A Taste of Team Training (Videos & Pictures)

Team Training is officially over and we've graduated. YAY!!!

Now, we're headed south by train to San Diego and ComicCon — the ultimate test and solo flight of our fledgling work together. Eeep!

Below is a selection of videos and pictures capturing our later days here at Team Training. My apologies for not keeping up a bit better. It's been grueling and exhausting, and I only just had time last night to look through everything.

So, without further ado:

At the quietest mall ever

How we go up stairs

How we go down stairs

Watching a movie at the hotel

Navigating a 4th of July festival crowd

Arriving at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

(Bonus points for those who spot the special guest star)

Beautiful, sunny, crowded day at the Aquarium

Down a steep ramp to the loose sandy beach

Walking alone along the packed sand with confidence for the first time in forever!

And the best part of all — bed hugs!!!!

Team Training Day 6: Guest Post by marijee

Hello all! I am marijee and I have been hanging out a bit with Mal, Leo, Kami and Leslie. Mal asked me to do a little blurb about my visits… so here I am!

First of all Leo is absolutely gorgeous. The pictures are great, but seeing him in person… just wow!  This guy is so affectionate… yes, I got a Leo hug, kiss and a groan! You might think a hug from a 70 pound dog overwhelming, but he is so careful and you never feel like you are being crushed… just loved on. It’s wonderful!

Leo and Mal are working great together. We were out in the rain today at the Corvallis Saturday Market and Leo ignored other dogs and people. Leo listened to instructions from Mal and I thought they both synced really well. Mal was really good at praising Leo and giving him positive feedback.  Leo really seems to want to please Mal and she is using the training tools from Leslie to make it all work.

Leo’s harness is really cool. It looks like it’s comfortable for Leo to wear… and very utilitarian. I love the zippered bag on top that holds Leo’s water bowl, waste bags and Mal’s wallet. Mal doesn’t have to carry her purse around… I think that’s a real plus!

When I first met Mal in January, and then when I picked her up at the train station last week she was using a cane. There was hesitancy in her walk and she seemed cautious about being bumped by the crowd. Looking at Mal today I saw a changed person. With Leo guiding her, the cane was gone and she looked confident and happy.  Leo is going to be such a tremendous help to Mal, physically and mentally.

Mal has such a great support and training team with her. Kami is a wonderful lady who is Mal’s support person. One really cool thing about Kami is she is very knowledgeable about taking care of animals. So she not only helps Mal with daily tasks, but helps with Leo, too! Leo thinks she’s great as well!

Leslie, Leo’s trainer is really amazing. She is always teaching and giving information to Mal to help her and Leo to become a great team. Leslie is so devoted and passionate about her dogs and the training of Service Dogs. You should check out her website and see the Mobility Dog stories.  http://www.kingsvalleycollies.com/mobility/service-dog-stories

I am so happy I got the opportunity to meet Mal. I just want everyone to know all the money you gave is so well spent and Mal is so deserving of your generosity. You are helping to change Mal’s life for the better.

**Fist bump** LOL!
marijee


Three short videos by Kami:

Team Training: End of Day 2

*Whew*

Well, we've made it through two days of intense, technical team training. Meaning we're working on our timing, using the proper commands, and stringing several steps together to perform a task (like going down the stairs). We've both been pretty tired at the end of the day. Leslie is very pleased with our work together and our progress. She's upping the challenge for us tomorrow to harder tasks in more distracting, busy places. I don't even know what else to tell you other than it's all going very well.

Here's a picture from this morning at the hotel, where he's hanging out on his ad hoc bed:

And here he is playing with a new friend during free time a bit later in the day:

Finally, a stunning pic of a happy dog from the same free time session:

More next time!

Love,

Leo and Mal

Team Training Starts Tomorrow (Today)!!!

I'm here, I've settled in, I've read his book, and I'm as ready as I'm going to be.

The journey begins in just over 12 hours (noon PDT Monday, June 25th).

Wish me, wish us luck!

eeeeep!
Mal

It's Official: Team Training in 2 Weeks!!!!

