Notes from a volunteer puppy raiser - Maya and Chloe

Yesterday I went to my elementary school with Maya and Chloe. They had both visited quite a lot last year, but this was the first visit of the new school year. We went to second grade where they had spent a lot of time before. I brought Maya there once a week and left her for a few hours with the teacher and kids so she would become accustomed to being away from me and would not be stressed by it.
Many of the kids in the class were the same ones that were in the kindergarten class when we photographed 'Eddie Goes to Kindergarten", so I brought the book to read to them without saying anything about it. Of course for a 7 year old, 2 years ago was probably not in their recent memory box, but it was fun to see a few of them start to catch on that the book was about them and their school. What really triggered it was "Pikachu", the Kindergarten guinea pig. Then they knew.



I told them about our new book project, 'Chloe is in Second Grade' and that we were going to pretend that Chloe was one of the students and would do lots of the same things they do, like shaking hands with the teacher on entering the class. They were pretty jazzed about the idea. Then we played a game - button button, who's got the button. The kids sat in a tight circle on the floor, and Maya and Chloe sat on a 'stay' in the middle. Instead of a button, we used two pieces of smoked salmon treats. The kids secretly passed the treats behind their backs, and then at the signal, brought their closed fists in front. I told Maya, 'Go find it' and she was eager to search for the treat. Of course, Chloe didn't know what was going on, so she just watched. After Maya found her treat, we helped Chloe find hers.



We have high expectations of the kids when the dogs are present, and they are so eager to have the dogs there that their behavior is remarkable. They are quiet and sensible, and are able to do their work with the dogs walking around. Of course, if they get too excited, then the dogs get excited too and it's all over.
This morning when the kids came to school, the first thing they said was, "Where's Chloe?" as they were expecting her to be a full time student. We came in later in the morning and took some pictures of her with the kids. Here are some pictures of our morning's work.

Donna

PAWSwalk

I had the pleasure of seeing two of Summit’s wonderful volunteers “in action”, at the PAWSwalk as they interacted with visitors to the Summit booth.  I missed meeting the morning crew, but I know that they also have shown this same dedication as have all of the other volunteers who have responded to Summit’s calls for help.

As a recipient of a service dog, it is profound for me to think about how many people have given in their different ways, making it possible for me to have Hayden in my life.  There are the staff, volunteers, donors and others.  It takes all of these people to hold Summit together in a way that the goal of giving assistance dogs to people like me, happens.

I used to work in non-profits and I loved the fact that the work I did benefited people who had needs that we were able to assist with.  Now, I’m in the other position.  It’s been a hard adjustment to admit that I need help and that as the days pass, the needs seem to grow and change.  The way that I am treated by everyone associated with Summit, with respect, makes it much easier to accept the gifts I have been given and continue to receive.

So, to all that support Summit in any way, thank you for your gift.  Your giving spirit is greatly appreciated by the people in my life and me.

Michelle

Notes from a volunteer puppy raiser - Eddie and the Walrus

I've been hearing a preview of a report on NPR about work and what motivates people to do it. A walrus trainer was talking about the fun of training walruses when they 'get it' and have an 'ahah!' moment. This reminded me of a time when I was training Eddie. I had been 'falling down' and then asking Eddie to 'get the phone' for me. This is a very important, even life-saving task that assistance dogs regularly do. The partner has a dedicated cordless phone which is always in the same place, and may have a handle, or a cover on it for easy carrying.

After doing this for a week or so, I 'fell' in the living room within sight of Eddie. He gave a little jump and I'm sure he smiled as he 'said' - "I know what to do. I know it! I'm supposed to get the phone right now. I can do it!" And he ran, got the phone and brought it to me with such joy, that the lightbulb over his head lit up my day, and continues to do so even now. It's kind of interesting when you think that a dog has no idea of what a phone is or what it's good for. He takes our word for it that we need it; that it's important to us, and so it's important to him. Dogs are so amazing. I suspect other animals are also amazing, and so is all of life if we only take the time to look and understand.



The photo of Eddie with the phone was taken in kindergarten in the fall of '05, and is in the 'Eddie Goes to Kindergarten' book.

Donna

Team Training - Summer 2007

Team training began August 20th and ran through August 31st. All are to be congratulated for this successful event. The three graduate teams are Joann Newman and Wiley the little hearing dog (Wiley, a mix and rescued dog); Ann Hensley and Scout (Scout, a mix and rescue dog) and Louise Zimmerman and Bailey (a yellow lab donated when he was about 8 months by the Odells).



Debbie, Sarah and Wendy were the trainers involved in team training with some help from Sue M (smile). All of us agreed the matches were terrific, the clients well prepared and everyone worked so hard. This team training went so smoothly. It never ceases to amaze me how hard the clients work to learn about dogs and become trainers themselves in two short weeks. They learn many commands, work with their dogs in practice sessions, listen to a lot of lectures, take tests and go on field trips. It is exhausting and our clients do all this despite their disabilities.



Team training is a special time because we get to know our clients. A bond is not only created between their dog partners but also with the trainers who work and socialize with these special people.



Volunteers are really appreciated during team training and help us tremendously. They acted as human dogs, helped with field trips and more. We had wonderful lunches provided by volunteers. One of the local restaurants also donated a lunch.





We really put the teams through the paces on the last day which was Friday. First, each team must pass a practical working exam which takes place in the training room. The teams do a series of complicated tasks and chained behaviors. Second we go to a busy store, Safeway, where the team must pass the ADI Public Access test which is mostly about basic obedience skills for the dog and making sure the handler has their dog under control. The third and last test is a solo test. Wendy writes out a customized plan for each team according to the needs of the client. They go off and do these things on their own like they would in "real life" using kind of like a treasure map. For example, one client was asked to go the office store and have a dog do a "go in" under a desk and then do up on a counter to receive a bag from a clerk. They might have to take the dog into a public bathroom or a certain store and do a number of tasks. They will have their dog go in an elevator and push accessible buttons to open doors or have their dog pull a heavy door open.



