Updates and Good news!

Hi Everyone!
Well October and November have been very busy months for me and the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy! I have been blessed at St Francis of Assisi's Blessing of the Animals; I have met many new friends at GoFest; I have worn my very first halloween costume, and I have done lots of hiking in the beautiful fall colors around Chattanooga!
I am really excited to tell everyone about my first official television appearance here in Chattanooga. On Tuesday, 11/17, I will be on This and That, Channel 9 with Don Welch. Don and his cameraman Jeff have already been to Goodwill to get some good footage of me training and now I get to go on the show with my trainer and tell everyone about my new school, the Assistance Dog Academy! Also, stay tuned for an article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press about me and the program...coming very soon! Hope that you are all doing well and getting ready for the holiday season!
Woof, woof,
Will

Introducing the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy's headmaster and official spokes dog, Will!

Well hello everyone! My name is Good Will and I am a five month old golden retriever puppy; my friends just call me Will. I moved to Chattanooga, TN from Walhalla, SC and have taken on a really big responsibility as being the official spokes dog for the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy. I have a tough job ahead of me as I will be going through service dog training and helping to raise funds for my new school that I am starting. My school will be based out of the Mckamey Animal Care and Adoption Center and will train rescued dogs to be assistance dogs for the disabled--how neat! You can check out the Mckamey Center at www.mckameyanimalcenter.org. Training is serious business. I work really hard to learn all of my new commands. My trainer, Sarah, hopes that when we are done I will have mastered 90 different commands! Can you believe that? So far we have covered the basics like sit and stay, downs, and waits, but we tackle some tougher stuff too like light switches and opening drawers and doors. Some things are tricky but as long as she has a treat in her hand for me, I will usually give it a shot! I'll post some video of me practicing my training so that you can see me in action! Other than training, I am working really hard to tell everyone I know about the program. The Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy, like all Goodwill missions, aims to provide our assistance dogs FREE of charge to those in need, so we are trying to raise lots of money to get started. Did you all know that the typical cost of an assistance dog is about $25,000? Wow! No wonder only 1% of people who could benefit from an assistance dog can actually afford one! Hopefully, with lots of donations and support, we can train many dogs to help many people that otherwise would not have such a great opportunity. Cross your fingers--we have our work cut out for us!
Now for those of you who like following blogs, I promise to update mine and keep you posted on how my training is going AND where all I will be making appearances around Chattanooga. So far, I have been to the Tennessee Public Health Association conference in Nashville, TN, the Hamilton County Department of Education in Chattanooga, TN, and the St Francis of Assisi's Blessing of the Animals in Ooltewah, TN--all this and I am just getting started!
Stay tuned and I promise to tell you what I'm up to!

Settled At Last!

Well hello out there!
After two full months of settling back into life in Tennessee, we are finally up and running at the Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy! I have some very important introductions to make and many fun and exciting items to report as well. So without further ado...

Diplomas and Certificates....Almost Homeward Bound!

Greetings from CA on my final day of school! What an experience these past two weeks have truly been. I am finding it really hard to believe that these entire six weeks are drawing to an end. The past two weeks have been absolutely remarkable; seeing the fruits of our hard labor and conscientious learning in action has been a tremendous reward. I have had the great fortune to watch Kate with her new handler and though I will admit to tearing up on occasion, I can finally see the big picture: someone's life is changing right before my eyes. The "assistance" that Kate brings to Elyse lies far beyond retrieving a dropped wallet or switching on a light; in its purest form, their relationship is about love, each party serving as the perfect missing link in the day to day life of the other. It is a beautiful thing to watch and I cannot wait to give you all the opportunity to see for yourselves.
I am homeward bound this weekend and will continue to post once I am back in Chattanooga. My time here has been amazing but the true fun is just beginning! Isn't it about time for a puppy shower? I'm thinking baby blue for some reason!
Thank you all so very much for following along this summer...the best is yet to come!
~Sarah

Vladdie Hits the Red Carpet

I thought that you all might enjoy seeing my sweet Vladimir in NYC! After the Today Show appearance, the ADI clan set off for a series of press events for service animals as well as attending the Power of Paws launch party, a new, national initiative created to educate people about the mutual benefits of interacting with pets (think social/therapy). Here, Vladdie is pictured with Caridee English who is apparently the recent winner of the reality show America's Next Top Model. I will admit that I felt a bit betrayed; however, upon his return this week I couldn't help but to forgive him. Talk about a reunion!
Speaking of reunions, mine with the Southeast is rapidly approaching and I am ecstatic! Though I am weary of the return to heat and humidity, I am ready to see everyone and to get back to my own bed at last. One final week to go and what a big one it is sure to be...
Stay tuned!
~Sarah

Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Never fear, yes, I am still alive and going strong! Things here are intense to say the least. Our clients arrived on Monday and we have been nonstop ever since: early morning kennel duty at 7, client boot camp from 8-5, and then daily client progress evaluations over dinner and into the evening. I am exhausted yet finally beginning to see the big picture. I think I may finally understand what my yoga teacher has been telling us all along, i.e., it is only when you've begun to anxiously want to get out of a pose that you truly begin to experience it. Comfortable discomfort she calls it--I have an entirely new appreciation! This afternoon we will be finishing up a week of intense lecturing and command practice; tomorrow it will be off to the mall (yep, my favorite of course!) and will be working on escalators, elevators, fancy china shops, and restaurant dining...you all know the drill by now! I will try to post with more detail this weekend and get some pictures too. Until then, hope that you are all well and preparing for a fun weekend!
~Sarah

Pigs are Flying, Dogs Reading

The Assistance Dog Institute will clearly stop at nothing to showcase the unyielding intelligence of our four legged friends. After lectures on service animals for mobility impairments, guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs, search and rescue dogs, disaster relief dogs, critical care therapy dogs, specialty facility therapy dogs, and even courtroom therapy dogs, somehow we transitioned into what is known as the Reading Dog. Now some of you may think of a Reading Dog as I did: a therapy dog that visits with various libraries and schools to assist children with reading by creating a non-intimidating environment in which the child can relax, unencumbered by the pressure of peers. You and I would be about half correct on our assumptions. As you can see in the above picture, Noah is actually sitting based on the written (and NON-verbal) command that Bonnie, my classmate, is displaying. I'll be the first to admit to a blatant amount of skepticism; in fact, I'll even admit to having a bit of an out-of-body experience when the "Reading Dog" lecture began. It was one of those rare, extremely poignant times in life when one observes the space around himself and thinks, "just what in the hell is going on here!? Why does no one else seem to think this is odd!?" Fortunately, my twilight zone moment was fleeting as I began to listen to the instructor and understand that as with verbal commanding, the dogs can easily decipher patterns and thus associate letter patterns with standard commands that they already know. While I do find that to be fascinating, I couldn't help but to question the practical application of these skills. Would Will be able to check our emails at the office? Could he read a quick post-it on the door and know that Cyndee is in a meeting? Heehee. Well as it turns out, ADI is doing research on canine "reading" (if you're interested Dr. Bergin has published a book about it) but the cards that we were using are typically used on the library/school therapy visits so that the child reading can see that the dog also can read--helps to strengthen the bond between the two, often creating a more trustful environment and "two-way dialogue" if you will, for the session. Take it or leave it; I'm just passing it along!
I cannot believe that we are already in Week 4. The pace is truly reaching a crescendo as we begin to prepare for the Client Training next week. Dr. Bergin distributed the schedule today and we each have been assigned to team as well as individual tasks throughout the camp. In case I haven't been clear on what is happening, the final two weeks of our seminar involve the actual placement of service dog to client. At this point, it looks like we will be placing two service dogs, Kate and Noah, along with three social/therapy dogs. Clients will be arriving on Monday morning and will be starting an intensive two week boot camp leading up to graduation on Saturday 7/28. The boot camp will follow the exact format of our first two weeks at ADI: lectures, dog training, field trips, and of course umbilical cording! The only difference is that instead of the ADI staff and trainers running the show, we, the students, are responsible for each part of the two week itinerary. As you can imagine, we are all in extreme panic mode.
Now not to toot my own horn but I have to let you all in on a little secret, just because I know that a) you will be crossing your fingers for me and b) you will be so proud! The ADI staff selected each of our roles in the two week itinerary and I (along with many smaller tasks) have been chosen to lead our two biggest assignments: the Welcome Orientation Dinner on the first night of class (guess they've got a good eye for Southern hospitality) AND the Graduation ceremony's certificate presentation! Though I am a little nervous, I am really flattered and am glad to have the chance to put a little of my personal touch on things. Hands on experience is certainly the best way to learn so I'm excited to bring all of this back to Chattanooga in just two more weeks!
Hope that you all are well and not yet melting in the July heat.
Stay tuned...
~Sarah

Save the Date!