Yes, you read that right. Team Training for Leo and I will start June 25th. SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! And our Primary Support Person, Kami, will be there with us almost the whole time!!! (I didn't even think I'd have a Primary Support Person, which is why I've never mentioned it.) I'm SO excited, can you tell??? I don't even know what else to say other than I'm ready, Leo's almost ready, and the logistics of travel, accommodations, rental car, and ground transportation are all in place. I'm sooooooooo grateful to each and every one of you who helped to make all this possible. Seriously, couldn't have done it without you.

Here's a recent video clip of Leo in his fancy, custom-fitted, custom-made harness practicing his new skills with Leslie:

Here Leo and I are doing Harness Training: curbs and street crossings. I repeated the approach at the far curb, when Leo placed a rear foot on the curb. He quickly learned that we only continue on our way when he "marks" the curb with his front feet only. He also does an excellent job waiting at the down curbs until I step down first - providing resistence to my forward and downward momentum.

Notice that she's no longer using the clicker and there are no treats in her pockets. The former is because he's graduated in his learning to a level where he no longer needs the clicker as a marker for desired behavior. The latter is because Leslie discovered that he's not food (or toy) motivated. His treat of highest reward is a hug, followed by "scritches" — pats, scratches, strokes, caresses — and verbal praise. How awesome is that?!? His highest reward is being loved on. I flove that about him — we are such a perfect match, lol.

I cannot WAIT to see him again. Soon. So very, very soon.

More for y'all then, too!

Much love and many hugs,
Mal

Harness Training! (Pics)

Well, there's no way around the truth. I've sucked at updating here for a while now. Sorry about that. I've been in a terrible funk, no lie.

Anyhoo, here's the current news:

Leo blew through Advanced Training in under a month. He loves being out in public and hearing what a handsome dog he is while he people watches. Unlike my previous dog, it's not about interacting with other people, it's watching us do what we do that he seems to enjoy. Once he started his public access work, it's like all the Foundation Training suddenly clicked and it all made sense to him. He was so fast, his harness wasn't ready when he was, lol. It's been fitted and is finished now, so he's officially in Harness Training, the final training phase. He loves his harness and is doing very well learning new skills and responsibilities. My big man is almost ready for me. In fact, you might see us together at Comic Con. No guarantee, only a possibility, but I'm excited nonetheless.

Here are some pics of my handsome man sporting his new hardware:

Happy dog :-)

He's got quite the mane, hasn't he? His name fits him in more ways that one!

I'll try to do better about updating now that we're getting close to Team Training, but no promises. Please know I'm doing my best. Thanks again for all your love and support!

Mal

What's In a Name?

In honor of the Westminster Kennel Club's dog show over the last couple of nights, I thought it was appropriate to offer up this post. I've watched dog shows off and on over the years, and at one time in my life, I showed cats (which is and isn't a whole different thing).

I have long wondered about pedigreed dog naming conventions because while a dog might be registered as Sir Glittersparkle Snarksalot, he's mostly known as Henry or something equally banal and completely unrelated to the fancypants name. (Generally speaking, that's not my experience in the pedigreed cat world.)

While I was up visiting Leo, his breeder, Barb Robinson, sent a parcel of goodies for Leslie and I. In there was a copy of a Canadian (yes, Leo came from the Great White North, lol) Collie magazine that included a full page ad (pictured below) telling the world that Leo is now being trained as a service dog. Clearly, she is very proud of him. As you'll note, the ad features not only a gorgeous picture of Leo, but also his fancypants (registered) name: Chippenhook's Gold Nugget. Chippenhook is her kennel or family name, so technically his name is Gold Nugget.

*scratches head*

How do you get Leo from Gold Nugget? or Gold Nugget from Leo, know what I mean?

So, I asked Barb to answer this question as a way of addressing the pedigreed dog name thing I've wondered about for years. Here is her fascinating and informative answer:

Some breeders name litters thematically or use a particular letter for each year.....as I started late, I will never breed many litters so don't think I need to use those methods.

