Circus Puppy

Ha – long post today but if you make it through, I'll explain the title at the end!

I've mentioned that Ruby is really well-behaved in public places around humans but that we're working on being calm around other animals. So if you're looking for four-legged traffic in Colorado, just hit a muddy trail!

Sure enough, we were only a few minutes out before we spied some horses in the distance.



We stood on the side of the trail and watched them approach.



Ruby was pretty calm as the first one passed by,



but she wanted to take off after the second one!



She recovered pretty quickly,




but no sooner had that excitement blown by, when along came the second act.





Good girl! She's not typically super-excited over the humans, but we still thought she might want to chase.

Next up was a runner with a dog. Again, she let the runner pass, but then she behaved exactly as we expected.





I didn't have to wait long for another runner and dog to come down the trail. This time, I put Ruby in a sit and had her focus on me before the other dog passed by.





Awesome job, Ruby! Possessing her focus and attention, even as she noticed the other dog, made all the difference.

We tried it again. (Kiva's on the left, the two dogs look similar.)





What a great job she did! So proud of her. This is a challenging lesson because even though I have the treats, Ruby can definitely see a benefit to chasing the other dog as he will usually respond and play.

Ruby not only held that sit while the dog passed by, but also afterward when we were chatting with the owner. Curiosity is healthy and I want her to feel comfortable around other dogs, so I rewarded her patience and gave her the "release" command so she could explore.



Learning how to control herself when she comes into contact with other animals is not going to happen overnight, it's going to take a lot of practice. But I was very happy with the progress she showed on this outing.

Here's Ruby later on, nice and calm as she watches the horses go by.






And in case you think her only challenges of the day were of the two-legged and four-legged variety, how 'bout we also throw in a set of wheels, just for fun?



Hey, you made it through this long post! So about the title...

We noticed a woman watching us train Ruby near the horses, then she asked what we were doing. I mentioned that Ruby was a service puppy in training and demonstrated some of the commands Ruby knows.

The woman watched quietly. As she was walking off with her friend, we heard her say, "Wow. A Circus Puppy in training, I never saw that before, how cool!"

iWent to the Apple Store. iPaw'd and...

iSnooted.

RuBee, The exTerminator

To put it mildly, the bee had a rough week.



But he went out grinning.

Halfway There

It's February 3, 2010 and today Ruby is nine months old. It's hard to believe, but we're halfway through our time together and I sincerely want to thank all of you who are sharing this journey with Ruby and me.

Just as I've watched our tiny pup grow, so has our circle of online friends grown. The support we've received through your comments, emails, links, posts – and yes, even twitters! – means more to us than you'll ever know. By spreading the word about one little yellow service puppy, you help so much in our effort to raise awareness for the canine partners who make such a profound difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

Of course, half traveled means half still ahead, and my little yellow pup is just rarin' to go! We look forward to following the rest of the path with all of you.

Our Thoughts Are With Captain Phil Harris

We read today that Captain Phil Harris from The Discovery Channel's excellent Alaskan crab fishing reality show, Deadliest Catch, has suffered a stroke; our thoughts are with Captain Phil and his family. I had the very good fortune to meet Captain Phil at an event here this past summer, the Denver Summer BrewFest, where he was representing the Alaskan Brewing Company. We had just gotten Ruby and she was way too little to bring with us for an outing (couldn't have her all liquored up being underage and whatnot), but when I met Captain Phil, we talked a little bit about service dogs and I mentioned Ruby. He was autographing photos and I asked, if he wouldn't mind, if he could please sign one for Ruby which I would save as a special memento for the person with whom Ruby will be paired.

Captain Phil is a friendly man and a great sport. He happily autographed a photo for a dog (perhaps a first) and it's something I'll proudly present to Ruby's partner someday.



One other thing...with all due respect to my husband, let me tell you, the man knows how to give a hug. Swoon.



We don't know any more details on his condition at this time, other than that he has had surgery, but we are sending our hope and positive thoughts that Captain Phil is resting comfortably and will have a complete recovery.

Update: It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Captain Phil Harris. Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Ear-igami

This dog manages to flop her ears in such interesting shapes! She came wandering in like this and we were amazed at how it looked different from every angle. She really should teach a Saturday class.

Doin' The Weekend Hop!

Puppy Raising Q&A

As any Service Puppy Raiser can tell you, we get tons of questions. I meet so many people who are curious about service puppies and the puppy raising experience, I thought I'd share a few of their questions here.

(Please remember, these are just my opinions and may not reflect the opinions of any other Service Puppy Raiser; each person's and dog's experience is unique. Also, my answers on training questions are based solely on the curriculum of our organization and may well differ from the training programs and requirements of other service dog organizations.)

OK, I'll start with the big one.

Q. How do you do it? I mean...how can you give her up?

A. Raising a service puppy is an amazing experience. But, it is also not for everyone. Clearly, there are significant time and financial commitments, but above all, you are making an enormous emotional investment. You are going to nurture, fall in love with, and eventually have to let go of a dog that is yours in so many ways, and yet not your own.

Ruby is a doll and an imp; I completely adore her and love fills me to the brim each time I look at her. But there is a small part of my heart that doesn't belong to her. I'm saving that for someone I don't yet know – the person with whom she will someday be paired – and it justly tempers the love I feel for her. When she begins her life with the person she was truly meant for, that piece will fall into place; it will always be something the three of us share.

I know it will be painful when it is time to give her up, but there will be so much joy and hope mixed in with my sadness. I want to give her all the tools she needs and then I want her to soar. To witness the love and trust of a team, the beauty and fluidity of a person and service dog who share life's challenges, is to understand how honored I feel to be part of the journey toward my dog's partnership.

Q. Would you do it again, raise another service puppy?

A. Absolutely!

Q. How come I can't pet a service puppy?

A. I completely empathize with how difficult it can be for people not to pet service puppies in training, trust me!

I remember seeing a very little service puppy many years ago – a baby Ruby clone, complete with tiny cape – in a pizza place. It was all I could do to stop myself from scooping her up, covering her with kisses, and pretty much just plopping her on top of my slice along with the pepperoni and eating her right up. People have good intentions – petting a service puppy is just a way of showing affection, right? Why would that interfere with her training?

The reason we don't allow anyone to pet a service puppy in training is because it's so important to teach the puppy not to solicit attention. When you refrain from petting Ruby, you are contributing to a very valuable part of her education. You are teaching her that there is no benefit to approaching other people when she is with her partner, unless her partner gives her a specific command to do so. The focus a service dog has on her partner, and their bond, is an absolute lifeline between them.

Q. It's not fair that a puppy has to work all the time. She never gets to have any fun.

A. Not really a question, but I've heard this fairly frequently, mostly when we're out shopping. Maybe it's from people who really dislike shopping and are just projecting it onto the dog!

Just like any puppy, Ruby's life is all about having fun. Zooming around the house and yard, playing with squeaky toys, enjoying ear scratches and belly rubs. And lots of treats and cuddling and snooze time.

When it comes to our "work," I can say without any hesitation that Ruby loves to train. I do too, it's always fun for both of us. Walks are also a very important part of training; we teach our pups not to pull on the leash (loose leash walking) as they grow accustomed to the world around them. I also like to train informally throughout the day, in ways that are out of the context of our sessions. While I'm cooking dinner, I might put her in a sit or down while I walk over to the stove for a bit, walk back, then release her. Or just out of the blue while we're watching TV, I'll ask her to "touch" (bop my hand with her nose – a building block for later skills she'll learn, such as pressing buttons or turning switches on and off); she thinks it's a fun game.

As far as outings, Ruby is naturally curious and she loves going into stores and other public places. She's never forced to do anything she's not capable of, she's rewarded frequently, and we always end on a special fun and upbeat note.

Q. What kinds of things do you teach her how to do?

A. During the approximate year and a half that Ruby is with me, we'll work on socialization and cues such as sit/stay and down/stay; stand; wait; here (come); lap; car; touch; under; fix (untangle herself from the leash); heel; etc.

Q. Can you train her to go get me a beer while I'm watching the game?

A. I get this one ALL THE TIME! Yes, service dogs can be trained to perform specialized tasks such as opening the refrigerator door, retrieving an item, closing the door, and bringing the item to their partner. But I've trained Ruby to reject light beer so the fridge will have to be stocked with a good double IPA.

Q. What happens to her after she leaves you?

A. At 18 months of age, Ruby will enter Advanced Training for approximately 4-6 months, where she'll learn the more specific skills she'll need when she is partnered with a person who has a mobility-related disability. If all goes well, at around two years of age, she'll be teamed up with a partner and I will proudly attend their graduation with a large supply of tissues!

Q. What happens if she doesn't make it?

A. That depends on why she doesn't make it. If it's a health-related issue, she will be released from the program, offered to me to keep, and I will adopt her. If she has a behavior or temperament issue that prevents her from attaining public access, her trainers will determine if there is another area in the realm of canine assistance for which she might be suited, and she'll be trained for that sort of job. If the behavior or temperament issue completely disqualifies her from service, she will be released and offered to me. If, for any reason, I am unable to adopt her, there is a waiting list to adopt released dogs so she would ultimately wind up as someone's well-loved pet.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Wishing a very Happy Birthday – and it's a big one! – across the miles to Ruby's Grandma. On a recent visit, Grandma taught Ruby a very important service dog skill: how to make the Sunday Sauce! Ruby's gotten pretty good at it, but she keeps leaving snootprints in the meatballs.

Roo-ster, Back In Our Nest

Pupdate From Camp Ruby

Looks like our intrepid camper is doing really well! Thanks to her puppy sitter, she's had some great new experiences. She's gotten up close and personal with cats and she's met her first horses. During her time as a furry little exchange student in high school, she's been behaving (mostly!) and she even got a chance to hang out out at the mall with the cool kids.

Enjoy some excerpts of the emails and pix I received from her puppy sitter:

"She's been wonderful – just kind of ambles around the house and sleeps. Hasn't gotten into anything or eaten anything she shouldn't! She's been extremely loyal, never lets us out of her sight."

"She's done pretty well in school too! I took her with me today and yesterday – she now speaks Spanish and knows her statistics and government."

"...she's a bit of a wiggle worm in class! She wasn't a problem by any means and my teachers love the dogs, but she was sure entertaining. She entertained herself by wrapping herself up around my chair, playing with a toy, and rolling around on her back beneath the desk. Once she got her sillies out she settled just fine."

"She was also quite surprised by the horses! They were watching her at the fence and surprised her, so she jumped clear up in the air and started barking. I had her sit and she stopped barking, but boy was she perplexed!"

"And she loves tv! She was sitting in the living room all by herself this morning staring at a commercial for Beneful dog food."

"The first picture is her with my dog Riko. (Boy did they play!)"



"Ruby settling in quite comfortably on my friend's lap..."



"...her first reaction to Trinity (our cat) checking her out haha."



"...then her talking with one of our cats."



"In front of the Sephora, she liked the make up store..." (Ha, that's my girl! -RR)



"...and then at my desk in Spanish. I tried to zoom out a little bit but the little wiggle worm blurred the other pictures haha."