I am finally home and I thought that I would give an update for the last few days of training. Thursday we went to do more sidewalkless as on the previous days. Joel did very well on this route. We next went to the airport to practice going through security. The dog's harnesses and leash set off the detector and they have to be patted down. Apparently there are these new machines that blow puffs of air at you to search your body and they told us that no matter what they don't have to make the dog go through one of those. Luckily they didn't seem to have one. The airport workers lead me and Joel through the security line and they did pretty well. Things are hectic and sometimes I wasn't sure what way to go. To go through security I have to go through backwards and have Joel sit on the other side. When my body has gone through I call him to me and he sets off the detector as the leash metal goes through. I hold the leash at all times just extending my arm as I pass through. This way it is clear that the leash/Joel set off the detector and not me. The patdown went quickly and smoothly and we were taken to our belongings. Thursday evening(or maybe Friday I don't remember) we practiced sitting in airplane seats. The dogs can fit under the seat in front of the handler with their front half sticking out and their back portion under the seat. The handler has their feet on either side of the dog for control. I was able to use food to get Joel into the isle seat. I could not for the life of me get Joel under the window seat. He really tried he is just too long to turn into that tiny space. He kept getting stuck on the bar between the two seats in front of us.
That night we did a night route after final relieving. It went very well, Joel did exactly what he was supposed to. Some dogs think shadows are obstacles and such but Joel treats a night route just as a day route.
Friday we went to a local mall to get anything we needed. I went and picked up some in ear headphones for the flight home. The only interesting thing that happened was that a little kid ran up and grabbed Joel when we got off of the elevator. He didn't even stop or anything which was great. The instructors had that afternoon off so we were free to do whatever we wanted the rest of the day.
Saturday was graduation day! We woke up and did our usual routine then had nothing until lunch. After lunch which was an amazing grilled cheese we got to meet our puppy raisers. They were the family who raised the puppies before they came to training. They train the dog in basic house manners and they are able to take them around to different places so that when guiding they are used to being in restaurants, doctor's offices, etc. My family was from Washington and they had four children. They had three boys and an adopted daughter from China. They got the daughter after Joel so she spent a lot of time with him when she first came to the states. This is great for Joel and it is probably the reason that he is not as distracted by young children. Joel Recognized the puppy raisers right away and he was really happy to see them. They were a very nice family, they brought me some of Joel's favorite toys to take home and they also brought a new Nilabone. We sat around for a while before graduation and got to know each other. This was also a time where Joel could spend time with his family. I feel very lucky that he lived with the family that he did since he is used to being around small children and small dogs. They also did an excellent job in exposing him to different situations and I feel that their thorough socialization of him has made him a better guide.
After we hung around for a bit I left Joel with the puppy raisers and I went to the graduation room. The puppy raisers are the ones to present the dog if they are there and they talk about the dog and the new handler. They said that they were glad that he seemed to be bonding to me since he would check in with me periodically when playing with the family and they said that he watched intently when I left to go to the graduation room. The GDB CEO gave a speech at the beginning of the graduation. I don't think I have talked about him on here yet but he is a really cool guy. He is a guide dog user and he would hang out with us at dinner lunch, etc. His dog also knows some really cool tricks like putting its harness on while he holds it. A local Auto Group had raised 14000 dollars for them with a cruise in so they presented GDB with the check for this money. After this we started graduating. The children of the puppy raisers presented the dog and they all spoke about him, even the little girl and they did a great job. Before this I had a chance to speak so I talked about what a great dog Joel is and I thanked the puppy raisers and my instructors. After we had all been presented our dogs a local girl scout troop gave GDB some training platforms that they had built for them.
After graduation was finished we mingled for a bit then went outside to eat. Again my puppy raisers are such nice people they brought an extra sandwich for me. They have been making a DVD of pictures of Joel so they took some shots of the kids and parents with Joel to add a graduation section to the DVD. We exchanged contact info since they planned to send me a copy of the DVD and I wanted to get them something from Marshall.
After they headed home I just hung around the dorm for the rest of the day. We had dinner and that evening I went over to my friend's room so that our dogs could play. Joel was so much bigger than her dog that at one point he had her dog's head almost all the way in his mouth. After we let them play for a bit I went to pack since I waited until the last minute to do so.
I will write about my big adventure on the flight home and what has happened this first week home and try to have it posted before the weekend is out.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Update for the midweek.
I have some time tonight so I thought that I would give an update from Sunday. A friend and I went on a walk around campus just after I posted on Sunday. They have a nice wooded area with a concrete trail that makes a large upside down U shape but more square. The dogs did very well and when we passed by the kennels where the dogs still being trained are housed Joel went right by without getting distracted. We saw a dog in the kennel's free run area and he passed by that as well. On our return stretch we got sort of lost but my friend found the doors that we were looking for. Somehow we ended up in the graduation arena area I'm not sure how.