As a breeder I am excited to plan a breeding and very excited and worried to get them on the ground (born).

I start thinking about call names as soon as they arrive. I taught high school for years and had some memorable students and have used their names for call names for my puppies. For example a brother of Leo's (a tri)... I named him Evan as he is a gentle, smart soul and reminder me of a student named Evan. The woman who bought Evan renamed him Tippy but he will always be Evan to me. He is now a registered therapy dog.

Sometimes the name just comes to you. Leo's mom is Velvet... she looked like a piece of velvet cloth when she was born (I taught some fashion & clothing construction courses). Her registered name is Chippenhook's Velvet Slipper... her daughter Niki (who looks like Velvet) is Chippenhook's Shiny Shoes. Linking the names helps you remember pedigrees too.

Leo's name comes from a famous dog named Am Ch Lochlomon Interlock, he lived in Ohio.... born in 1973. He is behind many of the collies I admire. I have attached a head shot of him... a handsome collie!

(name misspelled in pic... should be Lochlomon)

A few years ago I met the woman who bred Lochlomon Interlock..... she is an interesting character. I did some more research when I got home and saw that Interlock's call name was Leo. So I thought if I ever have a handsome male like him, I would name the puppy Leo.

I name my puppies by the time they are 3 weeks old as I think they are "real people" by then.

My Leo was big (over a pound), strong & handsome when he was born. He was the pick of the litter at 8 weeks. He is line bred on a dog from New York state, Am Ch Marnus Golden Ruler (Leslie loves this dog too) call name Piper. Leo's mother, Velvet is a grand daughter of Golden Ruler..... Velvet's brothers who have a resemblance to Piper have registered names Autumn Gold, Heart of Gold & Good as Gold in honour of Piper.

Because Leo does not have much of a white collar.... he is mostly sable, I decided to go with the name Gold Nugget.

My kennel name is after Chippenhook Creek that runs through the dairy farm I grew up on in eastern Ontario. I knew when I retired from teaching in Stratford, Ontario I would move back home...... can't take the love of country out of me!.... I now rent a house on the farm.

I hope this answers your questions about Leo's name. Any more questions... ask away. 

A Special Training Session

Leslie continues her education as a trainer by booking private training sessions with Michele Pouliot. I was lucky enough to attend one of Leslie and Leo's sessions while I was visiting recently. These videos are a beautiful example of platform/clicker training where Leo is learning the "left heel" position (his future working position).

Notice, he is loose (not on lead) while working and must find the proper position on his own. Also note how much fun he's having — one look at the smiling face and wagging tail tells the tale. Leslie reports that at the very next training session just after I left, Leo was no longer standing perpendicular to her as he is in these videos. This work is considered to be Foundation Training, the first stage in Leslie's training protocol.

I recorded their work together for everyone. (on my iPhone, handheld. sorry for the shaky camera work.) Enjoy!

So I Went And Met Leo For The First Time...

While he was training.

He's a snuggle bug.

These are pictures from our epic night of snuggling on the couch.

I have videos of training session - another post in future (baby pics, too!)

It was wonderful!

I'll write more soon. Been too tired and depressed since home to be up to much. 

Started a new school quarter, too. 

Didn't want to keep peeps waiting any longer.

He won't be ready for team training/placement until May/June.

So here's some pics of me, Leo, and Timmy the cat trying to get in on the snuggles!

Seasonal Tidings & Update from Leslie

Finally, here is a new picture of Leo. Leslie had a professional photographer take a couple of portraits for me! #SOhandsome ;-)

I'm SO excited about going up to meet him for the first time in just a few weeks! *Squeeeeee*
I don't know when he'll be coming home with me for good yet, but I promise to keep you posted.

Now, for the good stuff. Here's the latest update from Leslie:

Your boy is doing really well.  Applying himself with his heart!  I had a wonderful work session with Michele P. and I was so proud of Leo's efforts!