One more thing! Everyone mark your calendars for the morning of July 14. Dr. Bergin and several of the ADI staff and dogs are going to be in NYC and live on the Today Show; talk about successful PR! We don't know a definite time yet but apparently the show airs from 7-9am EST. I'll keep you posted as I hear more.
~Sarah

Happy Belated 4th from the Russian River!

Thought you'd all enjoy seeing a little off-duty service dog revelry. Several classmates and I decided to head to the river for a little sunshine, some serious swimming, and lots of tennis ball tossing. Hey, just because these guys can handle 90+ commands doesn't mean they don't need a holiday every now and then! I have to tell you, of all the vigorous retrieving, dirt rolling, and general good natured hell raising, you'll never guess who was leading the way...Prissy Miss Kate! It was a fantastic surprise; her beautiful white coat was completely black and suddenly (call me capricious), I wasn't so saddened to not have her going home with me...Good times here in CA.
~Sarah

Finally an Introduction!

Aha, just as you were all beginning to lose faith in me, a post appears! I do apologize for my absence these past few days but things have truly hit warp speed with school and I am scrambling to keep up! I would, however, like for you all to meet my wonderful new little guy, Vladimir! Vladdie is a beautiful eight month old goldie and is my first true opportunity to learn the training process. In retrospect, I am now beginning to understand that my time with Kate was a training session for ME; this time around, we are in the driver's seat and let me tell you just how different it truly is! Though the program here begins training at two weeks, Vladdie is still 100% puppy. He has the basics covered: sits, stays, downs, shakes, and speaks; however, he needs much more fine tuning on the more calculated tasks like retrieving, tugging, lights, and alerts. The hardest part at this age is identifying the limits of (and not exceeding) his attention span. It is an extremly fine line and so very crucial to his development as a service dog; overdoing a task past that limit can take months of recovery. We are working slowly and carefully, using lots of treats and oodles of praise. I am really impressed with the documentation that Dr. Bergin has provided in our training manuals and I know that you all will be as well. It will certainly be our program bible!
Other than intensive training sessions with the pups, this week was really focused on lectures. Dr. Anne Stark, the ADI in-house veterinarian led us through the basics of canine health, breeding, breed specific health issues, and most importantly developing a successful relationship between our clients, their placed service dogs, and a local vet. She was inundated with questions by the class and I cannot tell you as I sat there and listened how fortunate I was feeling to know that our program has Dr. Amanda!
This week also covered a lot of the business side of starting our programs. We had individual sessions on successful PR campaigns, effective marketing strategy, and most importantly FUNDRAISING, led directly by Dr. Bergin. I have a wealth of new information that I can't wait to share. Though I am loving the program, dogs, and humans, I am ready to get home and get started! But, first things first. This upcoming week will continue with various program related lecture topics, more puppy training, and ultimately preparation for client-dog placement which will begin the following week. Did I mention we have kennel cleaning duties before school as well? There is simply no rest for the weary around these parts. You all will have to remind me of this as we hire our trainer next year; we will certainly need someone who believes in the power of caffeine!
Hope that you all are having a happy holiday weekend.
~Sarah

Ahh the Suspense!

Good Morning Everyone! I apologize for not getting around to the update last night. Due to battery issues with my camera, I cannot yet offer a proper introduction to my new little companion. I'll just leave you all with this: think young and think Russian!
More to come after class today. Happy July!
~Sarah

Our Last Hoorah: Kate Gets Loud and Proud

Well less than two weeks after the same sex marriage ban was lifted in California, Kate and I found ourselves hot in the mix (pun certainly intended!) of drag queens, kids, politicos, the shirtless and shirted, and many more during San Fransisco's 38th annual Pride Celebration. Talk about a spectacle! I simply could not stop thinking of old melancholy Jaques from Shakespeare's As You Like It; all the world truly IS a stage sometimes. And wow, what a show!
We met up with my friend John who was in town visiting from Seoul. As his hotel was in the heart of Chinatown, our adventure started there. I won't bore you all with meticulous details from our day other than to say that Kate did splendidly well. She rode four separate bus routes, a trolley, and in a taxi, as well as dining al fresco in North Beach for breakfast and later at a Moroccan joint in Haight Ashbury; now that was an experience as we ALL ate on the floor! After a long successful day (and a little catnap in Golden Gate Park) we were headed back north and preparing for a sad goodbye.
This morning was certainly difficult for the entire class. We each had to say goodbye to our beloved little umbilical cord partners, leaving them in assigned offices throughout the school. Yes, there were tears and I must say that I found myself up in arms with the sheer lunacy of the program; however, as my wise and wonderful husband reminded me last night, I have only known this little girl for two weeks; my true love of 8 years is waiting for me at home in TN! (That's my goldie, not him for any of you who may be confused hah!)
Kate will now be working with one of the New Zealanders and I will try wholeheartedly not to stare at her from across the room--may be easier said than done. But alas, for now, times moves forward and I have new little ones to tell you all about! Stay tuned; someone who you will meet very soon is nudging my knee for a walk so I will take a brief respite and try to catch you up later tonight. Hope that all is well!
~Sarah

Don't Forget that "Dance" Command!

