Stairway To CCI

Reminder:   Facts on the release dog procedure:

• Puppy raisers have first choice of adopting the dog they raised if released from the program.
• Puppy raisers can suggest a close friend or family member that helped with the raising process to adopt the dog.  Final decision is made by CCI.
• Anyone other than the puppy raiser adopting a dog must pay the $500 adoption fee. Puppy raisers do not negotiate this fee with potential adopters.
• For friends and family who would like to adopt a puppy, interested parties should fill out an application prior to the dog entering Advanced Training. 
• There are close to 200 people on the release dog waiting list.  This list includes other puppy raisers families, graduate families, donors, VIPs and many others closely related to CCI along with the general public.   It is CCI's responsibility to find and approve potential homes for release dogs.  There are many wonderful families waiting for a release dog.

Puppy Training Challenge:  "Side" the forgotten command.  The "side" command tells the dog to sit on the right side of the handler.  Many puppy raisers naturally work the dog on their left side, but remember you do have a right side.  A CCI puppy should be proficient at all commands whether they are on the handlers left or right side.  The puppy training challenge for this week is to work the puppy exclusively on your right.

Example of a puppy raiser with the puppy she is raised in "side: position.

Puppy Raising Tip:     STAIRS
Stairways are dangerous. I think at some point we have all fallen down a flight of steps. I'm probably one of the reasons why baby walkers are frowned upon.  That's right, I fell down about 17 steps in a baby walker. Wearing heels for the first time, I fell down a flight of stairs heading to prom (another wonderful high school memory). We've all taken that awkward step and hit the step just wrong almost sending us head over heel down to the bottom. Even with the greatest of balance, sometimes accidents happen. CCI doesn't want a CCI dog to be the reason for a bad fall.

It is extremely important for CCI puppies to learn to traverse steps and stairways safely. 

What it should look like:

• The CCI puppy should be parallel (in proper let's go position) to the handler on either the handler's left or right side.
• The CCI puppy should not lag behind or forge ahead of the person.
• If the handler stops on a step the puppy should not curl in front blocking the person from moving forward.
• The CCI puppy should never try to change sides from in front or behind while climbing a stairway.
• The CCI puppy should maintain the same speed as its handler. If the handler goes slow, the puppy should go slow.
• The CCI puppy should never hop, lunge or rush at any point on the stairs.
• The CCI puppy should walk right beside the handler as if walking on flat ground.

Teaching:

• Have the puppy on leash.
• Put a treat at the puppies nose and take one step. Reward, then take another step.
• Reward on each step until you reach the top.
• Keep the puppy's attention on the handler by using food as the handler descends the steps. 
• Reward frequently for the puppy's attention on the handler.
• If the puppy moves ahead, stop and make the puppy come back to the handlers side.
• Once the puppy masters walking nicely up and down the steps with attention on the handler, begin to increase/decrease speed.
• Running with the a puppy in a stairwell is not necessary. Walking slowly, is a more practical practice.
• Practice stopping every couple of steps. Remember the puppy should not curl in front of the handler or shy behind.
  
• Be aware of any tension on the leash. Puppy raisers should not feel like they are holding the puppy back.
• When climbing stairs, the leash should always be loose.
• If the puppy is fearful of stairs, please contact CCI.

Your task as a puppy raisers is to socialize the puppy to different stairways:
Open sided stairs
Stairs you can see through
Carpeted steps
Grated steps
Wood steps
Slanted steps
Basement steps
Steep steps
Low steps
Dark dungeon like steps
Narrow steps

Manners on stairs for our graduates is critical. A dog can be released from the program if they are dangerous on steps. Even though many of our graduates use wheelchairs, many of them also walk. The ability to safely climb stairs is required by all graduating dogs. Puppy raisers should take every opportunity they can to practice safe stairway etiquette. 

For some puppy raisers the home they live in maybe lacking in stairways. Puppy raisers that don't have access to stairs on a regular basis should visit establishments with stairs. It may be necessary to ask people if you can borrow their steps for practice.

Remember slow and steady always wins the race. 

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager