(VICT) Re: Fw: Progress!
- From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 15:26:04 -0800
Woohoo! You rock?
Aren't those leaps in progress the best? /smile/ Makes all the rest =
worth
it.
Tami Smith-Kinney
-----Original Message-----
From: vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vi-clicker-trainers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Karyn and
Thane
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 2:15 PM
To: Vi-clicker
Subject: (VICT) Fw: Progress!
I meant to send this to you all yesterday and got side-tracked
---
It is really weird. Thane and I have been homebound for three days from =
the
snow. I really was not looking forward to the ten steps backwards that =
he
would take in this reprieve from walking and training. I was quite =
surprised
though when we caught a sun break from the rain this morning. We did =
some
stop and go working due to pulling a bit too hard, but honestly much of =
his
pull was about what I would want it to be for guide work. I had my cane =
with
us, but did not arc it from side to side, just held it straight out for
added safety. Of course I was also using the mini-guide. We did really =
well
considering the break. This was the first time I felt ready to trust my =
dog
enough to not arc my cane back and forth to navigate the path around us. =
As
long as its not raining, the mini-guide can be a great asset for us. =
Thane
stopped at the curb cut for a car that was coming all by himself. Then =
we
crossed the street lickety split. He seems to have the concept down that
streets and driveways we hurry across while otherwise we go at a slower
pace. When we cross that street, there is not a real curb cut. Up until =
now,
I have pretty much showed him the way we need to go by making the turn =
as I
said *Find the Curb* for the driveway entrance. Today I decided to test =
him.
I said *Find the Curb* before even making any subtle direction change =
and
automatically Thane turned to go up the driveway there. Now I know it is
possible its more about knowing what we usually do that made him climb =
up
the driveway entrance, but it is something he has not done without some
movement based direction from me before. It made me really happy. After =
we
crossed the street again further up the road so we could head home, =
Thane
stopped and was looking behind us. I stopped and allowed whatever was
distracting him to pass us by. He did really great. It was someone with
something on wheels I think. I felt some vibration whatever it was. I
thanked Thane and then we carried on. He did not try to get to the =
person to
say hello or show any sign of not being sure about what to do. As we got =
to
the curb cut to head home, the weather began changing. I put the =
mini-guide
away to be on the safe side. Boy was that a good decision as the skys =
opened
up! Even with the poor weather, Thane noticed a running car in a =
driveway
and stopped me before we got to it. He walked really nicely the rest of =
the
way home except for one quick shake on our street before we turned into =
the
complex. He was not wearing a raincoat though so can you blame him? I am
going to have to find or make Thane a coat I think. Its hard to find a =
long
enough one but small enough girth and chest-wise. Ordinarily when we =
turn at
the sidewalk, Thane starts pulling hard to get us home, but he walked a
really nice pace. I can't begin to express the level of pride I was =
feeling
in him and us as a team together. I am sure we will have our tougher =
days
still, as afterall he is in training right now, but it was a glimpse =
into
the future- of where we are headed together- and it just really rocked!
Karyn and Thane
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