Hello all,
Diamond and I have been quite busy, since I recently started a job as a
Linguist with the federal government. It unfortunately has nothing to do
with dog training, but it's interesting and keeps me challenged. Also, I
get to put my PHD to good use, which helps me feel better about the
student loans I've acquired over the years.
Anyway, I sort of played with the idea of writing a book early in 2016,
but never took it very far. I want to write in-depth about how to form
connections with our canine partners via non-visual means. I think that
people rely so much on vision to train that it becomes almost a crutch,
both for the dog and the handler.
My problem is that I need to work with a few dogs that have minimal
training on them to use as case studies. Diamond wouldn't be ideal for
this because, well, she's trained and already is strongly bonded to me.
Even dogs with training that are new to me would work fine, if I can
find any.
If anyone knows of a breeder or rescue who would be willing to foster
out dogs for 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the dog, or if anyone on this
list would like free board and train for a dog, I'd appreciate some
leads. I'm willing to work the dog for no charge, and I use balanced
training methods. All I ask is that owner pays for transportation to me.
I have a good ground transporter I can arrange, so no airline shipping
is necessary.
I can provide references upon request. I will of course check with local
rescues, but since I know many of you on this list, I thought I'd give
you all first crack at this. I rarely offer free training, but since I
am needing dogs to use for the book I want to write, I am willing to do
so for a short period of time.
Take care,
Shanna Stichler, PHD, GDMI, IACP #7565
and Diamond v Heulenluft, CGCA, CDX, APR1, Working Guide Dog for the Blind.
