One year update

From Service Dog Training

1 year update: So this is finally the one year update on the dog. Yes, it's been more than one year, but what the hell... I'm procrastinating studying for a final so I figured this would be a good time to do it. This is divided up into sections so it doesn't over run anyone's friends page.

What Kain has learned:

-Sit: We don’t really use this much outside of the house. With his big pack on, it’s not a good idea for him to sit for long periods as it could strain his back. He’s solid on sit, though he hates it when his feet slide out from under him on a slick floor, so often sit ends up in down. I accept this. After all…this is functional obedience, not competitive obedience. -Down: This is our workhorse. Sometimes just a glance will tell him this now, and I only use a verbal command when he’s being stubborn. He’s definitely learned that down usually means he’s going to be on the floor for a while, and he’s started to take the liberties of making himself good and comfortable as he settles down. Every once in a while he’ll get stubborn on me and just plop his head in my lap and drool instead of lying down, but 99% of the time, this is solid too. -Stay: We only use stay in the down-stay combination, as we really have no use for sit-stay. Kain has gotten much better at this since the summer, since it gave him the opportunity to be tethered in one place while I worked at varying distances away from him. I’d say his down-stay is solid in most conditions for up to 45 minutes. I usually let him stretch at that point, then back down he goes. He’s learned to stay in classrooms while I run to the water fountain or to sleep along the wall at the gym while I work out. The main things that will break his stay seem to be bees. He just doesn’t seem to be able to resist them. -Heel: This command has been the focus of a lot of our training lately. Kain understands the basics of heel, but we’re working on refining it for different paces (running, gimping, etc.) and different scenarios. He has gotten much better at ignoring small furry rodents while at heel, and we’ve had some improvement with his focus around other dogs. He still tends to pull a bit in large crowds or if something has unnerved him a bit. Fireworks and hot air balloons seem to be the main culprits here. Overall, his heel is functionally solid, but the refinement is taking time. -Left: This command is rather new for us. We use it with a hand signal only at this point, and just as a clarification for heel. As his heel improves we may drop this command altogether. -Right: Pretty much the same as left. -Back: This is another command we use a lot, especially in tight places like airplanes and theaters. Kain doesn’t like it much, but he’ll do it. -Brace: This command he learned easily, as it is in the nature of a Great Pyrenees to dig their feet in when someone pushes on them. All I had to do was get him to dig his feet in before I pushed on him. I don’t need this task too often, but when I do it comes in very handy. -Slow down/pick it up: We’re using these with heel to adjust for speed. Usually we use slow down when we are out running and he’s trying to set a faster pace. Pick it up we use a lot towards the end of the day when he’s getting tired and lagging a bit. -Leave it: This command is working well for squirrels and rabbits and things, but it still needs work with desirable food. He still tries to sneak things off the floor at restaurants if he thinks I’m not looking.

-College and minor league baseball games -Microsoft Office 2007 launch -Philadelphia for the Eta Sigma Phi National Convention -Nashville for the American Classical League Summer Institute -Fort Worth, Texas for the National Association of University Model Schools Annual Meeting -The capitol in Jefferson City for a research presentation -Restaurants of all sorts -Malls, theaters, etc. -Classes -Tiger night of fun -Heritage Academy and swarms of small children -Nice spas -Medical and dental appointments -Running events from 5K’s to marathons, both as spectators and participants -MU football game, with the cannon and everything

-Stairs: He didn’t know how to do stairs when I got him. Now he loves them. -Escalators: This was a challenge, and he still doesn’t much like going down them, but going up them is great fun! -Moving sidewalks: I think he’d run back and forth on these all day if I’d let him. -Elevators: This one was easy. -Golf carts: It’s really hard to keep his tail in a golf cart. -Cars/trucks -Busses: Kain’s pretty apathetic towards busses. Sometimes he wants to see out the window, but usually he just sleeps. -Airplanes: Ranging in size from 200+ passengers to 19 passengers. He’s an old pro at the big planes now. I give him a Dramamine to keep his stomach settled and off we go. The little planes are trickier. He doesn’t really mind being on them, but it’s awfully hard to get him up the stairs to one because of how steep and narrow they are. I have to take all his gear off and then have someone give him a boost up to the first step. -Trains: I think this was hatred at first sight for Kain. He tolerates them, but doesn’t like them at all from what I can tell. I think it might be the vibrations that bother him. I assume that with more frequent use he’d come to accept them like he has airplanes. -Subways: See trains. -Monorails: These don’t bother him as bad as trains and subways, but it’s stressful for him because I’m usually using him for more support in a less stable environment due to the lack of seating on the airport version of monorails.

-Health issues: Kain had whipworms, gastritis and a double ear infection when I got him. Nice of his old vet not to check thoroughly and to tell me he was healthy. The gastritis caused gluten intolerance, so now he has to be on special food. It took several months and almost a thousand dollars to sort this all out. -Uninformed idiots: These can be found almost anywhere! Goodwill was the first; I got a nice apology from their regional manager. Also the Philly transit system, but it appears those who caused my trouble have lost their jobs. The police department here has been a fun battle as well, but I won that one as well. -Stray/uncontrolled dogs: This has caused one of the biggest hurdles we are working on dealing with now. After several unprovoked attacks, Kain is now acting a bit dog-shy, though he has lately improved greatly. Our Tuesday-Thursday running group has helped too, as there are other dogs there that are better controlled and much more friendly -Regular idiots: We’ve had people scream in our faces and hit the dog both with hands and bags. Next person that does that is going to get their head ripped off. Also people that don’t read the “do not pet me I’m working” signs and pet the dog, or let their child pet the dog without asking. Occasionally if I’m in the mood, and I am asked politely, I will let a small child pet Kain. Otherwise, expect to be snapped at. -Weight issues: This is a new issue that has developed as we have started to run. Kain is pretty apathetic towards food, so even with the increased exercise he’s just not eating enough. He’s lost a good bit of weight in the past few months and it needs to stop. He is now officially underweight, and I think if we shaved him he’d look like a skeleton. I had blood work done to rule out any medical problems and everything is fine. I’ve started adding brown rice syrup to his food and that seems to appeal to him without upsetting his stomach. I’ve also mixed up a sort of canine power bar that he loves. Recipe available on request!

Day pack: From Wolfpacks, this functions essentially as my purse, carrying my wallet, cell phone, doggie bags, and a collapsible water dish. Back pack: Also from Wolfpacks. This is a much larger pack that holds my laptop and schoolbooks in addition to the items from the day pack. This also functions as my carry-on when I’m traveling. Running vest: This is from Leerburg, a sturdy blue mesh vest with an insanely bright LED on it and reflective stripes. We use this for group runs when he needs to be visible and for events so he can be marked as a service dog. Dog boots: These are cheap boots from Granite Peak, but they worked wonders for protecting Kain’s paw when he stepped on a thumbtack. Collar: We started out with a regular chain collar but have switched to a half-chain collar. The half chain is more comfortable for Kain, yet still provides the control and noise correction benefits of a full chain collar. Collapsible water dish: This has been wonderful, it folds down flat, but can hold about 2 cups of water unfolded. The only real downside is that after water has been sitting in the dish a while it begins to leak a little. Harness: I haven’t been able to find one that works yet. Between Kain’s odd body shape (deep chest, long, narrow back) and my unique needs (has to work with his pack) we’ve been through three harnesses already with no luck. We have one on order right now from Bridgeport Equipment, which will be the last try before I shell out the couple hundred bucks to get a custom harness made.