We are working on the platform training - he's learning about finding and maintaining "working position."  I am focusing him on LEFT HEEL positon and FRONT and finding both positions.  Once he's in position, he's becoming comfortable seeing me from there and is getting a high rate of reinforcement for maintaining those positions!  He now loves to work and is "in the game" :))  He waited patiently for his turn and was very happy when he got his chance to work!  He's also learning the foundation skills for WAIT and COME.

Leo and I are looking forward to your visit!

A Little Bit of Everything in One Place

Donations will only be accepted until November 15, 2011

at midnight PST.

Since mid-August or so, I've been making posts and running a fundraiser here to support my efforts in acquiring a successor service dog. Peter was my faithful working partner for nearly 3 years before he was unexpectedly removed from service by the organization that placed him (and retained legal ownership) well over a year ago now. I was completely devastated, and began trying to obtain his successor immediately. Since many of you may be coming here for the first time, I've attempted to coalesce information that is in several places on this blog into one place to bring you up to speed, so to speak.

So, from my very first post:

Some of you know, but most of you don’t, that I’ve been working to overcome injuries from a workplace accident that left me disabled over 6 years ago. I fell down the stairs (not something I recommend) and the trauma of falling triggered CRPS (click here for info) and a mild TBI (click here for info) both of which trigger depression, so I have physical, emotional, and neurological disabilities. I’m in graduate school learning a new profession with the hope of remaining self-sufficient.

This is where you come in. Obtaining a service dog is an expensive proposition. The dog, training, equipment, team training and all the expenses that come along with traveling and staying in Oregon for 3 weeks really add up. While I’m incredibly lucky that an anonymous benefactor stepped up to cover $8,000 of the approximate $13,600 base cost, that still leaves $5,600 I need to raise. (More means I'll get to go meet and visit him during his training period, and that would be so very awesome!)

I know things are tight all over, so if all you can do is spread the word, no worries, that’s very valuable, too! The more, the merrier! Please feel free to pass the link to my blog to anyone at all you think might be interested/willing/available to assist or support in any way. Thank you!

From the "Gift and Wish List" post, here are the details of the compilation:

~ Every donation – no matter how large or small – will receive a compilation of one-shots, outtakes, and/or short stories from the following list of authors:

• AgoodWITCH — Till I Come Marching Home, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Alby Mangroves — The Goth King of UW, a new Edward/Garrett one-shot
• Anais Mark — Eating In, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Bella Flan — alternate ending to Stigmata Tomato entitled Kill Phil
• CharliDenae — Beneath the Scars, a new Alice/Jasper one-shot 
• C. Valentina Dunn — an original short fiction entitled The One Percent
• DeJean Smith — a new Liriope outtake, From the Journal of Liriope M. Hermitage, from Evermore Experience
• DontRun — Please Don't Leave Me, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Duskwatcher— Worth It, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• eddiebell69 — Love, Madness, and Music, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Exquisite Edward — Dark Descent, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• javamomma0921 — an original short fiction entitled The Selkie's Bride
• just duckie — Fuzzy Logic, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• kitkat681 — a new Bella/Edward/Jasper outtake from Choices
• Lady Gwynedd — Selfless, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Lady Tazz — Dirty Money, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Mina Rivera — It Isn't Over, prologue to a new post-BD story featuring Tanya 
• Morgan Locklear — a new Edward & Jasper episode from Cockeyed Optimist
• Morgan Phoenix — a new Bella/Edward outtake from Moving Violations
• Mrs. The King — a new Bella/Edward epilogue from Late Night with Aro
• MsKathy — Unfolding the Pages, a new Bella/Edward one-shot 
• SaritaDreaming — Red Kryptonite, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• Savage7289 — a new Esme Platt/Edward Masen outtake, Play By Play, from Offside
• sexilexicullen — a new Bella/Edward outtake, Coming Home, from Quiet Storm
• Sebastien Robichaud — a new BxE outtake, In the Shadow of the Prado, from The Ice Queen and Mr McCarty
• SqueakyZorro — Detente, a new Rosealie/Edward one-shot
• tufano79 — a new BxE outtake, Attack of the Killer Lube... It's Coming to GET YOU!, from A Nerd Story of Love
• wmr1601 — More Than My Own Life, a new Bella/Edward one-shot 
• writingbabe — Late, a new Bella/Edward one-shot
• yellowglue — Grey Skies and Light Fading, a new Bella/Edward one-shot

To read teasers for these stories, please click on the "Contributing Authors" button at the top of this page or click here. The compilation will be emailed to donors beginning November 16, 2011 (donations close November 15, 2011).

