Celebrate International Assistance Dogs Week August 7-13, 2011

As you know, I am co-puppy raising Sienna, a golden retriever puppy owned by New Horizons Service Dogs. As an adult, she will work as a mobility dog for an individual in a wheel chair. If you want to know more about Sienna, you can visit her personal blog, Stories by Sienna. International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations.

This is the week to celebrate assistance dogs everywhere. Tell your friends about International Assistance Dogs Week (IADW). The goals of IADW are to:

Recognize and honor assistance dogs
Raise awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs
Honor puppy raisers and trainers
Recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities

Sienna had the chance this week to accompany me to a speaking engagement at the Orlando Humane Society. We spoke to 25 campers. They learned a lot about Sienna and what her life will be like some day. One of the most important lessons they learned is to never approach or pet a working dog without first asking permission. Everyone loves dogs and our initial inclination is to simply rush forward and pet them. Even if a dog isn't working, it is always appropriate to ask permission first. Sienna loved being with the kids and they loved meeting her.

She is teaching me so much. It is one thing to train a dog you know you plan to keep forever. It's another thing to have the responsibility to help train a dog that has to be 100% reliable. They need to be exposed to everything! Sienna is easy to train because she is smart, willing and eager to learn. She really wants to do everything right.

Thanks for your support this week and every week of service dogs everywhere!

Sienna the Service Puppy

Sienna arrived yesterday! I was really psyched, almost couldn't wait to see her. Finally got the call around 12:30 p.m. saying we could pick her up at 3:30 in Deland. Of course, Ellen and I were thirty minutes early.

We had tons of questions about what to do, how to do it. Fortunately Megan Cloudman, one of the members of New Horizons Service Dogs had a whole notebook of information for us. We even got a goodie bag with things to help settle Sienna in.

In case I didn't mention it, she got her name Sienna because each litter of puppies has a particular theme. The theme for this litter was colors. Sienna seemed like the perfect choice for a dog that could be copper or burnt orange in color. Megan approved the name, so it stuck.

Sienna slept on Ellen's lap all the way home. She had a really big day. Little did I know I was about to have a very interesting night - a little dog that didn't want to go to sleep. It eventually all worked out and everyone got a few hours of good sleep.

Other good news, we've had no potty accidents. Lots of going outside, but she's really, really good. Very calm, relaxed. More service dog like, than puppy like. I think this profession will fit her well. She also like the A/C so being an indoor dog is going to suit her fine.

I started reading the training manual this morning after our first "busy" outing. There's a lot to learn. More than 80 different commands to master. Seems a little daunting, but I feel up to the task. I know Ellen is excited too.

We took her to the Geneva Fourth of July parade today and she couldn't have been better. She just isn't afraid of anything - not people, dogs, horses, parade floats, loud noises - nothing. I can't say the same for Leiden who seems to like no one and nothing.

This is a new journey - one I hope you'll join me on. You can also follow Sienna's blog for a puppy's point of view.

Waiting for a Puppy

I recently posted that I have applied to be a puppy trainer for New Horizons Service Dogs. I'm beyond exited at this opportunity. My friend and co-puppy raiser, Ellen Hall, has agreed to share this experience and the responsibility.

Spent a significant amount of time on line yesterday researching disability access issues as they relate to service dogs. It is my expectation I'll be able to take the puppy almost anywhere, but I wanted to be prepared, just in case. Interestingly, the right to access with a service dog is not a right that belongs to the dog. It is a right that belongs to the disabled person. Trainers of service dogs and dogs in training should theoretically be treated in the same manner as a disabled individual with a dog but I have a feeling I'm about to learn a lot more on this subject.

Yesterday we were informed that we had been approved and that we will be receiving a female puppy! I feel like an expectant adoptive mother that just learned there is a child who has been identified who needs a home. Each litter has a theme for naming the puppies. The theme for her litter is colors - so, we've been diligently thinking of great names. We've got a ton of ideas, not sure yet what we will settle on. Favorites right now include Sienna, Copper, Amber, Kahki and Jade. Burgundy would also be a nice name.

Well it's 5:36 p.m. and I haven't heard a thing all day! I'm totally bummed as I thought we would know more by now. We've already been to Petsmart and dropped a load there on pet toys, treats, a name tag, etc. Now all we need is the puppy. All I need is the call and I'm ready to go!

Even went by Pet Rescue by Judy
while we were at the mall, just to get a puppy fix. Actually bought another leash just trying to support Judy and her efforts - thanks for all she does to find homeless dogs a forever home.

More later. I'll post a picture, as soon as I have one!

Raising a Service Puppy - a New Chapter

Today my life may have changed forever – hopefully in a good way. I recently had the opportunity to meet Megan Cloudman of New Horizons Service Dogs, some of her volunteers and some of their dogs at The Family Café. I thought I was at The Family Café, a Florida state wide disabilities conference) for the purpose of presenting on one of my favorite topics, “Special People, Special Planning.” Instead, the course of the universe was shifting, introducing me to new people and new experiences that will inevitably change my life.

I love dogs. Big dogs, little dogs, it really doesn’t matter. I love dogs so much, I already have five – mostly rescues but of various sizes, shapes and breeding. I have always wondered what it would be like to be a puppy raiser for a service dog organization. I have clients who have raised puppies. I have clients who have been the recipients of these puppies. I thought this was something I might do – later, when I have more time in my life! But why wait? When I met the people at New Horizons, my heart was changed and I wanted to do this – now. Really, I’m a little obsessed. I have thought about this prospect every single day since the possibility became a probability, and now, almost a reality.

My first hurdle was my husband, Joe. As I mentioned, we already have five dogs. We also have 3 horses and 4 cats. He reminds me regularly we don’t need any more pets. But this isn’t a pet in the true sense of the word. It’s an assignment with a beginning and an end. You get the puppy at 8 weeks, and then you have to return it for further advanced training at 18 months. Actually, Joe turned out to be the easy part. His only requirement was that I find a co-puppy raiser who could take on some of responsibility of the daily care and socialization of the puppy.

Fortunately, I have my own business where I already bring a dog (Leiden) to work every day. What’s one more, small, barely noticeable puppy? What I need is a co-raiser who lives close enough to my office (or even works there) who will bring the puppy to the office every day. Then every evening, I can bring my shared puppy to the co-raiser’s home for the evening. Then, rinse and repeat until Friday when I’ll take the puppy home for the weekend. It’s the perfect plan. Surely someone will think this is a great idea and say, “yes, pick me, let’s do this!”

I have to admit, this part turned out to be harder than I thought. I had several really, really good candidates who determined (for various reasons – all acceptable) this was not a good time for them to become part of a puppy-raiser team. Now I really am obsessed. I’m constantly thinking about the perfect puppy partner. Then wham! It dawns on me – my friend, Ellie Hall is a perfect choice. She lives near my office, she’s retired, we enjoy each others' company and she and her husband love dogs (and have even talked about getting one). I call her immediately and present “the plan.” Now I have to wait – until she has a chance to talk to her husband, think about all the pros and cons, weigh all the options, etc. When I can’t stand it any longer, I call her back – “What’s the verdict?” Yahoo! She says they discussed all the possibilities and they think this is a great time for them to consider co-puppy raising! I couldn’t be happier. Did I mention, I sent my application in yesterday, pre-Ellen’s agreement as a sign to the Universe that this was a good idea?

Now Ellen’s excited and she’s busily filling out her application. I’ve contacted Megan to let her know we are on board – now eagerly awaiting approval from New Horizons! Keep your fingers crossed!!!!