Clearly, the Santa Rosa Market differs a bit from the downtown Chattanooga Market! When our instructors warned of potential distractions, I was preparing for strollers, children carelessly holding ice cream cones at doggy level, and perhaps a bit of noise from some subdued prototypical Eagles type cover band. To my surprise (and utter delight) the night was truly an amalgamation of food, music, street dancing, amazing art, and of course, our usual mini-brigade of wheelchairs and goldies.
Our day started with the eagerly anticipated bus ride. The city transit mall was in full swing when we arrived so Kate and I quickly dug up enough change for the $1.10 fare and waited patiently for the # 14. She boarded with no problems, never hesitating to go with the bus driver as I wheeled up the ramp. After a half hour ride through Santa Rosa's medical district, (guess we took the hospital tour) we were back at the terminal and ready to hit the theater. Unfortunately I missed the beginning of Get Smart so we instead opted for Kung Fu Panda as it was the only available option that fit the day's itinerary. Now for those of you who have never had the pleasure of bringing a canine date to the theater, just imagine all of the floor level temptations! I'm sure that I must have given at least 75 "leave it" commands. Kate did well for the most part yet as we all know, the theater is dark and sometimes the wafting smell of hot buttered popcorn is simply too much for those with even the best of intentions. Let's just say that if she managed to sneak a few under the seat, it wouldn't be tragic...
After the movie we hit the Market, first practicing drills and commands at the fountain then moving through the booths and taking it all in. I was really impressed with her diligence; she even managed to resist a big turkey leg that was left behind on a nearby bench, neither pulling toward it nor acknowledging that it was there. We watched the bongo show for awhile, right in the heat of things actually. She was nervous initially but settled in nicely which is really quite a feat for such an unpredictable, and to her, obviously foreign situation. I'm glad to have put her in the mix as I caught one of the trainers quietly observing her from the crowd. Her calm demeanor surely must have solidified her status for a July graduation! We'll see.
So the bad news is in that we will be switching dogs on Monday. I'm heartbroken but relieved. Another week of this and ADI might have found themselves with a missing handler/dog team en route to Tennessee! I think that the idea is to have an experience with a true service animal and then with one who will not make the cut. I need the experience to know the difference but I will certainly miss my little princess. Yesterday we finally severed the umbilical cord after seven full days and you know what? We are still side by side at breakfast, in the bathtub, in the bed at night, and even right now at my desk. I may have to give her back on Monday but the bond we've created needs no tether, just a little wink and a knowing smile as we pass one another; sometimes that's just all that it takes.
Stay tuned for more excitement to come and thanks so much to all who have left comments; it pleases me to no end to know that you are following along on this journey!
~Sarah

Kate and Mulder Sittin' In a Tree

Well as you can see, after a long day of practice at Santa Rosa Plaza, Kate and her boyfriend Mulder were absolutely worn out on the backseat car ride en route to school. The morning started with drills and command practice at ADI. Santa Rosa City Transit proved to be exceptionally supportive of ADI (no doubt thanks to Dr. Bergin) and kindly sent an out of service city bus over allowing us to practice loading and unloading using the ramp without the pressure of actual passengers. I cannot begin to tell you all just how eye opening this experience has been for me as a non-disabled person. From boarding buses to ordering from lunch counters and attempting to enter and exit through non-functional "handicapped accessible doors," the experience has been something that will forever change me and certainly make me appreciate the seemingly simple ability to walk upright with balance and direction.
The afternoon session landed us back at a mall, this time an even bigger and more modern structure. The escalators proved to be a real challenge for some of the younger dogs. Kate, old faithful, had no problems other than nagging me for a treat in celebration of a job well done. At lunchtime the group dispersed to eat individually in the food court and I must say that it was challenging. The distractions for Kate were tough: screaming babies, nuggets of dropped food all over the floor, loud music, and worst of all a picky, indecisive, vegetarian handler who does not do well with fast food! It was not our best experience to date but we certainly persevered!
We wrapped up the day with elevator practice and prep work for a big day to come.
Tomorrow we are meeting downtown for individual bus rides on the city bus, then it will be back to the mall for lunch (we'll be packing our own in the morning this go round) and then we're off to the theater for a viewing of Get Smart; we've got a hot double date with Anna (Santa Fe artist) and her dog Timber! Finally, we will finish the night with a trip to the downtown Farmer's Market, a Santa Rosa Wednesday night Summer tradition including live music, local produce, funky trinket booths, and of course, 11 beautiful goldies and their wheelchair bound handlers. As I have said so many times before, THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING!
Good Night on the East Coast.
~Sarah