Monday we did another route in Portland but this time we went to a Starbucks with a Clover Machine. A clover Machine is a vacuum press and they grind the coffee fresh for each cup. I bought a cup and it was fantastic. I also picked up some Vias which are instant coffee that is actual coffee beans ground so fine that they can dissolve in water. This makes a much better cup of coffee than the freeze dried style. I got some Mocha ones as well but I have yet to try them.
We did some more sidewalkless that afternoon and Joel did very well. When we got back to campus Joel and I took a nap on the beanbag in our room. I don't remember if I mentioned it before but we have a big beanbag in our room that Joel is allowed on. He really likes it and I do too. He usually tries to kick me off if I attempt to sit it on it as well but as the time has passed he now just lets me lay beside him. He will sometimes lay his head in my lap or on my arm but he is not nearly as snuggly as some of the other dogs who will crawl right into someone's lap if they sit on a beanbag. For the last couple days we have been napping before breakfast and after we get back from the day's routes. Monday night we had beef kabobs . I had mine with just beef and onions and they were amazing. The beef was like steak style meat and the onions were cooked some way and they were very crunchy and sweet. Amazing.
Monday night we went on a night route. Joel had never gone on one of these in formal training so guiding at night was a new experience for him. He did very well, not thinking shadows were obstacles or anything. The instructors warned us before the route that the dogs might try to do this and that they might bark at something that they think is there then realize that it was just reflected light or shadow. I do not believe that any of the dogs did the barking but I think some tried to guide people around shadows. Joel saw a police light on the side of a building once and he was hesitant to go by at first but he figured out what it was and was fine afterwards.
Tuesday morning we had our traffic route. This is where one of the instructors will drive a car at us while we walk in various ways. He pulled in front of us, parked in the middle of driveways at the sidewalk cutting us off, and he would drive directly at us at one point. The dogs can only respond in the following four ways to a traffic check: ignore it, stop, go faster, or back up. Joel did perfectly at all the checks except when he drove the car directly towards us and at that check Joel tried to go to the left (Seems like a fine idea to me) but he was supposed to back up so I just held him to the line of travel and he backed up as he should.
While we were waiting for our traffic route Joel and another guide both wanted the same beanbag. I guess the other dog loves beanbags as much as Joel. Since they both wanted on the other handler and myself let them sit on it together since they both try to get there first every time we enter that room.
After the traffic route we went for our vet visit. Joel got bored while waiting our turn and started wrestling with the dog next to us. Joel did great during his checkup and he is in excellent health. He weighs 66.4 pounds and when he was given to me he weighed 66.2. At first I thought that his initial weight was 62 so I was a bit concerned that he had gained four. Luckily I just misheard and he only gained .2 of a pound. He is really thin and they have told me that he will fill out considerably. He is going to be a mammoth dog. I also learned his medical history. He has been very healthy the only issues being kennel related bugs that he picked because of close proximity to tons of other dogs. He only had a couple of these issues and they were very minor and easily treated at the time.
That For lunch we had buffalo chicken sandwiches. They used franks wing sauce and they were absolutely amazing. That afternoon we went to a park like area and did a route there. It was similar to the wooded area on campus but there was only one winding trail instead of a couple like the campus woods. This allows the dogs to be assertive and push and pull us the way that we need to go since there is only one path to follow. Joel needed this somewhat since he had issues earlier with pushing me over to the right and this route helped build his confidence.
That night we had broccoli chicken sturfry and even I found it delicious. I think that was one of the few times that I wolfed down vegetables.
Today we did another Portland route and the instructor allowed me to make mistakes so that I may have the chance to problem solve. They like us to get into a bit of trouble so that they know that we will be able to think our way out of confusing or difficult situations. These are like if there is something totally across the road, making a wrong turn, large crowds of people and other safe obstacles. This way they know that we can be effective handlers in the field.
This For lunch we had pulled pork sandwiches and they, as usual, were fantastic. The pork was in big pieces which was great since usually it is almost shredded and that makes it a bit hard to keep it in the bread. This afternoon we went on another sidewalkless route and it went very well. I need to work on my footwork and I tend to move my feet a lot when figuring out what to do which can confuse Joel. I guess the body movements that I am making are to Joel what a crazy homeless person's babbling's are to us. Maybe not that crazy but probably close.
We went to a petsmart as well and Joel did very well considering. He looked at the cages of mice and fish like "What the heck are those things" and some dogs barked at him which was a bit distracting for him but compared to what I expected he did excellent.
Tonight we had pineapple roasted chicken with a pineapple apricot cupcake for dessert. The chicken was amazing and the cupcake had a cream cheese like icing with little pineapple and apricot chunks in it. It was great.(I am running out of words to describe the food here)
Tonight I played hide and seek with Joel. I would have him stay in one room and then go into my other room and call him. He would come to me very quickly but I confused him when I hid behind the recliner where he couldn't fit through and when I went into the bathroom and pulled the door to. We only have three days left the time seems to have gone by so fast.
