Happy Thanksgiving

Reminder: I will be out of the office beginning Monday, November 21.  I will return to the office on Monday, November 28.  Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, staff numbers will be down over the next week.  If you have a medical emergency, please call the office at 740-833-3700 and ask to speak with Sara Miller, kennel supervisor. 

Urgent need of a puppy cape is never classified as an emergency.   In the rare circumstance there is a life and death decision that needs to be made, please defer to your veterinarian.  CCI will support your veterinarian's decision.  For procedures that are not life and death, puppy raisers should contact CCI the next business day. 

Puppy Training Challenge:  The bed command is a wonderful command to teach so that holidays like Thanksgiving can be more controlled.  Teaching the puppy to go to a specific spot and remain there allows the puppy to learn self control and to settle.  Instead of the puppy milling around underneath the dining room table while you eat Thanksgiving dinner, the puppy can be on its bed in a controlled position.  Self control is extremely important for an assistance dog.  Begging is never appropriate.  Puppies that don't have the self control to stay on a bed should be crated. 

Puppy Raising Tip:  Giving Thanks

On November 12 CCI welcomed 26 new dogs into Advanced Training.   If it weren't for the dedication of our volunteers, the mission of CCI would not be possible.   Thank you puppy raisers for all your hard work.  If you were a fly on the wall the first week of turn in, then you would hear the many thanks from the trainers for the well trained and socialized dogs they are evaluating.

You can hear trainers say "Thank You" for:

• Dogs that don't play keep away.
• Dogs that don't beg or try to grab food harshly out of your hand.
• Dogs that look to their handler instead of chasing the cat or other small animals.
• Dogs that sit calmly for nail trimming and allow cradling.
• Dogs that offer commands willingly without the need of food, pushing, or begging to get the dog to perform.
• Dogs that look to their handler in general.
• Dogs that understand the difference between heel and side.
• Dogs that understand the difference between up, jump, and under.
• Dogs that sit and wait to be released for food.
• Dogs that know they are never allowed to jump on a person.
• Dogs that walk nicely on leash.
• Dogs that are of appropriate weight.
• Puppy raisers that have returned at least half of the required progress reports.
• Puppy raisers that never allow the puppy off leash unless in an enclosed yard.
• etc.
• etc.
• etc.

There are lots of things for which CCI trainers are thankful, but they are most thankful for the commitment puppy raisers put forth.  The trainers know that puppy raisers are not professional trainers, and sometimes life happens that makes puppy raising harder, but the trainers are thankful that you have taken time out of your busy lives to assist in making it possible to place exceptional dogs with exceptional people.

Have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager

New Turn in dogs getting to know each other.

Halloween Fun

Reminder: The next graduation and matriculation ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 11:00am at the Dublin Recreation Center in Dublin, OH. For puppy raisers of dogs returning for Advanced Training, please have medical paperwork returned by Friday, November 4, 2011.

Puppy Training Challenge: Halloween night, when the trick or treaters are roaming your neighborhood, have the puppy you are raising practice crate time. Please do not have the puppy greet every ghost, goblin, and fairy princess that rings your bell. Distracted puppy raisers, can create distracted CCI puppies. Halloween should be fun, not scary. Would you like to be forced to enter a haunted house? Remember forcing a puppy that is showing fear into a situation, will only make the fear worse. Please contact CCI if the puppy shows any fear.

Puppy Raiser Tip:
Socialization is about building positive associations and confidence. Exposing the puppy to novel sounds, people, and items will help set the puppy up for success. Puppy raising, as you are all aware, takes commitment, focus, and patience. Training sessions should be deliberate and focused on the puppy. The puppy raiser should always be aware of what the puppy is doing and how it is reacting, especially when in public. The younger the puppy is, the more focus should be on the puppy. Timing and consistency are of the utmost importance in being successful in raising an assistance dog.

Puppy raising should be fun for both puppy raiser and puppy. A successful puppy raiser will develop a relationship that is based on mutual understanding. I know what you are doing, and you know what I am doing. If human and dog are on separate pages, a working relationship is not possible.

Below you will find some examples from CCI's annual puppy class Halloween party emphasizing relationship building, learning, and building confidence.

Remote control with balloon 

 

Michael King (Apprentice Instructor) dressed as a utility worker

One of CCI's resident exotic animals

Climbing Halloween decoration with scary sounds

 

Teaching "sit" on novel surfaces

 

Teaching body awareness

 

Fun Halloween decorations blowing in the wind

Control around small animatronic animals

 

Commands on grated surfaces

 

More novel surfaces

Exposing the puppy to movement and strange sounds

Have a very fun and safe Halloween.  Remember common sense is our friend.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen

Puppy Program Manager

Welcome to the Puppy Raising Tip blog of the North Central Region of Canine Companions for Independence®. This new format will allow CCI staff greater opportunities to share information about raising a CCI puppy. Puppy raisers can look forward to more pictures and videos to help explain CCI's training expectations. The goal of the puppy raising tips is to assist and connect with puppy raisers on a consistent basis with commonly asked questions and behavioral problems.

You will find that there is no comment section for the blog. Please email me or call the center to get assistance with any questions, concerns, or issues you are having with raising the CCI puppy.

Due to regional differences these puppy tips are intended specifically for puppy raisers of the North Central Region. This blog is not to be shared with anyone outside of CCI. Please DO NOT post this blog to any social networking sites. If the content of this blog is posted or shared, CCI will be forced to discontinue this blog. Questions about sharing puppy tips should be directed to Suzanne Sliclen, Puppy Program Manager for the North Central Region.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen