Ah, for the love of rain. If we loved it that much, we'd wish for it every day. We haven't been doing a lot of wishing, yet the rain keeps coming. What do you do? Track anyway! Sean is water-logged, Mojo stinks like, well, a wet dog, but still the training continues.
This morning was more obedience. Jen and Jeremy are really good about changing things up, but the dogs still understand that they are in their training room. It's a weird environment. They really are different dogs when they are in that room. It's where they grew up. They know the expectations in that room. Transferring those expectations out of the room and from trainer to "parent" is what we're doing. Things are still fantastic. Dad took Mojo to a national chain pet store tonight and the folks coming out of obedience training were floored at Mojo's ability to ignore their dogs. Not a "HA-HA" moment. It was one that made Dad respect the training these dogs have been given even more. Mojo even got a new toy - indestructable - to celebrate.
Tracking? RAIN (again)! Mom lead the track with Grandma as a trailer so she could see the process. A different classmate (again, THANK YOU!) hid with Sean so that we could isolate the scent of Sean even more. Things continued to improve. Moisture, believe it or not, really enhances tracking. Skin cells stay moist, so they keep giving off scent. Mojo had little problem.
The afternoon was an at-your-need session at the mall. We spent the majority of our time going up and down stairs. Sean handled them with Mojo and without the use of a handrail. YEAH! He did an up-and-down set with both Mom and Dad. Both sets were (nearly) flawless. We will continue to work on this. The new harness is an adjustment (it's a rigid, leather harness with a handle) and Sean has to learn that he cannot let go, but he is quick on the pick-up. He's learning that Mojo is there, even when railings are not.
We are startled that we have but TWO days left. It has crawled by at the same pace that it has flown. There are so many questions. There is confidence that we share. Thankfully, we know we have a great support network through both 4Paws and waiting for us at home.
HOME. That's a funny word these days. We love where we live, we love what everyone has been to us and done for us. We hope we have been and will be able to give back to you all in equal measure. The 4Paws families that we are associated with has, also, become just that, HOME. Everyone gives. We are a family and will be forever. While our hometown is truly HOME, so is a little building in Xenia, OH. So are all the people involved. There need be no place to hang a hat. It's who people are. We're very thankful for so many giving, caring people. YOU ARE OUR HOME!
Thank you all, again, so very much.
Sleep comes slowly, so this writer must start soon. G'night.
This is a very interesting observation, which I guess we didn't consider when we were in Xenia back in August, that the dogs are so obedient in that room. And how you are bound to your classmates for eternity. They get you, they know your life, they know the stares of the regular society and they know the hope you have for your dog. We will be going back, our first dog, Emma never learned to alert to seizure, and became more anxious at school. We have now adopted her after she flunked evaluation. I cannot imagine another 2 weeks at 4 Paws, but we will be ready for the exhaustion and the bonding with other special needs famlies. I hope your journey home is safe, and your dog does what you need.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sally, Margs mom, www.margaretstrip.blogspot.com