able, use your dog for a transfer or to help you out of a wheelchair or scooter.

7. Practice food refusal with your dog.

8. You must perform at least one sit stay and one down stay in places with distractions, with you at the end of your leash.

9. You must practice getting on and off an elevator at least two times each. Have your dog hit the button on the outside of the elevator for you.

10. Practice sit and down signals in areas with distractions with you at the end of your leash.

11. Practice a sit stay with a shopping cart going around your dog.

Leon and I did all of these things. It was funny, though, how one older lady could not seem to grasp that the dog would be opening the door and kept trying to open the door for us.

After our list was done, we met the group at the train platform for the ride home.

I am not sure if I am ready to attempt a trip like this by myself. While I regularly go into Houston alone, I do not usually go into such a hectic environment as the market we went to today –it is too much for me sensory-wise to handle for very long. But I do intend to ride the MetroRail with Leon in Houston when we return home –park downtown and take it to the Reliant Center to attend the Reliant dog show, most likely.

Journal #19: July 1, 2011

Leon and I took our Certification test today (the final exam to test us as a team before we are able to graduate from the program.) He did really well! He had some trouble with carrying the bag with the pretzel in it from Auntie Anne’s to the Subway inside Walmart to do the restaurant section of the test –he dropped it several times on the way. Otherwise, though, he was stellar! Controlled exit from the vehicle, entering the store, being circled by a shopping cart while in a sit-stay, having a clipboard dropped behind him, being petted by a stranger, being petted by a child, maneuvering through tight racks of clothes, going under the table at the Subway, etc. –he did them all expertly!:D

At the end, I heard those long-awaited words: “He’s all yours now. Congratulations.”

So Leon and I are now officially a service dog team! :D

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Journal #20: July 2, 2011

The prompt in our team training manual for today’s journal entry is “Wow you’re done with team training. How does it feel?”

It feels a bit surreal. In 2 days, I am flying home to TX with my new Canine Partner. I really have a service dog again –a living, breathing extension of myself who will help me live more independently and with more quality.

I am excited to return home, but will miss having the structure and in-person support that I have here. Yes, the trainers/staff will always be available via phone or email, so that’s good –it’s just that now it is time for Leon and I to go fly on our own as a team.

I know we can do it! :D

Graduation is tomorrow (7/3/11) at Avondale Presbyterian Church in Avondale, PA if anyone in the area would like to attend. It starts at 2:30 pm.