November was a very special month for me. I turned 1 year old! I celebrated with some extra special treatsβ¦and a brand-new toy. Birthdays are sweeeeeet!
Cathy says βpuppydomβ will last a bit longer, though. Physically Iβm big and very strong, but my brainβ¦well, it has some catching up to do!
But, my puppy brain has been fully engaged in learning new behaviours. Itβs been a month full of learning new things.
Cathy and Chris attend classes every week – so they can learn how to teach me what I need to know before I go on to advanced training and get ready for life as a service dog. Most of our classes are on Zoom – and I know when my yellow cape goes on and I see other dogs on Cathyβs laptopβ¦itβs time to learn!
For example, last week, we were learning about staying on my bed – even when there is a kibble just within my grasp. Ohβ¦that was SO hard! But, when Iβm a service dog, I must be able to listen and wait patiently – no matter how much Iβm drooling over something tasty nearby.
One of my favourite behaviours Iβm working on is βtouch.β I smush my wet nose into Cathyβs palm and hold it there for as long as she wants me to. Later, the advanced trainers will teach me to touch things like elevator buttons and door openers.
I really love to learn. The nice people at PADS say, βCowan has a lot of drive!β. What behaviour is my favourite? Well, I like them all, but I have to say the one I like best is βsearch.β Cathy spreads some kibble on the groundβ¦then says, βsearch.β I rush to find every last one of them (I never miss one)β¦then return to her for some praise (and maybe more kibble). Chris said this game helps me learn to recall and to disengage then re-engage with my person. Whatever. If it involves foodβ¦Iβm in!
You may not know this about training a service dog to beβ¦but I rarely eat from a bowl. Chris and Cathy measure out my food for the day and then give me bits at a time as rewards as we go through our day. Otherwise, with all the training we do each dayβ¦Iβd get very fat!
While I donβt have regular meal times, like other dogs I know, because I have a yellow service dog vest – I can go to a lot of places where other dogs are not allowed.
So, since the weather has turned cold and rainy here on the βwet coast,β Cathy has been taking me to the mall a lot. Itβs warm and a good place to train while we do laps and get some exercise.
I donβt say this to make any pet dogs who canβt go into stores, jealousβ¦but have you ever been into a shoe store! Millions of shoesβ¦dog heaven!!
Iβll update you again in December. I hope all my friends, 4 and 2-legged, have a wonderful holiday season!
Submitted by: Cathy Demers and Chris Wright
