Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Challenge Continues!

We continue the Service dog training journey.

1. Car travel:
 X Yes __No Dog did not attempt to exit until given the appropriate command
 X Yes __No Dog was under control while exiting car and immediately after
 X Yes __No Dog did not interfere with or become distracted by a passing dog
2. Approaching a building:
 X Yes __No Dog was calm around moving cars
 X    2 __3 __4 Dog remained in a heel position on a loose leash
 X 1    2 __3 __4 When handler stopped the dog also stopped
__1  X 2 __3 __4 Dog did not attempt to greet or sniff others
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog did not attempt to eliminate unless specifically cued to do so
3. Entering a building:
 X Yes __No Dog entered building in a controlled manner using a manual door
 X Yes __No Dog entered building in a controlled manner using an automatic door
4. Moving through a store with distractions:
__1  X 2 __3 __4 Dog remained in heel position on a loose leash or calmly in place
__1  X 2 __3 __4 Dog was focused on handler
 X Yes __No Dog did not brush against or topple any merchandise
 X Yes __No Dog was not bothered by shopping carts and other distractions
5. Grocery Store:
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog was calm and kept pace alongside handler pushing shopping cart
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog did not sniff any food products or people
 X Yes __No Dog remained calm around shopping carts and people
6. High-distraction behaviors:
 X Yes __No Dog did not break the stay, startle or vocalize during the step-over
 X Yes __No Dog tolerated contact from the child
 X  Yes __No Dog did not break its position during contact with the child
 X Yes __No Dog was largely focused on handler during contact with the child
__Yes  X No Dog successfully tucked its tail
7. Mass transit: (not yet tested)
__1 __2 __3 __4 Dog boarded and exited public transportation calmly
__1 __2 __3 __4 Dog remained in position without disturbing others
8. Restaurants:
__1  X 2 __3 __4 Dog successfully ignored food or crumbs on restaurant floor
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog remained in position out of the way of others
 X 1   2 __3 __4 Dog did not beg, sniff, or create a disturbance in the restaurant
 X Yes __No Dog did not break its position during the dropped food challenge
 X Yes __No Dog did not sniff the dropped food item
 X Yes __No Dog did not try to consume the dropped food item
9. Bathrooms:
 X Yes __No Dog entered the bathroom without obvious fear
 X Yes __No Dog remained in position while handler washed his/her hands
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog did not whine or peek into adjacent stalls
10. Elevators:
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog entered, rode the elevator without fear, and exited appropriately
11. Escalators (NOTE: This part of the test is optional):
__Yes __No Dog got on the escalator without incident
__Yes __No Dog rode the escalator calmly
__Yes __No Dog got off the escalator in a controlled manner
12.
Stairs:
 X Yes __No Dog climbed stairs with handler in a controlled manner
13.
Off lead recall with distraction:
 X Yes __No Dog came immediately to the handler without hesitation or distraction
14.
Surfaces:
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog walked confidently on a variety of surfaces
15. Basic commands:
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog sat on command
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog laid down on command
16. Team relationship:
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Handler positively reinforced dog when commands were followed correctly
 X 1 __2 __3 __4 Dog was confident, relaxed, and friendly
 X 1    2 __3 __4 Dog was under the handler’s control
Scoring:
The team must score a 1 or a 2 on all 1-2-3-4 parts of the test. The team must score “yes” 80% of
the time on the yes/no parts of the test. There are 24 such items, so the team must score “yes” on at
least 19 items if all optional items are included.

Result from test: PASS!!!!! However we still need to work on the buses in our area

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Training files

I remember thinking about how 'cool' it would be to take your dog everywhere. I mean what kid wouldn't want to? But of course I came to my senses and thought on the practical side of things... Stores do not allow dogs, neither do most hotels or restaurants. However in the resent years I have developed some disabilities (both physical and psychological) including dizziness flashes, major depression and flash backs with panic attacks. When I acquired Selik from the breeder my only intention was to teach him to do obedience and agility AKC shows. But in the resent month or so I began Service dog training with him. He provides balance during flashbacks or dizziness flashes. So this blog, I dedicate to the journey through training a service dog.