Monday we did another route in Portland but this time we went to a Starbucks with a Clover Machine. A clover Machine is a vacuum press and they grind the coffee fresh for each cup. I bought a cup and it was fantastic. I also picked up some Vias which are instant coffee that is actual coffee beans ground so fine that they can dissolve in water. This makes a much better cup of coffee than the freeze dried style. I got some Mocha ones as well but I have yet to try them.
We did some more sidewalkless that afternoon and Joel did very well. When we got back to campus Joel and I took a nap on the beanbag in our room. I don't remember if I mentioned it before but we have a big beanbag in our room that Joel is allowed on. He really likes it and I do too. He usually tries to kick me off if I attempt to sit it on it as well but as the time has passed he now just lets me lay beside him. He will sometimes lay his head in my lap or on my arm but he is not nearly as snuggly as some of the other dogs who will crawl right into someone's lap if they sit on a beanbag. For the last couple days we have been napping before breakfast and after we get back from the day's routes. Monday night we had beef kabobs . I had mine with just beef and onions and they were amazing. The beef was like steak style meat and the onions were cooked some way and they were very crunchy and sweet. Amazing.
Monday night we went on a night route. Joel had never gone on one of these in formal training so guiding at night was a new experience for him. He did very well, not thinking shadows were obstacles or anything. The instructors warned us before the route that the dogs might try to do this and that they might bark at something that they think is there then realize that it was just reflected light or shadow. I do not believe that any of the dogs did the barking but I think some tried to guide people around shadows. Joel saw a police light on the side of a building once and he was hesitant to go by at first but he figured out what it was and was fine afterwards.
Tuesday morning we had our traffic route. This is where one of the instructors will drive a car at us while we walk in various ways. He pulled in front of us, parked in the middle of driveways at the sidewalk cutting us off, and he would drive directly at us at one point. The dogs can only respond in the following four ways to a traffic check: ignore it, stop, go faster, or back up. Joel did perfectly at all the checks except when he drove the car directly towards us and at that check Joel tried to go to the left (Seems like a fine idea to me) but he was supposed to back up so I just held him to the line of travel and he backed up as he should.
While we were waiting for our traffic route Joel and another guide both wanted the same beanbag. I guess the other dog loves beanbags as much as Joel. Since they both wanted on the other handler and myself let them sit on it together since they both try to get there first every time we enter that room.
After the traffic route we went for our vet visit. Joel got bored while waiting our turn and started wrestling with the dog next to us. Joel did great during his checkup and he is in excellent health. He weighs 66.4 pounds and when he was given to me he weighed 66.2. At first I thought that his initial weight was 62 so I was a bit concerned that he had gained four. Luckily I just misheard and he only gained .2 of a pound. He is really thin and they have told me that he will fill out considerably. He is going to be a mammoth dog. I also learned his medical history. He has been very healthy the only issues being kennel related bugs that he picked because of close proximity to tons of other dogs. He only had a couple of these issues and they were very minor and easily treated at the time.
That For lunch we had buffalo chicken sandwiches. They used franks wing sauce and they were absolutely amazing. That afternoon we went to a park like area and did a route there. It was similar to the wooded area on campus but there was only one winding trail instead of a couple like the campus woods. This allows the dogs to be assertive and push and pull us the way that we need to go since there is only one path to follow. Joel needed this somewhat since he had issues earlier with pushing me over to the right and this route helped build his confidence.
That night we had broccoli chicken sturfry and even I found it delicious. I think that was one of the few times that I wolfed down vegetables.
Today we did another Portland route and the instructor allowed me to make mistakes so that I may have the chance to problem solve. They like us to get into a bit of trouble so that they know that we will be able to think our way out of confusing or difficult situations. These are like if there is something totally across the road, making a wrong turn, large crowds of people and other safe obstacles. This way they know that we can be effective handlers in the field.
This For lunch we had pulled pork sandwiches and they, as usual, were fantastic. The pork was in big pieces which was great since usually it is almost shredded and that makes it a bit hard to keep it in the bread. This afternoon we went on another sidewalkless route and it went very well. I need to work on my footwork and I tend to move my feet a lot when figuring out what to do which can confuse Joel. I guess the body movements that I am making are to Joel what a crazy homeless person's babbling's are to us. Maybe not that crazy but probably close.
We went to a petsmart as well and Joel did very well considering. He looked at the cages of mice and fish like "What the heck are those things" and some dogs barked at him which was a bit distracting for him but compared to what I expected he did excellent.
Tonight we had pineapple roasted chicken with a pineapple apricot cupcake for dessert. The chicken was amazing and the cupcake had a cream cheese like icing with little pineapple and apricot chunks in it. It was great.(I am running out of words to describe the food here)
Tonight I played hide and seek with Joel. I would have him stay in one room and then go into my other room and call him. He would come to me very quickly but I confused him when I hid behind the recliner where he couldn't fit through and when I went into the bathroom and pulled the door to. We only have three days left the time seems to have gone by so fast.
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