December Report Card

In the hurry of the Christmas Season I forgot to post the latest report card for Kolby! It arrived just before Christmas.

Kolby continues to do well in school, adding more stores to his list of college field trips (Home Depot and Target, again) and I am just very thankful that he visited both stores many, many times during his months with us. In fact, Home Depot was one of his first stores to visit as a puppy. I remember carrying him through the first time, then progressing to having him walk a few aisles, and then eventually he walked the entire store; every nook and cranny on several trips just for the sake of having something to do indoors during the rainy days.

The trainer continues to work with Kolby on confidence issues and I am dying to know how bad it is - apparently not so horrific that a phone call is warranted to come pick him up; but at the same time it continues to be on his report.

I wouldn't say that I am surprised, as he tended to find ways to show his lack of enthusiasm while working continuously on the same things over and over. That I get. But when learning a new task with us, he always seemed up for the learning. He seemed to perk up and get excited about working and be eager to succeed. The trainer does not give specifics as to how and what Kolby is showing in forms of this behavior, so it is hard to tell if this is a new college behavior, or the same things I noticed, in the same way I noticed it, during Puppy Raising.

The overall report and the items he is learning are all advancing at a good pace - with only the positive behavior boxes marked and nothing marked in the "needs improvement" category for behavior. Overall, Kolby continues to shine and I rest in confidence that Canine Companions will know when it is time to come home, or find his Forever.

As a side note, I want to share an editorial I wrote for our Chapter's newsletter. I want to remember this moment as part of Kolby's story. The opening scenario of the phone call happened just last Monday:

My phone was sitting on the arm of the couch in the adjoining room while I started to dish up the spaghetti dinner. It began to sing my ring tone when my son jumped sideways to read the caller identification. With a look of panic in his eyes and a swift grab of the phone he yelled, "707 - it's Santa Rosa!!" 

I am not sure how I literally flew through the air to grab the ring before it went to voice mail, but I did. Adding my calm tone to the caller, as my family came huddling into the kitchen, was a magnificent feat. I was expecting James, but instead was greeted in return by a female voice. 

I lost a bit of the conversation as I was trying to play my own scenario in my head ... it's still the holidays so James could be out of town, maybe this person makes the calls anyway, I wonder if Kolby is sitting in her office staring at her, willing his expressive eyes to convey that he just wants to come home ... 

I eventually snapped back to the conversation to find that none of my scenarios were true. This was strictly a business related call, it had nothing to do with my Mister on campus. Once I figured that out, I literally began to shake. I am not sure why. Was I shaking because I so desperately want to know his final answer and this was going to be the moment, or was I shaking because thank goodness this wasn't the final answer. 

I am curious if all, or just a few, Puppy Raisers have a hint of wanting their puppy to return to their home once they leave for college. I know what we all set forth to raise puppies for graduates, but we are also human and we all know how to quickly fall in love with the puppies we raise. 

I have a graduate; I know the sure beam of pride that comes with sitting next to the recipient of your puppy, I know the pinch-me-moment that comes with seeing your puppy for the first time in a blue vest, I know the lifetime connections that are made with a new family that holds a piece of your heart at the end of their leash. I know that wanting your puppy home is real, but I also know that gifting your puppy a life of service is a miraculous adventure that I wouldn't trade for anything. 

My amazing, fellow Chapter member, Susan, shared this wisdom with me recently; "I've always said every dog has their destiny, wanting to find out what that destiny is, is by far the hardest part of puppy raising." This is truth. And I wouldn't exchange the journey for any other way. 

I learned that I can fly to the phone in less than two seconds when the area code shows 707, and I will do it again and again in anticipation for the caller's information on the other end. The journey of volunteering for Canine Companions for Independence is certainly a gift I cherish. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Love, Kolby

My favorite Christmas Card came today. Our sweet Kolby looks so much like himself it makes me beam that he is truly happy and in his element of working hard, finding plenty of attention, and feeling the love.

There are just over twenty dogs in College who are all at the same level of training. They were all born around the same time frame and started college on the same day. There are a number of trainers who are then responsible for training their "string" or "team" of dogs. Kolby's trainer is Amanda and she has the responsibility of teaching the dogs all the wisdom that college has to offer, evaluating their progress, and writing the monthly reports that go to each of the Puppy Raisers on her team. That is just the surface level, short description, of how this works, because I know in "real life" it is a very complex system of running an elite school to train service dogs.

If Kolby continues to work well and is on schedule, he will Graduate in February!! It is less than two months away and I can't wait to wrap my arms around him while he's wearing his official working blue vest and tell him how proud I am of him.

Merry Christmas!!

