Friday, September 21, 2012

Training Day 3-4 

Many new commands have been given to us these past two days. To many to list out and explain! Zeppelin is just perfect. He does what you ask him to do, with some mistakes on my part that make him loose focus on the task. After review with the trainer, I have learned to better understand how the dog responds, how I should be correctly giving commands and how to praise and reward a job well done. Zeppelin has yet to alert to any blood sugar changes with Elisabeth, but as per the trainers, he has the scent learned, he just needs to learn her behavior and we need to closely watch for his way of alerting. 

Doing the lap command, part of behavior disruption with Eddie



Today is Sep 21st, we had our first outing as a group at the fairfield commons mall. A trainer walked around the mall with each of the handlers and their dogs to address and concerns with being in public and work on the basic commands we have been taught. Before our turn, I practiced getting around by myself with kids and dog in toe. Once again Zeppelin did a wonderful job. He was a bit unsure of Eddie's convaid chair but soon got use to walking near it in the heel position. 



Lunch at the mall. Tables are two small at the mall for Zeppelin to place himself completely under, so I keep a good eye on his tail. 

Already a pro

I always SMILE!

Walking all together now...


heel to auto sit

We had a few headaches with our room when we arrived on Monday. In a nut shell, we reserved a two bedroom suite because my mom was going to join us. They had given our room to another family and gave us two rooms next to each other. Moved in, unpacked, and the air conditioning unit is raining water on us. Repacked, moved into second room. The manager comped the first two nights stay for both rooms and by the third night had us in a 2 bedroom suite for the price of a single room suite. First night in the 2 bedroom and our toilet overflows!!! 

Today we got back to our room we found a gift for Zeppelin and a note from the manager  






Eddie loves his dog, they both practiced behavior disruption, but not without 
some distractions from his boy.  



Cuddle time with his girl Elisabeth. 



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Training Day 2

I'm getting to this late and I am very tired. So tonight I will only post pictures. Today the class focus was on staying in a position for an extended period of time and child bonding. Zeppelin missed Elisabeth's low blood sugar tonight so I will be asking the trainer about it in the morning. 


Bonding with Lil' Eddie 



 Bonding with both kids 







Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Day One: Meet and Greet, Basic Commands


At around 9:45am we showed up at 4 Paws for Ability and where soon staring into Zeppelin's crate. 







We all picked a spot and sat in the main training area as the dogs where brought out to their families one by one... 

All the kids where handed treat bags to give to their dogs as they where introduced. 




Zeppelin was showered in treats as he meet his news kids. 




"Why is this dog sitting on me"!

The kids gave Zeppelin a new nyla bone as a gift


He loves his new toy





Eddie was a little unsure about him, but toward the end of class he would laugh every time Zeppelin would come up to him. 

After the meet and greet we went off on a one hour lunch. Soon after we returned we started working on basic commands, sit and down. We also worked on having our dogs stay in that position for an extended amount of time. 



I will be the main handler, but Ed needs to work on these commands too.. here is Zeppelin pawing him for another treat. "I sat down for you, will you give me another"?






Sunday, September 16, 2012



We are leaving for Ohio in the morning! Daily in depth training updates will be posted here! We meet Zeppelin on the 18th! 


Thursday, September 6, 2012

INTRODUCING ZEPPELIN! 

HEY!!! Zeppelin here! 
Yep like the MAN, Led Zepplin! In case you can’t figure it out I am from the Rockstar litter because we ROCK N ROLL but mostly we just ROCK as in the BEST. Okay so we are Golden Retrievers and I was born here at 4 Paws to my Mom, Lyric and Dad, Vic. I was born 9-27-2011 WHOO WHOOT My birthday is coming and you will be here. I got two presents for my birthday, yep! YOU!! But even still you can bring me some other presents too, you will won’t you? Huh? Pretty Please??? I like Kong toys and Nylabones, and tennis balls, and Puperoni. So when you get here we can play and hang out and have so much fun together like smelling the grass, peeing on fire hydrants (shhhh don’t tell service dogs are not supposed to do that in uniform so we have to play that game when my vest is not on) Do you like to do those things? When the other dogs in class see us they will be sooooo jealous cuz they all only got one kid and I got two!! And I will just strut and around and look proud cuz who wouldn’t be with partners like you? Yoda Man told me to watch out because one of you is a Jedi? Is that true? Do you have one of them Jedi beam things like Yoda Man has? That’s pretty cool. Well Jedi or not you are all mine and I am waiting here for you to come and take me home! 
See ya soon xoxoxoxo  Zepplin

ZEPPLIN
Golden Retriever
Parents: Lyric x Vic 
Rockstar Litter
Partner: Eddie and Elisabeth

We meet Zeppelin on Sep 18, 2012.
 After a 2 week training class at 4 Paws for Ability he will be coming home with us. LOVE his rockstar name!