Custom banners, desktop wallpapers, and beta services are still available to donors. Fallanydeeper is offering a custom banner or desktop wallpaper for each donation of $25 or more, and betas afmtoo, HollettLA, lulabelle98, Marly580, Perry Maxwell, SaritaDreaming, Songster, SqueakyZorro, SueBee0619, and wmr1601 are still up for grabs for beta service on a one-shot for a donation of $50 or more. Click here to view individual beta qualifications.

We have a new highly limited donation premium available just in time for the holidays. Wendy (aka Mingo) is offering personally customized template-based holiday photo e-cards for a donation of $35 or more, as well as completely custom designed and created holiday e-cards for a donation of $50 or more. There are only 6 of the template-based and 2 of the fully custom e-cards available to donors in total. Complete confidentiality is guaranteed and the digital file will be delivered by December 1st to allow time for traditional printing if you so desire. To see samples of Wendy's work, please click here.

→ Look for the PayPal Donate button second box from the top on the left sidebar of every page (just below the paw icons) — simply click and follow the instructions. ←

SO Close!

As you can see on the Wish & Gift Lists post, we are almost to our goal. So, will I stop taking donations? Actually, no. I will be accepting donations until the compilation comes out. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons.

I mentioned in my very first post about this, extra money means I will be able to travel to Oregon to meet Leo in January, during his advance training. Leslie really wants me to come up and meet him before team training. I want to go and meet him, too — like all of you, I've only seen pictures and videos, and I can't wait to sink my fingers into that glorious coat and scratch behind those soft, soft ears.

In addition, when I researched and created the budget posted here, there were many miscellaneous expenses I left off because I was afraid to ask for too much, to ask for what I really needed. (Like ground transportation to and from the airport from my home, no small expense as I live so far away from any nearby airport.)

I never in even my wildest dreams ever thought I could raise $2,000, much less $5,600, so I set my goal for only the very barest minimum expenses I had to have, figuring I'd have to eat oatmeal and go without everything for several months to cover the rest.

Leslie, Why the Clicker?

Recently, Elletee asked why the clicker is used in training Leo, and I didn't know, though I know it's a popular training method for dogs. So, I emailed Leslie asking her "Why the clicker?" and this is her answer: 

I use the clicker to "Mark" the behavior from the dog that I like.  Because the clicker is exactly the same sound every time, the dog learns more quickly than if I used my voice and said "Good" for instance, when I see the desired behavior.  Our voices reflect so much: how we're feeling, how happy or sad we are, if we're patient or frustrated. NONE of which is relevant to Leo's efforts! The clicker communicates one simple message "You are doing the right thing!" and it doesn't include any of the multitude of overtones and undertones we convey with our voices.

Once the click sound is made I then move my hand to get the treat for Leo.  During the time that I'm reaching for and feeding him the treat, I also use my voice to convey my delight to Leo and my appreciation for his efforts! This verbal input becomes a bridge to the verbal praise he'll receive whenever he volunteers a desired behavior — and the clicker is no longer used.

The clicker is a training device only  and is phased out once Leo is good at the skill and repeats it easily. Then the skill is labeled verbally, and next, and the label is used AFTER Leo offers the behavior (in this way he can not fail!) and in the final step, the label "cue" is used to request the behavior and the reward is offered AFTER the behavior is elicited with the verbal cue. :)

You Are My People

This has been a busy and exhausting week for me with school and school assignments, fic and blog chores, and I'm afraid I've fallen behind in everything. I will catch up, but it will take me a few more days to do so, and I appreciate your patience in the meantime.

