Team Training Day 3 ~ Distractions

Today Participants learned how to keep their dog focus while dealing with distraction. 

Future graduates also begun learning the find em' game. This game involves the dogs running back between the kids and the adults when given the command "find her/him."

The dogs LOVE this game because they have to use their vision and scent to find the other person.

This game can be adapted or "shaped" into a joyful game of hide-and-go-seek or even turned into the crucial task of going to "get help" in the event of an emergency."

Overall it was a VERY exciting (and exhausting) day.

Enjoy the videos below!

Team Training Day 2 ~ The Adventure Continues

Ok, I'm going to be honest. Today wasn't much different than yesterday as far as activities go. There was another obstacle course and we each took turns taking different dogs through it.

What was different was everyone's confidence level. It's only day 2 but we are already seeing improvement. What do I mean by that? Simply put, now that everyone is getting a little more comfortable, they are finding it easier to try new things (some which have better results than others).

 This method of trial and error can be frustrating at times but has overall yielded positive outcomes. Nicholas stated the exasperation we were all feeling when he said with his head lowered in his Charlie Brown-esque manor "This just isn't gonna get

 any easier."

He quickly found just like the rest of us that a happy pup makes a smoother experience (and often times lots of kisses!) Overall this was a very productive (and rather photogenic) day!

New Year, New Graduates, New Fun! ~ Team Training Day 1

Well folks, it's summer of 2015 and you know what that means! Today all our future Graduates (and the volunteers that make it happen) met for the first time at our training venue (graciously donated by Parkway Christian Center) to introduce themselves and begin the long and extremely rewarding process that is Team Training and Graduation! 

Alright, alright I hear you screaming, "WHERE ARE THE BIOS?" I promise that they're coming! . . . Alright you wore me down . . .  I'll give you some tidbits to tide you over.

Twenty year old Kelsey is here from California to receive a successor service dog. Two years ago Kelsey laid on the floor with her previous service dog as it took it's last breath. When Kelsey was notified that she was invited to this years team training, she could barely catch her breath for all her screaming. She is very excited to be here.

Jon is a 23 year old UC Berkeley graduate who will be attending law school in the Fall. When asked why he wanted a service dog, he responded, "It doesn't look very good for a lawyer to be on the ground picking up things."

Hope, a 17 year old Canine Angels Graduate Mentor is back for a successor dog after her last service dog was career changed. Hope volunteers for 2 weeks every year in Grants Pass to write this blog. She too is excited to be here as a participant. (written by her mom) 

Then there's Lucia, a lively personable 8 year old girl who is super excited to learn how to handle her new Pal dog. Lucia was joined today not only by her mom, but also by her Grandma who is here visiting from the Netherlands.

Last, but not least there's 5 and 1/2 year old Nicholas from southern California who, "JUST WANTS A DOOOG!!!!!" and has been counting down the "sleeps" until he gets to meet his special dog.

Although the participants don't know what dog they will end up with, they began learning how to handle the dogs during lectures and by working the dogs through an obstacle course. Here's to a day of new beginnings and new friends.