Second Semester

The day before Thanksgiving brought us another report on College Boy Kolby. The check marks continue in all the positive boxes and Kolby continues to hold off on getting check marks in the behavior boxes that need improvement. So in a nutshell, he is working really well on campus. I am very pleased. 

He continues with his same trainer, Amanda, and this is what she typed about the specifics of Kolby: 

"This month we have introduced the tug and step commands and Kolby is doing well in training. He continues to show some insecurity during training, but we are working on this. Kolby is attentive to his handler and gives good eye contact throughout his training sessions. On field trips Kolby is calm and is well behaved in public. We have started to generalize known commands in the wheelchair and he is retrieving several different items. Kolby continues to play well with other dogs and loves to snuggle with his handler during grooming sessions."

I don't know any additional information about the insecurity mentioned, but I wish I did since it has appeared in his last two reports. I wonder what it is that he is doing which gives the trainer signs that he is insecure. I'm not too surprised, but I am curious. If he is asking to leave college early, then he better step it up a notch because the rest of his report shows signs that they feel he can make it.   

If he continues to stay, I wonder if this is a sign that he will be asked to wait an additional three months to graduate; which is what Haddie chose to do. If the trainers feel that a dog has the strong potential to graduate, but they need some minor fine tuning before graduating - then the trainer will opt to keep the dog for extra months until the next rotation of graduation. 

The life of a Puppy Raiser at this stage is a lot of hurry-up and wait. Every time I get a report it feels like Christmas morning, unwrapping the first gift to see what is inside. And then when it is revealed, the wait continues for that next gift - but unlike Christmas, you have to wait an entire month. 

It will be fun to see what transpires in the next two report cards, but from this Puppy Raiser's view, we are getting soooo close to February!!  I can't wait to see if we get a phone call or a letter to enter Team Training. 

Missing you, Kolby, but I am so proud of your report cards. If you want to come home, I suggest you just let it be known (politely, of course) because I think we all know you can make it!! Be confident and finish strong. LOVE YOU!

Match Call Anniversary

A year ago today, my friend treated me to a yummy lunch at John Howie Steak. She had made a purchase of a gift card to this restaurant from our Canine Companions' Auction that October. During that lunch I received THE call from James that Haddie had made a final match with Sharon. This is the call that I had hoped would happen since the moment we picked up Haddie at the airport in August 2011. I was literally shaking with excitement, my friend had to hold the paper steady so I could keep writing all the details about Sharon that James was sharing. We would leave two days later for Santa Rosa to see Haddie again, and to meet Sharon and her family.

The start of an incredible new chapter. I am so very thankful.

October's College Update

Another month under Kolby' collar and we have a college report card for October. Kolby continues to be a start student with only the positive behavior boxes marked and zero boxes marked in the "negative" or "needs improvement on" categories. He is solid and that makes me happy that he is thriving.

Here are the words stated by his Trainer Amanda:

This month we have introduced the wheelchair to Kolby and he is doing well in training. He continues to be easy to motivate and progress with commands. However, Kolby has started to show a lack in confidence when being introduced to new commands, but we are working on raising his confidence with more praise. Kolby continues to be distracted at times, but can be redirected with a verbal correction. On another field trip to Target, Kolby was attentive to his handler and was easy to manage throughout the entire trip. Kolby loves to play fetch in the yard and has a good recall. 

In speaking with our Contract Trainer about the confidence issue, she assured me that Kolby received an excellent report and that most dogs lose a bit of confidence when they are taught new things. And considering the volume of new things he is learning, it is to be expected. However, once they get it, the confidence goes back up. And knowing Kolby as well as I do, if they up their Praises, he no doubt will bounce back. He is all about himself and getting as much attention as possible from his Handler. HA!

And all those adventures to Target and like-stores when we were together proves that practicing outings with your puppy has definite perks for them in college.

My heart did a little flutter when I read that he loves to play fetch in the yard because it means that he is getting his happy-place moments while in College. He loved, loved, loved to play fetch any moment we would offer it to him. I can just see him showing his joy on campus anticipating that next toss of the ball; his super long tongue hanging sideways, his extra long ears bouncing to his panting, and those eyes, his eyes that melt every. single. person. when he is keyed up on bliss. Sigh. Very happy Puppy Raiser.

There is about a week delay from the time the reports are written and the time the Puppy Program Manager has collected them all for distribution to the appropriate Puppy Raiser. So, the disclaimer is always; at the time of this writing, this is what we are finding about Kolby. I am good with that, because Canine Companions will always work diligently at correcting negative behavior with a puppy in training, however, they are also equally as diligent in taking responsibility in listening to and watching every puppy if they show signs that they do not want a working life. Not every puppy wants to work, therefore, every puppy gets a choice.

