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