Surfaces and commands

Reminder:   Tick season is upon us. Please make sure to protect the Canine Companion puppy from those nasty little creatures.  Like little bunny rabbits, ticks, fleas and other undesirable will be making their appearance as soon as the weather improves.  I know we are all thinking, Spring has got to get here at some point!

Puppy Training Challenge:   There is nothing like watching rabbits frolicking in your backyard, squirrels jumping from tree to tree, and birds singing with delight.  However, for the puppy the key word is watching.  To be more precise casually looking.  Well actually, in a perfect world not even caring that little woodland creatures exist. 

Canine Companion puppies need self control when it comes to the wonders of the world.  Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sights and sounds of this blossoming Spring.  Teach the puppy that creatures both big and small can be in their environment and left alone.  It is up to the puppy raiser to build confidence and self control to focus on their handler and maintain position. 

Puppy Raising Tips:     Here Comes Peter Cottontail Puppy!

When you are out and about with the Canine Companion puppy, it is important to expose them to different surfaces.  Like Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail, there are sticks, rocks, mud, slippery leaves, and puddles all in your way.  No matter what is in front of an assistance dog, they must not shy away or avoid a surface.  Puppy raisers help the puppy out by socializing them to various surfaces.

For example:

Uneven surfaces

Doing commands and walking over: rocks, branches, pine cones, balls, etc.

Grates, mulch and odd textured surfaces

Fun Surfaces

Gravel

Elevated surfaces

Wet surfaces



Puppy raisers build confidence.  They teach the puppy that they can walk on, over, and through anything we ask them to.  Start early exposing them to different textures and teaching commands. 

If you teach them at a young age, they can do it at an older age too.

Puppy raising is all about exposing the puppy to the world around them and helping them to understand our expectations.  Practice, teach, practice and teach some more.  As Spring time grows into Summer, then Fall, as does the puppy grow and mature.  Lets help them grow, change and blossom into a mature confident adult dog.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager



Canine Companions Updates

Reminders:  Accidents happen, even with the best intentions.  Remember puppies should always be supervised, especially when they are outside.  Please make sure to directly supervise the puppy.  If in some odd accident the puppy does get lost, please contact CCI immediately.  We are here to help in any way we can.

Puppy Training Challenge:   April showers brings May flowers.  The month of April brings many opportunities to train in the rain and on wet surfaces.  Believe it or not, assistance dogs still need to do commands when the weather is not desirable or if a surface is wet.  Practice ideas:

• Puppy walks through a puddle just like walking on dry land. 
• The puppy does not avoid the puddle.
• Puppy sits and downs in a puddle. (NO CAPE)
• Take a walk in the rain with an umbrella and practice commands. 
• Practice commands on wet squishy grass.

Remember these are training exercises to proof and generalize commands.  When in public the puppy must be well groomed and wearing a clean cape.

Puppy Raising Tip:   Puppy Program Updates and Recap from Workshop

1. Spay/Neuter Policy update:  CCI has changed the neuter/spay policy.  The new policy states dogs should be neutered/spayed between the ages of 8-10 months.  For those puppy raisers that already signed the contract for neutering at 6 months, please stick with that time frame.  The reason for this date change is to see how hormones impact the body structure of our dogs. Please let me know if you have any questions?
2. New Capes:  The North Central Region has updated the fabric of the puppy cape:
• We will be handing them out only as the puppy you are raising outgrows the current cape.
• If you allow the puppy to chew the new cape, the replacement cape will be the old cotton capes.
• Please do not put the capes in the dryer.  Please let them air dry.
• Please do not try to mend broken capes.  Send them back to the regional center. 
3. Release Dogs:  Please think about you and your families plan on whether or not you plan on adopting the puppy back if it were to be release.  There is nothing wrong with planning.  You are not jinxing the puppy.
• Puppy Raisers have first choice to adopt the dog back with no fee or application needed.
• Family or Friends with DIRECT contact with raising the puppy will have second choice.
• People you know but did not assist you the raising of the puppy will be considered along with CCI donors, graduate, puppy raisers, and other volunteers and CCI supporters.
•  If you can't tell us the last name of the interested party, they will not be considered a priority.
• It is CCI's responsibility to find the dog a home, not the puppy raiser. 
4. Dog Limit:   This is a reminder that the number of dogs allowed in a home is a total of  four:  three pets and the CCI puppy.
5. Wait list:  The staff is unbelievably proud of the dedication of our volunteers.  We are very excited at the number of puppy raisers wanting to raise again.  We are also getting much interest from first time raisers.  What this means, though, is bit of a wait to get a puppy.  I do give priority to past puppy raisers, but even for past raises there is now a wait.  Please be patient.
6. Overlapping:   Because of the wait, and to be fair to everyone, priority will be given to puppy raisers that are about to turn dogs in and new puppy raisers.  We will be working under the guideline of about a 3 month overlap for those that request an overlap. 
7. Overlapping continued:  First time puppy raisers that are looking to overlap, we prefer to wait until the first puppy you raised is returned.  Turn in process is emotional.  It is important for puppy raisers to understand the complete process before entering into another agreement.
8. Unapproved Toys:  Antlers are officially off the approved toy list for CCI puppies.  We know that some puppies are hard chewers.  Please talk with me about your chewing concerns.
9. Baylor Update:  The new center in Texas is in the process of starting.  In the coming year about one to two dogs will be selected to enter Team Training in Texas.  The puppy will be trained in the region, but sent to Texas for placement.  Instructors will notify puppy raisers if the dog they raised will be going to Texas. Remember, this is after the Advanced Training process.  This arrangement is temporary until the Baylor campus is up and running.  Please contact CCI if you have any questions.
10. Training Equipment:  The primary training tool a puppy raiser should use is the Gentle Leader.  CCI does use training collars and prong collars.  If a puppy raiser feels they need to use a training collar or prong collar, please contact CCI first.  It is important for me to know what equipment is being used to be better able to assist you with behaviors.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen

Puppy Program Manager