Fun in the Snow

A morning pack walk with some of the Innsbruck dogs. We are having a pretty good storm move through the area, so some of the pictures are a little fuzzy due to all the snow!

Flying Through

Who needs phase 4 anyway? Millie is flying through training and is already to phase 5 this week! I am sure she just wanted to get all her studying done so she could have a blast over the holidays.

Here are the things she has worked on this week:

Phase #4

• Progression of guidework training: more difficult sidewalks in busier sections of downtown areas
• Training on more complex street crossings and curbs
• Obstacle clearance initiated by the dogs; they begin to guide their mobility instructors through the campus obstacle course
• Preliminary obedience testing and evaluation of the dogs' reactions to head collars

Phase #5

• Preliminary guidework testing with the mobility instructor under blindfold
• Complete veterinary history review
• More challenging guidework training environments (pedestrian traffic, stairs, different flooring surfaces, etc.)

I am off today and plan on taking some christmas pictures of the pups, so stay tuned for a holiday update. Wishing a very happy holiday to all the pups and their people!

Phase 3!!

Well I have gotten off-track on posting every day, but of course I had to update about my Millie girl. She is in phase 3 this week, moving right along with her training. Two of her littermates are in phase 7 already, and one brother has been dropped for medical reasons. I am loving watching her go!

Phase #3
Guidework training in quiet residential areas
Frequent rides in the training vans
Introduction to more advanced guidework commands and responses ("Right," "Left," and "Over Here,"); continued training on commands learned in Phase #2
Introduction of curbs and street crossings
Progressive obstacle course training on campus
Continued obedience training
Mall exposure walks
Dog social sessions
Neutering/spaying for those dogs dropped from the breeder-watch list

Week of dogs and cats comes to an end.

Well tomorrow morning my parents return and I am back to just my three puppies! It has been a little exhausting running the house and caring for all the animals, but it has been fun. The last of the cleaning is done and I have set my alarm to pick them up early in the morning at the airport. I will be there, coats in hand, to welcome them back to land of the frozen.

Phase 2

Millie is phase 2 this week!

From the Guide Dogs Website:

• Preliminary obedience training
• Exposure to distractions (toys, food, other dogs, cats, etc.)
• First on-campus workouts with a harness
• Introduction to the BEST program training techniques (including treadmill sessions)
• Sessions to teach guidework-specific commands (such as "Forward," "Halt," "Hopp Up" and "Steady") and the desired responses to the commands
• On leash introduction to the campus obstacle course

The Cat Who Opens Doors

Milo, one of the cats, is finding different ways to amuse himself now that it is much too cold to go outside. Instead of just playing with a toy or hunting mice in the garage, Milo has decided to make it his mission to open any closed door in the house. Taking a shower, why not have the cat come too? Sleeping peacefully at 3am? Not once weird banging sounds and a slowly opening door wake you up. Wanting to keep the cold air OUT of the house? Milo will help (read not) by leaving the garage door open.

So far the only doors he has not been able to open have been the front door and the door where I put masking tap on the handle to keep it from moving. He is one clever boy, and Marley has taken to following him around. Once Milo gets the handle to move and the latch to release Marley will shove his face into the crack and push open the door. This would be how Marley was able to help himself to many treats out in the garage.

They make one naughty duo. Anyone else have pets that work together as partners in crime?

Too Cute Tuesday

Marley has to be one of my favorite subjects for photography. I am always taking pictures of him. He is just so different and unique in every picture (though I could say that about all my dogs): his coloring just works in so many different light/background settings. This is a picture from our morning romp. It was short since it is so cold even Marley was ready to go back inside after 20 min.

Also, are my alt tags still working? Are there ever ones that don't? The way that I put them in is different for PCs and Macs. Just want to make sure everything is up to speed. Thanks!