Saturday, December 17, 2011

Winter Break!

YAY!!! We are on Winter Break!  But...I do have a long list of errands and chores that I need to get done before the holidays, so Ro and I will be heading out a lot.  This is a good thing though, we really do need to practice out in public more.  It seems that we only go to work and home with the occasional field trip if I'm not exhausted.  Things have been a bit more difficult as of late.  Ro is struggling with ignoring food...any type.  I worry about our public access test that is coming up in February so I plan on taking advantage of this break and getting some good training sessions in.  Hopefully we'll be able to meet up with Barb to get more tips and make sure I'm working on things correctly.
We'll let you all know how things are going! :)  Until then, Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Our first basketball game

So Ro and I started coaching basketball mid-November.  Today we had our first game!  We had planned on riding the bus...but transportation neglected to send a disabled one.  Ro and I ended up driving over in our car and then waiting outside for 10 minutes before the girls were able to find someone to open the handicapped entrance on the other side of the school.  I've been coaching for 3 years now, and it can be very frustrating when you have warned the district, transportation and schools that they will need to make accommodations and they neglect to do so.  (ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FREEZING OUTSIDE!!!!-good thing Ro had her booties on)
Anyways, we did end up having a lot of fun.  We didn't win, but the girls did really well.  I think I speak for both of us when we say we were very proud of them!! :)  I was proud of Ro as well.  There was even another service dog there who she did a great job of ignoring when we went past and chatted with for a minute. 
I tend to be very loud at games (shouting plays to the girls and yelling at refs for bad calls-with in reason!!).  Ro looked at me the first time like "You want what?!"  and then I think she realized that I was just going to be loud for awhile and settled down and watched. 
I realized I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I should write down a few of my thoughts about how our partnership is going.  I love having Ro around all the time, it gives me someone to talk to.  She always listens, no matter how many times I tell her about how something is bothering me.  She is really well behaved, but loves food!  The one thing I'm finding is that I really have to keep an eye out for food to make sure she doesn't eat it off the floor.  She does listen to the 'leave' cue, but will take advantage if I'm not paying attention (and don't say 'leave')...she didn't do that before, so I know it's something that I must of taught her not realizing it.  Although I know that is a big problem, and each day we are improving, I think that things will work out just fine for us. I am so grateful at how well she gets along with the kids and know that most dogs couldn't handle the transition.  She does love attention from other people, but most don't pet her (and I've been better about saying 'no') so her wandering has lessened a lot.  She's even been helping Zander learn to walk! It's very cute, she'll walk next to him while he's toddling along.  He just smiles, unless she gets a bit ahead and then her tail whacks him and he usually loses his balance and cries...but then she turns around and gives him kisses.  (Hopefully one day I can get a picture of this!)   For now, here are some pictures I've taken in the last month.



Last week, I had to take a sick day on Friday because I caught 'pink-eye' from the kids at work.  On top of that I had been suffering from a sinus infection and a few other things.  So Ro went with me to my doctors appointment.  IT TOOK FOREVER! While we waited for test results for over 40 minutes we practiced cues.  She even practiced her nursing skills, as evidenced below...haha, jk!  But I was bored, photos seemed appropriate.
 This is Ro on Thanksgiving...poor doggy!  Smelling all that yummy food, but with her sensitive tummy she got her yummy 'Taste of the Wild' dog food with some veggies.