Sunday School

One of the benefits of being in a CCI 4H club with Haddie are the opportunities presented for outings. A month ago a church contacted our 4H group wondering if a handler and puppy in training could visit their Sunday School class to give a demonstration about training, and a presentation about Service Dogs.

My son volunteered and our day was last Sunday. We traveled a good hour to get to this church, but it was worth the experience for both boy and pup. We left so happy that it went so well, and we certainly felt very welcomed by the entire congregation.

The dozen kiddos ranged from age two to perhaps late elementary years. They were all very polite and well mannered, listening well to my son's presentation, and asking great questions.

Haddie settled in next to my son and showed off some of her trained skills. Haddie recently learned to Roll on command. Starting this trained skill has been hard for Haddie. She learned how to Roll during class time, but did not transfer well to practicing at home. She even went through a phase of  "freaking out" even to get into a cradle! We have slowly worked through the fear to where cradles are no big deals again, and a Roll will be obeyed.

Except that we observed that Haddie would not Roll while wearing her vest last Sunday; in front of all the kids who were expecting her to follow the command. It turned into a good lesson that training is a lot of hard work, and it takes time for the dogs to learn their skills needed by the time their 18 months are up with their Puppy Trainer. And - that we need to continue to work on Roll with vest.

The Sunday School class didn't care, but my son was a little bummed that Haddie would not comply. He kept his cool and kept patience while he waited for her to follow through. She leaned to the side, but it technically was not a roll.

Part of the presentation was learning the Do's and Don'ts of how to react with a Service Dog in Training, and a Graduate. When my son opened up for questions, the students could come pet Haddie and they all "asked" before petting. They were fantastic!!

Haddie was in heaven with the kids' attention. This sweet girl in the white dress was very hesitant about petting Haddie, and didn't speak much. However, once she found her courage and started petting Haddie, she couldn't stop - and then she started saying Haddie's name. It was adorable!! Haddie loved this little girl's lovin'.

To close our time together, the class drew and colored pictures of my son and Haddie. The pictures were darling and my son has put them in his 4H binder as a forever memory.

We met some adults of the church in the foyer before we drove home. They were very encouraging to my son for his service with CCI, and adored Haddie's sweet face and calm demeanor.

Wordless Wednesday

Haddie Explores Another City

My son was the rock star on Mother's Day who explored with Haddie. He was so good about getting her up and over and under things throughout our day. She was worn out by the time we made it to dinner.

There were a lot of stairs. A lot!!  They took it at a variety of paces to be sure that Haddie could keep up without lagging or pulling.

There were bridges to go over with trains, automobiles, or water passing underneath. Haddie did not hesitate to get right to the edge and observe life under the bridge.

There were boxes to climb - over 20 spaced in a row. That really wore her out with the jumping on and off to make it fully across. And then other things to jump on or go up continued her mental and physical exercise.

Shade time equals play time ... and quiet time.

Only the best of water for Miss Haddie - a Starbucks Venti. These pictures are cute because they capture the slobber personality of Haddie around water. My girl got cooled off as well. Haddie was amused at the shriek she let out (all in good fun). Notice the dribbles off Haddie's tongue in the last photo of this series.

Lots of walking and exploring. As my son said multiple times: "I am going to be very sad to say goodbye to Haddie." I agreed and tried to console him that we can start over with a new puppy to continue the fun. He responded truthfully, "I know, but it just won't be the same. She is just SO good and we don't know what we'll get next." 

We are embracing every day of this journey with Haddie.

By dinner time she was t-i-r-e-d!! We lucked out with a booth by the window over looking the water. Haddie did not lick or eat any of the french fry scrapes left behind from the previous diners - she was that tired! Opposite from my movie experience. She immediately got herself in a Down and slept her way through the long dinner (they were so busy!).

The added benefit was that we were seated just outside the kitchen; which I normally can not stand and always ask for a different table. But this time I welcomed the placement as it added more traffic, noise, and distraction to her. When she wasn't sleeping, she was eyeballing the activity in front of her nose, but would not lift her head. Obviously, she was worn out.

The relaxing dinner was the perfect ending of our day with Haddie. It was her first experience in a restaurant, and I was fully intending to ignore my family conversations in order to train and stay focused on her. My family knew in advance and was fine with that. But, I didn't have to!! I actually ignored Haddie due to her amazing response to her new environment.

Haddie explored another city and it was so much fun!! Whether she graduates or has a change of career - she will bless her Forever Family with so much love and good behavior.

What a great Mother's Day; my only one with Haddie. Thanks, Girl!!

Haddie Rides Trains

I had THE best Mother's Day celebration yesterday! The weather was a beautiful 80 degree day which made me whip out my list of places to go that I've been waiting to take Haddie since the day she arrived.

I have always wanted to take her to this town down South that has a light rail transport system through their fun city, but I've always wanted to do it with my hubby the photographer, and my side kick trainers my kiddos. Which meant weekends only. Yesterday was the day!

Haddie got on and off the train with out a problem; she Minded The Gap just fine. She settled into a Sit or Down position as instructed and then did not move. Until the train moved.

She was a little unsure at first - breaking her commands with a stand here and there, but luckily figured out it was much the same as our car and settled into a comfortable ride.

Recently, our Trainer has introduced the small toy feature of training with all of her classes. Apparently once the pups return for Advanced Training they will be getting small toy rewards to break up the food rewards. The idea is that they get a moment to "play" with their tiny toy that lightly squeeks, but does not bounce or go crazy in public. A stress reliever of sorts.

We purchased a lil'monkey and a lil'pig for Haddie's small toy reward and tried it out on the light rail and through out our day yesterday. I had tried this months ago while she was in a vest in public and she wouldn't play, she just sat there and stared at me as if I had lost my mind. Play??? I'm working!!!

Yesterday she got the concept and her tail went crazy with wiggles while she held her toy until I commanded her to Drop it in my hand. I think we both will love this new training feature!

There was a father with his young son that sat directly in front of us, and thankfully Haddie chose to mind her own business and not play with the straps of their backpacks, or their heels in flip flops.

We rode the light rail to the end and then sat while the driver walked to the opposite side of the train to drive us back to where we came from. It was just enough time to get Haddie to settle in and show no signs of worry before choosing to get off at the mid-way point.

The rest of the day was just as fantastic as Haddie showed off her rock star skills of going with the flow and minding her manners as we wandered the city and had dinner at a restaurant. Lots of fun to post on another day as Haddie and I want some Frisbee time in the sun before my piano teaching begins.

Yippppppie ... Haddie Rides Trains!