But Friday was kind of bittersweet. We are so proud of the teams and love seeing the bond and partnership develop between the client and their dog but it is sad too. Maybe it is a let down because we all worked so hard and are tired. Maybe it is because we have been in this intense 2 week period and around these 3 wonderful women and will miss them. And of course, there are the dogs. Debbie trained both Wiley and Scout and though I cannot speak for her I can tell you I will miss Bailey very much. I trained Bailey for 5 months. It was a short time but he won our hearts. My husband, Richard, will miss him too. Bailey Boy, who was kind of a wild nut case matured into a calm, intelligent and sweet dog. He is loving but also a goof ball which was part of his charm. He is a problem solver and a quick learner and sometimes he could figure out things before I could. I am very lucky to have had the fun of working with Bailey. We may train the dogs but the dogs teach us so much. Each one does that for us.



Congratulations to everyone involved in this team training, especially our new graduates. See you all October 7th at our Graduation.

Sarah Broderick, Trainer
Summit Assistance Dogs

Notes from a volunteer puppy raiser - Eddie

Eddie was my Summit dog in training, and my third dog to train. He regularly came to elementary school with me when I was teaching clay classes there. When the kids finished their projects and cleaned up, you could often see 10 or more of them quietly petting Eddie's big long body as he stretched out and enjoyed their attention. I asked the kindergarten teacher if we could make a story about Eddie visiting her classroom, and the beginning of a little book was born. Eddie was so good about holding things as we took his picture. He held the phone, of course, and a block, a carrot, a puppet, a paint brush, and little by little we had a story about him doing all the things the other kids did in class. His favorite activity was visiting the guinea pig, Pikachu. He was always gentle, but very excited underneath that self control.

His story, "Eddie Goes to Kindergarten" is now available in on-demand-printing. It's a small book, but a very special one to many of us. His new mom in Dallas, Texas is very excited to have the book for her canine reading therapy sessions with at-risk readers. What could be better than a young reader reading a story to a big black curly haired dog about the very same big black dog.

If you'd like to find more about our book, click here.

Look how tall Eddie is

We write stories about Eddie

Eddie gets his name on the chart of "E" words

Blog from Morgan

Well, it's Friday night and I thought I'd send out another little story of the life of SD, Morgan, dictated to Alice, human part of the team.

On Saturday mornings we go to the Dance Station where humans and their mutts dog dance. I'm the only service dog, but all of the other canines have gone to obedience school. and attended a dog dance class.

We do gigs every once in a while, like once  a month. There's a Tibetan terrier, a black dog who is old, old,old, a little snappy sheltie and two poodles, oh, and a lab/sharpei mix that thinks he's so cool....let's see did I leave anyone else out?

It's a lot of fun. We are not supposed to socialize with the other dogs or people, but just focus on our special human: for me that would be Alice. Let me tell you, it's not hard to do. She brings the best treats to dance class, and I'll do anything for a treat. I am a golden retriever, remember.

Alice has gone to two different workshops in Albuquerque, (Good spelling, Morgan!) to learn how to be a better dance partner.

In her humble opinion the best dog dance team she has seen is Carolyn Scott and her golden retriever, Rookie. (You know the routine; they dance to "You're the One That I Want" from Grease).  That was one workshop she took, from Carolyn, who suffers from post polio syndrome. You wouldn't know it watching her dance. Alice really liked that  class. The other class was just for humans to learn how to move. Some of the humans had to pretend to be dogs. :>)

In my opinion (seconded by Alice) what make Carolyn and Rookie so great is that you can tell they are both really having fun.  Rookie is totally focused on his person the whole time, and he's a dancing fool.

That's why we like dog dancing so much: it's fun for both of us.
It pushes Alice to figure out how to move with her disability and not fall over.

Some of my favorite moves are "back" "circle""spin" and "high five"!

I've danced with Alice to different tunes:"Time After Time"(that one really got to people), "Walkin' After Midnight," "Singing in the Rain," and the Beatles song, "When I'm 64."

Hey in dog years, I will almost be 64!

Soon we will have videos for you guys to watch us. Remember, we're still beginners, but we love to dance!

woof!

Morgan,
Summit Assistance Dog,
Class of 2002

Notes from a volunteer puppy raiser - Maya and the haircut

We're down to the wire here with Maya. We have 10 more days with her before we need to hand over the leash to the professional trainers. We went to Ft. Flagler again the past 4 days for her last vacation with us. Our RV was in prime waterfront position and we had many beautiful views, starting with a bald eagle circling overhead for some time. Sunsets were fantastic, as was the weather.




Maya is now wearing a bark collar, as she has been getting too talkative. She quickly figured out what was going on with the citronella spray. There is a tiny microphone in the tiny spray box which is positioned at the front of her throat. When she gives a good bark, it releases a fine mist of citronella which is harmless but unpleasant to dogs. She has learned to give one quiet, low bark instead of the usual energetic barking. It's quiet enough that it doesn't trigger the spray. She doesn't bother barking at the neighbor dogs any more - what's the fun if you can't do a good job of it?

I'll keep you all posted on her progress, even after she's gone, because Sue promises to do the same for me.




The picture of the two dogs and the haircut is a puzzle. There is really only one dog in the picture. What is the second "dog"?

That's all for now, folks, Donna et al.