Coddington Place Mall Gets the Gold!

Well greetings from CA! I apologize for the delay in posting but as you can imagine, things have been a bit busy during this umbilical stage, and will continue to be until Thursday when we finally cut ourselves loose. What a weekend of "togetherness!" The trip to the mall went really well for almost everyone. As you can see from the picture, the dogs were all smiles as we prepared for the venture into the stores. It was amazing to finally get to see the dogs in action; they honestly assume an air of dignity and responsibility once dressed in their packs. Kate did exceptionally well, always very gingerly at my side, never sniffing nor allowing herself to become distracted. Now I may have mentioned before that Kate, though the eldest of the group, is by far the smallest. One of our activities for the morning was to practice our "pull" commands. "Pull" is typically used when one needs assistance with actually moving the wheelchair forward and the dog allows you to grasp the handle of their pack as they pull you along. Well I certainly had my doubts with my petite partner; good food and good wine haven't done wonders for me in Sonoma and the wheelchair alone was substantially heavy. Our trainers had us form two lines of six and conducted the practice almost like a race, giving us a start command and then announcing it was time to "Pull!" Can you imagine my surprise when out of nowhere, my little Kate breaks free from the pack and smokes everyone! This gal should do some freelance sled work! She was absolutely delighted with her performance and I must say that I felt such pride! My teacher did later tell me that Kate's brother, Kruise, back in the day was known throughout the school as 'dragracer' so I guess it is a family thing. Too funny.
Sunday was all about rest and bonding which was great until about 2pm when I caught a nasty case of cabin (hotel) fever. Kate and I decided to sneak over to Jack London State Park for a little afternoon hike and it was wonderful to get out and stretch our legs. It was such a different experience to be on the trail with a service dog. With no vest, no commands given, no responsibilities whatsoever, she was still diligently performing. Some one's life is truly going to changed dramatically by her assistance and I can't wait to see who it will be!
This week is all about field trips. Yesterday the class hit an outdoor shopping center, eating lunch at Applebee's and then practicing our heels all through Target and Best Buy. Target was a cinch, but Best Buy was overwhelming for the dogs (actually a little overwhelming for me as well.) We worked our way around the store absorbing all of the loud, strange sounds and even saved a little time at the end for the appliance department so that Kate could practice her "Push" commands and close all of the refrigerator doors. Amazing stuff.
More pictures to come from this week's outings! Hope that you all are well.
~Sarah

Good Mornin' Sunshine!

Well as you can see, Kate seems to be settling in nicely at the Extended Stay. Though our instructors told us that having the dogs sleep with us in bed was optional, I feel quite certain that Kate felt the only option was to immediately "jump on" (typically used in grooming prompting the dog to leap onto the grooming table.) I'm not complaining as she is truly a wonderful cuddler, and unlike my golden at home, is quite respectful and does not stubbornly take up three quarters of the bed.
Unbelievably enough the tethering is becoming less and less of an inconvenience as we transition from two strangers getting to know one another to a team working in tandem to accomplish the daily routine. I think we may be onto something!
Today is Saturday and our first official field trip is this morning. I have our water and packs, as well as my wheelchair, all loaded into the rental car. We are meeting the group at Wolf's Coffee and then we are off to the mall! This should be really interesting. We've learned a lot about how a companion animal feeds off of the handler's energy, positive or negative, and how this synchronization affects the ability to work successfully as a team. Now unfortunately for Kate, I absolutely abhor shopping and the mere mention of the word "mall" sends my stomach into knots. I'm trying desperately to create a false sense of positivity this morning before we leave, but I'm thinking that this little smarty pants may see right through my attempts. Even worse, I fear that we may practice walking through very meticulously hazardous mall areas, i.e., those involving crystal, china, and various porcelain figurines; I can feel my apprehension and resistance building already--wish us luck! I am hoping to get some group shots today so that you all can get an idea of the other students and dogs. Stay tuned and hope you are all enjoying your UN-tethered freedom on a Saturday!
~Sarah

Congratulations, It's a Girl!

