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.