4th of July Fun

Happy 4th of July!!

We are half way through 2015.  Wow, where does the time go.  Thank you for all your hard work preparing these dogs for the instructors in Advanced Training. Thank you!!  Please have a safe and joyous holiday! 



Top: Poet II, Nexus II, Padgitt, Patricia V, Turner III, Judy IV, Oleary III, Mingus II

Bottom: Linda VII, Sequoia, Tasha IV, Brad, Oriley III, Robyn II, Hendrix III, Oak III



Top:  Clem, Fido II, Papaya, Kentfield, Maya III, Liza IV, Honest

Bottom: Nyla IV, Peaches II, Romily, Jimmie V, Haven IV, Luke VI, Reef, Oden II, Holan VII

North Central Region Canine Companions for Independence Instructors

Back row: Eric Fatka, Ashley Kittell, Tonya Halford, Suzanne Sliclen

Front row: Gwen Dudek, Adrena Wilhelm

Puppy Raising Tip:  Happy 4th of July !!

There is no better way to celebrate our country's independence and to celebrate freedom by going on a picnic and attending a fireworks display. However, Canine Companions puppies SHOULD NOT attend fireworks displays/events. Please leave the puppy you are raising at home. Crating the puppy during this time is very important. Exposure to fireworks has caused sound sensitivities and fear in certain dogs. Don’t take the risk of creating a negative experience.

Parades are also a traditional 4th of July outing for families. Please leave the puppy at home. Parades can be hot, loud, and overwhelming for some dogs. Fire engines, marching bands, jet fly overs can be scary for some dogs. Leaving the puppy at home in their crate will minimize the potential of fear to develop. Please use lots of common sense this weekend.

If you are at home or at a friend's house when fireworks are going off in the neighborhood, put the puppy in a crate in the house. Also, never leave a puppy unattended in a backyard when people are setting off fireworks. We have several stories of Canine Companion dogs jumping fences out of fear over a 4th of July weekend.

Picnics are a great socialization opportunity. However, leave the puppy home if fireworks are planned. Picnics can be hot and overwhelming if there are lots of people and activity. Bring a crate with you so you can put the puppy away if the puppy is getting too hot or overwhelmed or if people are setting off bottle rockets and other firecrackers.

Use the crate often this weekend. Please use common sense if you are taking the dog with you to a group picnic. Have a game/exit plan in place if the puppy begins showing signs of stress. We want everyone to have a very fun and safe holiday weekend. This is one day that CCI puppies don't need to participate. Keep the puppy safe by crating.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager



Self Control

Reminder:  Please don't use the commands "Get, Hold, or Give". These are Advanced Training commands.  Puppy raisers that introduce these commands can cause stress and confusion on the dogs when the enter training.  The formal retrieve is taught systematically.  If these commands are taught differently it causes stress on the dog.

When you need to take something from the dogs mouth, you can just take the item or you can tell the dog drop.

Puppy Raising Challenge and Tip: " I think I can, I think I can, I think I can….."

Self control is extremely important for an assistance dog. Teaching the puppy self control around food and toys helps the dog be successful. Practice, Practice, Practice. Self control does not come easy for some dogs. The more you practice, reinforce appropriate behavior, and correct undesirable behavior, the more reliable and consistent the puppy will become. Puppy raisers have a direct influence on reinforcing and teaching self control. A puppy that is allowed to make its own decisions or break commands will have difficulty when in Advanced Training. Puppy raisers keep your high expectations and again practice, practice, practice.

Happy Training,

Suzanne Sliclen
Puppy Program Manager

New Year Reminders

Reminders:  February 13, 2015 please join us at the Dublin Recreation Center in Dublin, Ohio at 2:00pm for our February graduation ceremony.  We are proud to welcome back 26 puppies to Advanced Training, and congratulate 15 students and Canine Companions for completing Team Training.

Puppy Raisers of dogs returning on February 13, remember to RSVP and to send medical records by February 6.  Medical records can be faxed to: Attn: Sara Miller - Kennel Supervisor 740-363-0555 or they can be emailed to smiller@cci.org or suzanne@cci.org.

Puppy Raising Tip:  "A time for new beginnings and a fresh start." 

2015 Reminders:

• The North Central Region has been very lucky in a health wait list for puppy raising.  Repeat puppy raisers please note that because of the wait list there may not be puppies available on short notice like has been typical in the past.  We have close to 60 people on the waiting list (both new and repeat) that are ready right now for puppies.  If you are interested in raising again, please contact me as soon as possible to get on the list.  Please know there will be a wait.

• Food and people distraction is very difficult for many puppies.  The person handling the puppy should be the only one giving treats when training.  For example during puppy classes if another puppy raiser or person randomly gives treats to the puppy while you are the handler, the puppy will begin to become distracted away from the handler.  Whats more fun for a dog:  treats without working or having to work for maybe a treat.  In certain situations with fearful puppies, the handler may ask someone to give the puppy a reward for confidence with greeting. This should be directed by the puppy raiser. 

• Public outings to businesses begins at 5-6 months of age.  At five months the puppy can participate in quick in and out trips in environments that are low in distractions. Grocery stores, malls, restaurants, big events, college classes, and church are perfect outing for puppies 6 months and older.  

• Socialization is very important for the the puppy younger than 4 months of age.  Please socialize the puppy to different sights, sounds, surfaces in your neighborhood and friends neighborhoods, puppy classes.  Certain work environments are appropriate to take the puppy with permission from your puppy program manager. 

• Puppy raisers are ambassadors for all assistance dogs.  It is important to leave the public with a good perception.
• Teach the puppy to jump on appropriate places like benches, low ledges, etc.  Picnic tables and counters are good for practicing the "up" command not the "jump" command.
• Puppies sometimes don't make the best decisions.  The second floor railings at the mall is a place to not practice the command "up".  We don't want puppies accidentally practicing the "jump" command into open space.  Please understand there is a reason for all of our guidelines. We have a story for almost everything.
• Escalators are also off limits to puppies.  Practice walking over the metal gratings and sitting next to the moving stairs but never on the escalators.

• Regardless of the number of acres that you live on or visit, Canine Companions puppies are required to be on leash.  If you would like me to tell you stories about Canine Companion puppies being lost, injured, and killed I would be more than happy to share.  Please don't be a story that I use as an example.   Keep the puppy on leash, no matter how much you trust them or your handling skills. 

• Canine Companion puppies can be off leash in enclosed areas.

• The healthy Canine Companion:
• Average weight of a female Canine Companion puppy is between 50-60lbs. On rare occasions our largest females are around 65lbs. 
• Average weight for a  male Canine Companion puppy is between 55-65lbs.
• On occasion we get puppies lower than 50lbs and a few dogs between 70-85lbs.
• If the puppy you are raising starts to head out of these ranges, please contact your puppy program manager.  We can work together to determine if you happen to be raising a dog that falls out of our typical weight range. 

• When playing with the Canine Companion puppy, teach the puppy to bring the dog toy to your hand.  Puppies that drop the toy to the ground end the game. Many graduates are unable to reach the ground if the dog drops the toy. 

Happy training

Suzanne Sliclen

Puppy Program Manager