WITH A BIT OF LUCK I CAN COPY AND PASTE MY WAY OUT OF THE DAILY DOGGIE.... AS I AM SERENADED WITH THE SOUND OF GAGGING DANES... NOW MORIAH...
I THINK KENNEL COUGH IS AIRBORNE-- I KNOW IT IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.
WE HAVE 2 STEVENS AND BUD HERE KEEPING US OPEN WITH THE TRACTORS.. MARIA HAS ARRIVED -- WITH GULES
THE ICE IS BRUTAL-- BRING A PAIR OF ICE PICK SLIP ONS FOR YOUR FEET... IT IS AWFUL...
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Hi Carlene!
It is great being close to sdp again! The support system and amazing community that is part of your program is just amazing! I don't know what I would do without the support that Megan has so graciously offered us. From panicked texts being promptly answered even though she is not at work to that boost of confidence that "you did not break your dog". I find that when your massive dog accompanies you in public and everyone is looking at you can really be a challenge when the occasional off day happens. Regardless if it is my "off" day or his :-) I am not perfect and neither is he and that is why it IS perfect! I wish that so many more people knew what is was like to have a community of people where strangers become friends and lives are changed for the better all while eating ice cream sitting by a fire in a quaint town called Ipswich. Imagine how much easier life would be for so many people if only there was the true sense of community and caring and support that is found with SDP with so many other things in life. We really find that this place is another home for us. Harry and I are doing really well and he just loves his play time in this crazy snow that we have been getting. I was thrilled when we were out at dinner with friends and after two hrs. someone at a different table said I had no idea that there was a DOG here! it is like accomplishing a feat of magic to make something that big disappear. We were asked if we would consider visiting a hospital in boston where an employee said that they have a therapy dog but that dog is very in your face and comes off to strong for some people. She said Harry being so laid back and calm that he would be a nice change. We are working on plans to visit a Marine who is in a nursing home in boston goo and I am sure that everyone there will love this guy. Now we are off to await this new storm coming in and see if it still remains threatening to be a blizzard.
stay warm!!! -Beth and Harry
It is great being close to sdp again! The support system and amazing community that is part of your program is just amazing! I don't know what I would do without the support that Megan has so graciously offered us. From panicked texts being promptly answered even though she is not at work to that boost of confidence that "you did not break your dog". I find that when your massive dog accompanies you in public and everyone is looking at you can really be a challenge when the occasional off day happens. Regardless if it is my "off" day or his :-) I am not perfect and neither is he and that is why it IS perfect! I wish that so many more people knew what is was like to have a community of people where strangers become friends and lives are changed for the better all while eating ice cream sitting by a fire in a quaint town called Ipswich. Imagine how much easier life would be for so many people if only there was the true sense of community and caring and support that is found with SDP with so many other things in life. We really find that this place is another home for us. Harry and I are doing really well and he just loves his play time in this crazy snow that we have been getting. I was thrilled when we were out at dinner with friends and after two hrs. someone at a different table said I had no idea that there was a DOG here! it is like accomplishing a feat of magic to make something that big disappear. We were asked if we would consider visiting a hospital in boston where an employee said that they have a therapy dog but that dog is very in your face and comes off to strong for some people. She said Harry being so laid back and calm that he would be a nice change. We are working on plans to visit a Marine who is in a nursing home in boston goo and I am sure that everyone there will love this guy. Now we are off to await this new storm coming in and see if it still remains threatening to be a blizzard.
stay warm!!! -Beth and Harry
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Good morning all! Ebony is slowly finding her place. She is sweet and gentle,. She has aced two doctor's appointments so far, and loves the snow! She does pant excessively in the car, We will work on that.
She had a little tummy upset (new food, I suppose), but has a hell of an appetite! Got to get her to slow down.
She's learning the kitchen is off limits when I'm cooking. She is indifferent to the cats and they don't seem to mind her at all.
All good things will come with patience and gentle reinforcement, and David has to be more assertive! We look forward to more training with Megan, et al. But this darn snow is keeping us indoors more than we would like...see you as soon as we can get down there...
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THEN ONLINE WE HAD SOMEONE WHO MADE A COMMENT ABOUT HOW SHE HAS ONLY SEEN 40 MINUTES OF TRAINING SINCE THE ARENA CAMERA WENT LIVE... AND THEN COMMENTED ON MY GIVING SOME PUPS AWAY WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERV DOGS.
SO I ANSWERED....
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NO-- YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL-- THESE DOGS ARE NOT "TRAINED" HERE-- THEY GET IN THE VAN AND GO TO OTHER HEATED AND AIRCONDITIONED PLACES BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS.. AND I BEG YOUR PARDON... I TRAIN...MARIA TRAINS.. AND MEGAN-- THAT IS 3 BY MY COUNT.. PLUS THE 3 YOUNG GIRLS ARE NOT BAD WITH THE YOUNGSTERS... GULI-- LAURA-SMILEY BETTER THAN ALOT OF ADULTS I HAVE INTERVIEWED.
SO FEW DOGS BECOME SERVICE DOGS??? OUR % OF SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS OUT OF OUR PUPS HAS BEEN MORE THAN TWICE THE % OF MOST OF THE OTHER ADI TRAINING FACILITIES...
AND I WILL NOT PUT A DOG OUT AS A SERVICE DOG IF I HAVE THE SLIGHTEST RESERVATION ABOUT THIER HEALTH AND STABILITY... THEY BECOME PETS... SORRY-- THESE ARE NOT MANUFACTURED WIDGETS.. EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT... ALL ONE HAS TO DO TO GET PLACED AS A PET IS TO PACE... AND THEY ARE OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD EVEN PICK THAT UP ON CAMERA...
AND
I DON'T JUST GIVE THEM AWAY--- PEOPLE WHO GET ONE OF OUR DOGS HAVE WORKED HERE FOR MANY HOURS-- AND EARNED A PUP BY HELPING THE OTHERS TO BECOME SERVICE DOGS.
I HAVE NOT LOST FOCUS-- BUT IF YOU THINK WE NEED TO TROT AROUND IN CIRCLES TO TRAIN A DOG YOU ARE MISTAKEN-- I DO MOST OF MY TYPE TRAINING SITTING AT MY DESK WITH ONE PUP AT MY FEET... I DO NOT ALWAYS GET TO TURN THE CAMERA AROUND... SORRY... WE ARE VERY BUSY AND I DO MY BEST TO GIVE THE CP'S A PRETTY REAL PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON... BUT I AM FOCUSED ON THE DOG-- NOT SOME PERSON WHO IS NEW TO DOG TRAINING
PROOF? HAVE YOU ANY IDEA OF THE SIZE OF MY GAS BILL FOR RUNNING 3 VEHICLES BACK AND FORTH TO THE MALLS AND HOSPITALS???
WHY SHOULD WE WALK AROUND IN THE COLD WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS FOR DOGS IN TRAINING..
FINE ----YOU COME WALK AROUND THE ARENA IN 17 DEGREES..
NOT ME.
BASICALLY LOOK AT THE END PRODUCT..