Sunday, June 7, 2020

I've got a cautious nature. While I'm willing to try new things, I tend to investigate before I join in. I am learning that the world around me is exciting as Mom introduces me to it. When I learn a behavior, I learn it for the situation in which it was taught. So if I learn to sit when Mom says sit, and we're in the family room, with mom sitting in a chair, Mom must teach me in other situations that Sit means Sit, in all situations. To do this, I need to go many places and learn each new thing in those places. It's a long slow process, but as I learn more, I'm finding I'm able to take my new skills places and not need as much instruction in those places as I've needed in the past.

Climbing a loose dirt pile for new tactile sensations.

To help me learn, we are walking around the neighborhood on a regular basis. Mom helps me explore things I'm not so sure about, like slides, signs, benches, picnic tables, dirt piles. and what ever else we find that I should investigate.

 Under the picnic bench. Going under to chairs and tables is an essential Service Dog skill

Paws up on a light post

I'm afraid of cars and trucks. I get nervous and anxious about them, so Mom is helping me get past that. Today I spent time sniffing a truck, looking for my scent box and eating treats off the truck. I wasn't scared until the doors were opened today. I thought Mom might make me get in and go to the vet. She didn't! I was allowed to approach and retreat at my pace, eat treats or not, sniff for my box or not. It made me feel better about the truck. Mom says it will take me on all sorts of adventures, like to the lake for water play, swimming and kayaking, to play dates, to see friends. and camping, not just to the vet. She also told me she will spend as much time as it takes to acclimatize me to cars and car rides, so I'll have fun and enjoy it.

The pictures in this post were all found within walking distances of our house.

Nick investigating the truck 

Hi, I'm Nick

Nick on Gotcha Day, February 22, 2020 

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Hi, My name is Nick and I'm a Service Dog Candidate, learning the things I need to know to be a Service Dog. There's a lot. Mom says the journey is like going from Kindergarten to getting the Doggie equivalent of a Ph.D. I turned six months old yesterday and am a blue Standard Poodle. I live with my mom, and my big sister, Pau. She's a Great Pyrenees, and doesn't like to play near as much as I do.

Nick and Pau

Right now, I'm somewhere in grade school. I have a lot of learning ahead, and I'm building the foundations for what I will need to know, and it's home schooling to boot because learning options have been limited for me due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

I moved in with Mom when I was 10 weeks old and have been on a steep learning curve from the beginning. Like all dogs and kids, I need to learn how to behave at home, on walk, going places, and during grooming. Mom assures me I will be going on many adventures, and I cannot wait. I'm also told that most of the fun will start after the threats from the virus are no longer a threat to Mom's health.

Meeting My Friend Daisy at her most recent Agility Trial. 

The first few months I was with mom, we spent working on foundation skills that will help me learn the more advanced skill. Mom says it's learning to add, subtract, multiply and divide before learning advanced calculus.

I'm being taught using force free training. Mom says it's better for me and I'll learn better. I don't know, I just know that what ever I'm learning and where ever we are, it's fun! I get to work for things, food, toys, games, play. I don't get yelled at or harmed in any way.

Practicing Zen with treats on my paws. 

So far I've learned Touch, Sit, Down, Take, Hold, Give (or as Mom says, thank you), Zen (leave it), Focus (eye contact with Mom), Off, Potty on cue, handling for grooming, and a  bunch of stuff that has to do with dealing with the world around me. It's a lot for a little guy, but it's all FUN!