(VICT) Re: Our Latest Adventure: Things I am Still Learning
- From: "Gisele Mesnage" <gisele@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:49:45 +1000
Hello Karyn,
Well, I too would like to join An and others in saying how impressed and
inspired I was when I read your posts re your latest exploits with Thane.
It would be hard enough to contemplate doing what you did without sight, but
to think you are also deaf and have other health problems, leaves me in awe.
And you recount your journey so vividly, it's as though I was right there,
though I live in far away Sydney, Australia.
I think you are very courageous, and I have to say that I am also very
impressed by Thane. The team bond and working relationship you have
achieved is exemplary.
I was interested to read your comments and those from Ann about corrections.
Although the importance of "positive reward" was emphasised in my draining
with my guide dog, Katie, I keep being told I'm not correcting the dog
firmly enough. I'll give you an example. Coming out of a park with my dog,
observed by an instructor, Katie started going up some steps without pausing
on the first step. I drew her back and made her do it again, and this time
she paused on the first step. I said "good girl" and we continued on our
way. My instructor said I should have given her a hard check with the lead
too. I didn't say anything, but felt that it would have been unnecessary in
that situation, given Katie does not usually rush up steps. The next day,
we returned to the same park, with the instructor observing. I was so
delighted when Katie paused at the first step on our way out...I wanted to
tell my instructor, "See, she did it, though I didn't give her that hard
check with the lead yesterday".
Anyway, just want to send you both my very best wishes for your ongoing work
and adventures.
Cheers,
Gisele
gisele@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karyn and Thane" <bcpaws4me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Vi-clicker" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 4:14 AM
Subject: (VICT) Re: Our Latest Adventure: Things I am Still Learning
> Thanks Ann
> Your support and encouragement over the years has been so wonderful. You
> always have known what to say and how to say it so it gave me the
> inspiration I needed to add to existing training- or even to pick up the
> pieces and move on.
> Sometimes when we are having our down time after such an excursion, its
> hard
> for me to fathom that the memory is not just a dream; that we really truly
> did that.
> Its hard to believe how quickly he has been transformed from the dog who I
> played bumper cars with to move in unison together just 10 months ago to
> this awesome sidekick. It has been a remarkable journey. I have learned
> lessons in my training of Thane just as I did in training Met- things I
> will
> do differently next time around. Though I am not proud of myself I will
> admit I have had a few lapses here and there were I slipped in a
> correction
> or two before having that duh moment of course where I realized that was
> not
> an appropriate response and it got me no where! Thane has forgiven me and
> we
> moved on back into the right role with clicker training.
> I was invited a couple months ago to join an Oregon Guide Dog list. These
> folks have been great as many have information pertinent to getting around
> on public transportation in my area. I was able to talk with them and
> Mara,
> the owner of Paws to Freedom about how I might best handle things like the
> Max. I was petrified of getting lost in Portland- no I was petrified of
> getting lost any where or getting on Max and being in that much control of
> where my stop was. The changes over the last month really have been
> dramatic
> in me. I forgot what it was like to really take off to parts unknown and
> feel this level of independence through the dog at your side. We have
> travelled to a number of places I have never been before and got home in
> one
> piece. Each adventure has given me that much more confidence to do on my
> own- to be able to truly live rather than just existing in my comfort
> zone.
> Though I have to keep tabs on my own health which sometimes means a slower
> couple weeks after being busy like we have been, these experiences and
> awesome memories will be a part of me forever- even when I am training
> Thane's successor.
> Its been exhilarating having this all come together.
> Service Dog training awaits and to be honest I've dreaded trying to teach
> my
> ball nudger to retrieve. It was hard with Met and he had a good play
> retrieve, but after a wonderful post from Debi on OCAD, I am enthused
> about
> the process that lay ahead for us. Our winter will be busy I am sure with
> all the neat things to learn about being an indoor service dog. Smile
>
> Karyn and Thane
>
>
>
>
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>
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