As of this writing, Kolby is choosing to stay and continue his focus. I would love to fast forward and see where he is in 6 months. What life did he choose?

We love you, KOLBY!!!  We are so very proud of every day that you are on campus learning.

Two Months

Today marks the Two Year Month mark of Kolby spending his first night on campus. Puppy Raising aside, I can't believe we are already well into the month of October!! The year is flying by and at this rate, I should start packing my bags for a February Graduation because that is how quickly these months are cruising.

This photo makes me smile. Taken October 18, 2013 ... just short of a year ago, when I had a mini photo shoot with the puppies because they put themselves here and I told them both to Stay while I fetched my dying camera. The quality didn't turn out the best, but I love the picture anyway.

Let's study this picture for a bit as the memories flood back. Kolby was only a 9 monther and at this age he was very rambunctious. To the point of getting help via a long phone call with our Contract Trainer who walked me through some ideas on how to curb his Alpha status that had somehow polluted his thoughts that it was a good idea to control the two-leggeds.

Cora was 8 years old at the time and had started slowing down on the topic of all-things-Mister. She was more fond of Kolby when he arrived, than when Haddie arrived. But by October, she was d.o.n.e. with him. I couldn't really blame her. Look at her eyes - it kind of says it all; "I got in here without thinking." and "Please take your photo quickly, I'd like to escape." and "Why is he holding my paw behind the corner of the bed?" 

All the while Kolby's look says, "I'm sorry. For everything."

At the moment I was worried if he would even make it to Turn In, but with the persistence of Team Kolby, he outgrew his thoughts of being Alpha, and realized that taking second position wasn't so bad. He thrived the remainder of his training, and continues to enjoy College Life as of this typing.

As for Cora and Kolby's relationship - he slowed way down with her and the two were able to pal-around and enjoy time together before he left for Santa Rosa. Cora liked him, and Kolby was thrilled, but played it cool.

Miss ya', Mister!! Thanks for all the stressful memories that got you to where you are today. For without them, it just wouldn't have been your story. Kisses and Love. 

First Report!!

I was sitting on the couch waiting for my daughter to get off the bus, watching my son make a cheese quesadilla while texting my best puppy raising friend, when the text read I just got Helaine's Report!  This was shocking news only because it was coming an entire week ahead of schedule. Dashing to my computer as my daughter was walking into the house, I didn't see an email from Canine Companions. Refreshing like crazy produced the same result. Nothing.

Fast forward 60-minutes and we were walking back into the house from a dental appointment for my daughter knowing that the email had been sent, but the report document is not readable on a phone unless you have a certain app which I do not have; we could not wait to read the news.

The news was good. He is showing his Instructor all the knowledge of Basic Commands that he learned while with us, and he is learning new Advanced Commands from her of Retrieve, Hold, and Push. All the positive selections had been marked, with no negative selections made, so far so good. I jumped down to the free-write that his Instructor Amanda had shared:

Kolby has completed all his medical and behavioral evaluations and is settling into the kennels nicely. He is easy to motivate and gives good eye contact during training. Kolby is a quick learner and is responsive to his handler. Kolby does get distracted at times, but he can be easily redirected. On his first field trip to Barnes and Nobles, Kolby did very well and was confident throughout the entire trip. During play time, Kolby plays well with other dogs and is easy to manage. 

In shock, I continued to read it a few times. I had always classified him as needing me, and not to sound boastful, but it was evident by many that Kolby had attached himself to me during his 18-months with us. What I had thought would mean a "Oh, this sleepover has been fun, but I'm ready to return home now..." had not happened and his view of kennel life and school was fitting him well his first month.

I can't pretend that I wasn't a little in disbelief for this aspect of the report. The "can be distracted, but easily redirected" was no surprise. I was truthful in sharing that feature on his monthly reports from me to Canine Companions throughout our months together. Kolby takes in the world - he has to know what's up, and not in a fearful way, but in a confident way that says he's ready for anything to come his way to handle. But offer him his name and he's back in tune with his handler.

So there I sat, the first report complete. The first moment fading of opening the document and reading it for the first time and feeling the pull towards being in the same room as Kolby, and wanting it to return repeatedly to feel that connection again. The wait returns ... his second report will come in another thirty days.

I am so proud of Kolby. No matter if he decides to leave college before Graduation, he made it his first month on solid ground. I am so proud of him. What a great accomplishment for a puppy who I thought needed me. I am glad that he is flying solo and enjoying his college experience.

Love you, Kolby.