Well the results are in and I would like to officially introduce you all to Kate! She is a beautiful, petite, snow white, almost three year old Golden who will lead me into my first service dog training venture. I must admit that I was not-so-secretly hoping to match with one of the males so that I would not feel so guilty about my own girl golden Mazie waiting patiently back at home; however, the personality assessments felt differently and thus two "amiable expressives" have found one another. She is already so very bright and unlike some of the other dogs was eager to work with me. I believe she has what the school refers to as the non-monogamous characteristic: no need to bond here, she just wants to please! By this afternoon we were practicing entering and exiting elevator doors as well as working to turn on lights; don't worry I managed to sneak in multiple kiss and snuggle commands as well--she's a pro!

The dogs are staying at ADI tonight and then tomorrow they are officially ours. Thursday night commences the infamous "umbilical" period that will last through Monday morning. So, as you all go about your day to day activities this weekend, do think of me going about mine with Miss Kate continuously strapped to my hip! This should be interesting--wonder what she'll think of hotel room yoga? HAH! Stay posted for more pictures!

~Sarah

Day Three, Our First Match!

Well today could be a big day! We have our first matching with the dogs this morning. Both humans and dogs have undergone rigorous personality assessments (The Wilson Assessment Scale) and will be matched appropriately. Now I have taken this assessment several times before so I certainly have an idea of what to expect in terms of the amiable, analytical, expressive, and driver types. Yesterday afternoon we were asked to list our top three choices for a match with the understanding that it will ultimately be up to the staff to decide the best teams. I have listed two males from the group and one female. Dr. Bergin explained that often certain teams will need to be modified and that this modification can affect the other teams within the group, bottom line, nothing is set in stone yet.
We've continued on with the lecture series and with command usage in the training center. Most of the dogs are around 1 1/2 to 2 years of age and are amazing! Their sheer desire to please is unbelievable. We're about half way through our 90 command list at this point and of course, I can't help but to gratuitously overuse the "snuggle" command. Poor Will, hope that he has lots and lots of love to give and give and give...
I'll give you an update on my match tonight after class; stay tuned!
~Sarah

It's Raining Goldies!

Greetings from Sonoma County and the Assistance Dog Institute! Wow, what an action packed first day of school; Dr. Bergin certainly does not waste any time jumping right into our agenda. After brief introductions of my ten classmates (quite an international group, two from Auckland, one from Taiwan, and one from Ontario) we quickly got started with the seminar. We started with a lecture on the basics of dog handling and then headed downstairs to the training facility to start practicing our basic commands, WITH THE DOGS! Now most of you know that a lot of the "pairing" has been done prior to our arrival, but we are now having several opportunities to woo our potential canine companions in five minute sessions. I'm assuming that this is what the concept of speed dating is like; the trainers bring in all eleven dogs, each paired with one of the students as we then commence to "convince the dog that he/she is the most wonderful dog we've ever met." It is hilarious but I certainly have found myself whispering lots of sweet nothings to my potential partners! By Thursday we will have found our first matches and they will be sent home with us. I hope that my new companion will like the Extended Stay Santa Rosa North!Back in the classroom we had another training seminar, the SMARTEST Dog Training, and then it was back to the training room to practice a new set of commands with our next potential companions. The breaks are few and far between and the pace is challenging but as Dr. Bergin says, there's enough info to fill a bachelors degree and we only have six weeks.Last night we had a great welcome dinner at the closing of class where we met more of the ADI staff as well as their dedicated volunteers; what an amazing group! The dinner was a nice way to cap off a long day, as well as understand how we will be hosting a similar dinner for our clients during the final two weeks of the program. Wow, I hope we'll be ready!That's all for now; I promise to have more pics next time but between copious note taking and running back and forth between classroom and training center, there wasn't a lot of standing around, observation opportunity! Stay posted. Hope all is well!~Sarah

California Bound

Well everyone, the time is finally here! Tomorrow is the big day that I am leaving for California and the Assistance Dog Institute. I am armed with a good camera and an open mind and hope to absorb all that I can and keep you all posted, not to mention keep you entertained with what are sure to be some super cute doggy images. Until then, keep checking back for updates!
Thanks so much for all of your well wishes and support; I truly cannot wait to see what we all can put together for the Academy when I return.
Have a great weekend~

Sarah