On other notes: the office expansion is coming along nice. My dilemma at the moment is where should my bed go? Should we have our office upstairs or downstairs? (I love running up and down the stairs on off-duty time).
We just ordered a fountain for the waiting area - a place for me to get a drink? No! Steve hung more pictures today. We shared the office space with Becky's 'mom's group' on Monday. They voted for a slumber party here with me of course.
With Love, Cricket
7 comments:
Cricket, I would like to know if you've ever been to the zoo? If so, how did you keep your prey drive instinct in check around the smaller animals, like meerkats?
To Cricket's Mom: I stumbled upon your blog a couple weeks ago and and now it's one of my favorite ones to visit. You're always so cheerful and have a wonderfully positive outlook on life. Love it!
What do you wish Cricket had more work on as a puppy? What things would make her better at her job? As puppy raisers we are always looking for things we can do to better prepare our puppies for guidework and I wanted to get your opinion.
Molly - Thank you! So glad you like our blog. Cricket generally stays away from the zoo. However, in San Diego while visiting our daughter/son in law we went to the zoo. We called ahead and planned to keep her in the entrance office of the zoo. Visiting we did not have a person to leave her with outside of the zoo. However, when we arrived they gave us the option to take her in the zoo with directions on some areas to avoid which included the area where the birds were flying around. I was a little surprised but chose that option. Cricket was awesome and for that situation it was the best alternative. The other times and most likely in the future for my preference I would not take her to the zoo.
Erin,
Great question! I will indicate some of the things that I really appreciate about Cricket and her training.
Cricket can 'do business' so easily and on any surface. With a busy life, I appreciate this IMMENSELY. (I know some of this is a dog's preference. Pantera wanted to find just the perfect blade of grass. I appreciate so much the work that Cricket's puppy raiser did to have her respond to this command so quickly.
Also, I appreciate so much the variety of experiences that Cricket had as a puppy. I think this has helped her take her life in stride whether she is managing the streets of NYC or hanging out at the office for a day.
I appreciate so much her ability to 'come'. I am searching for so many things in a day, it is so helpful to know that I can call Cricket from anywhere in the house, yard, office and she will come and be right by my side.
Great question - I'm going to think about this some more ...
What "rules", if any, is Cricket allowed to break as a guide dog? I know some people let them on the furniture, ect....
I am also curious as to what things we can do as puppy raisers to make sure our pups are well prepared to be guides.
Sarah - great question! I recall when I had my first guide, Pantera, on the bus very early into our experience I met another grad. He gave me some great advice. He said stick to the basics that you have learned and follow the rules that GDB has for our guides. I tend to think of Cricket as a person, ha!, so keeping the rules helps her not push it and me have to tell her no!
As far as what puppy raisers can do, I appreciate both my guides having such great behavior in our home and in public. Not having any habits that are difficult to break is helpful. When I am told they have good behavior, I thank the puppy raisers who had this BIG job. I feel my work is simply to continue on and not let them feel it is okay to break any rules they were taught. Following the rules that GDB sets.
You are amazing!
I have a painting called Limahuli Stream which sounds like the fountains of kindness. Is there space near the fountain?
Or we can keep 'looking'. . .
I'll send a picture.
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