Seeing Eye, Day 8
There is something very peaceful hearing your dog breathe and/or sigh as you are trying to get to sleep.
After doing laundry, I got to sleep quite easily and woke at 5:30.
The wakeup song was Good Life by OneRepublic.
It was freezing at park, and little miss thought she'd do a 2, but changed her mind later. She's not been inhailing her food quite as fast, and maybe takes about 15 seconds to eat.
We work our dogs down to meals with the gentle leader on for at least one meal a day. This time, it was breakfast, with a 3/4 leash. There are 3 different leash configurations you can use with the GL, and when it is on, you always keep the leash to the right of the dog, and in your fingers.
After breakfast, I left at 7:45, to start the new Elm Street route. I'm doing modified routes, as I am slowly sorting my shins out, and do not want an enjury. We still get the work ineaand especially with this route, it is great seeing the dogs work through more situations, and street crossings. Vanya has been clicker trained to a few light poles, which I will continue back in NZ. On our trip, there was a firetruck across a street, and another one on the sidewalk, with its doors open. She worked around the truck, open door, and pulled me one way to continue our route. I will keep working on ensuring my shoulders are facing the way I want to go. I have a habit of turning them, without always knowing. On the way back, there were construction workers on one side, and firemen on the other. They just cleared a path, and off we went. The lighted crossings were good, and audible signals were the talking ones.
Drew Gibbon, and Marty were the hosts in the DTC this morning.
I caught the shuttle back, groomed Vayna, and then went to coffee morning. Coffee break started Friday morning, and staff and students have drinks and snacks. I had a coffee, and caught up with Peggy Gibbon, who is in charge of all dogs. She can see their progress from beginning to end.
I then did obedience and she did well. I added a down, rest, into the mix, and she didn't break either of them. From day 1, we practice good door behaviour, in which the dog sits, and rests when someone comes to the door. If they break the rest, we shut the door, and start again. I've been doing this every time I go out of my room, just to reinforce.
At 10:30 park, I got a 2. Sometime soon, I'll start using the toileting harness with Vanya, as I use this as well as pick up in NZ.
It's nice having about a 90 minute break so I can write this, and play with my dog.
After lunch, I had time to hear some of Morning Report on the Echo, using TuneIn.
I was on the 2:30 shuttle for my trip.
The trip went well, but I need to work on ensuring my shoulders aren't turned another way, when the rest of me is facing the way I want to go. I realized I was gripping the harness handle too tight, and relaxed my grip. I need to always remember this, as it makes my entire arm relax. I'm learning to read Vanya's signals and suttle movements, also. There are more things to listen to on the route, as well as some pretty tight clearances. At one of the lights, I listen for the beginning of the building, then start suggesting left.
Our hosts at the DTC this afternoon were Marty, and Jerri, who are volunteers.
After dinner, we had the dog food lecture. I then chatted to some classmates before last park. I was too tired to have a cider, but I found out, through my grocery order today, that Angry Orchard make cans of cider. This is awesome! And, I have 6.
On another note, Vanya was stretched out in her crate, and I took the bone for the night. A few minutes later, she let out this all mighty groan that changed pitches, sighed, and turned around.
Breakfast: orange juice, cereal, oatmeal, pancakes with ham.
Lunch: French Lintel soup, hot open turkey sandwich, cranburry sauce, steamed peas, sweet potato fries, or tuna sandwich or salad, sherbet, or fruit.
Dinner: tomato juice, roasted scallops with lime butter sauce, herb orzo, mixed vegetables, or cottage cheese salad, banana cake.
Weather: Foggy in the morning, but partly sunny, 37/48f, 2.8/8.9c.