There's little specific news of Leo right now. He's fully healed from his neutering surgery, and enjoying the late summer/early fall days. Leslie has her hands full at the moment, having just finished a team training, with a litter of puppies due any moment now, and with another team training scheduled for mid-October.

So, this week's post is about the realization I came to talking with my bestie on the phone recently. You are my people, y'all are my peeps and I fit here! I FINALLY fit somewhere, squeeeeee!

What If You Don't Raise the Money?

Hi. *shy waves*

I hope you've checked out the Wish & Gift List post to see the updated graph of funds raised, and all the additions to betas available and authors writing for the compilation. Tkegl is now only available until the end of the month, so if you want one of her stellar banners, get your donation in by September 30th! Special shout out to @sexilexicullen for spreading the word far and wide, especially on Facebook, and for making a Twibbon you can add to your twitter avi by clicking here. As the word spreads, donations poured in, so if you visit a forum, a blog or some other place, please consider sharing this campaign with others. Thank you!

Now, onto a couple of related things.

I was asked recently by two different friends the dreaded questions: "What if you don't raise the money? What happens to Leo?"

All's Quiet in Leo's World

Hello again!

Happy Thursday. I hope all who read this are warm, safe, dry, and well fed. Hurricane Irene has been quite a disruption in so many lives :-(

So, this has been a quiet week in Leo’s world. He was neutered yesterday and came through with flying colors. He'll be kept crated to restrict his activity level for the next several days while he heals. According to Leslie (our trainer), he was acting like the horny teenaged boy he is — interested in anything on four legs, lol. He should settle into training more now and be able to relax and focus better without all the hormonally driven distraction.

Donations were off this week as well, which didn’t surprise me at all. To date, we’ve raised $1,685, which is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. Truly, I’m so very, very grateful for every dollar! There are now five authors writing for this cause — Anais Mark, Bella Flan, eddibell69, just duckie, and Sebastien Robichaud. The compilation will go to all donors. Tkegl still has banners available for a donation of $25 a piece, and Bella Flan is offering her stellar beta services for a one-shot to the next donor of $50 to claim her. Jeez, I feel like a public radio or tv station during pledge time! Ha ha ha ha ha! :-D

The Fandom: A Dog's Best Friend

Hiya.

So. . . I’ve had a few requests for an update and things so far have been quite astonishing. The generosity of the Twilight fandom is legendary. Any time a benefit is organized, the response is tremendous and this personal appeal is no exception.

As of this writing, we’ve raised $1,550 and it hasn’t even been a full week yet! We can’t stop now – there’s still $3,450 to go.

Leo is coming along nicely already. Leslie (the trainer) is very pleased. He will be neutered next week. I’ve now created a new section of my blog entitled “Leo’s World” where you can find pictures, videos, and all the blog posts about us – the button is in the upper right of this page. FYI, I intend to make weekly posts on Thursdays moving forward.

Mal & Leo Need Your Help for Their HEA!

Hi.

Um. . . so, this is awkward for me. Just want to put that out there first.

Some of you know, but most of you don’t, that I’ve been working to overcome injuries from a workplace accident that left me disabled over 6 years ago. I fell down the stairs (not something I recommend) and the trauma of falling triggered CRPS (click here for info) and a mild TBI (click here for info) both of which trigger depression, so I have physical, emotional, and neurological disabilities. I’m in graduate school learning a new profession with the hope of remaining self-sufficient. 

When I learned the diagnosis of my disabling condition and that it would be permanent, I set about finding a service dog for myself, being inspired by a classmate at that time. Peter was my faithful working partner for nearly 3 years before he was unexpectedly removed from service by the organization that placed him (and retained legal ownership). I was completely devastated, and began trying to obtain his successor immediately. It’s been well over a year now that I’ve been on several waiting lists.

Leo's First Lessons

Introduction to Platform Training

Introduction to the Front Foot Platform

Leo as Potential Candidate

February 2011

March 2011

April 2011

April 2011

April 2011