JoyUnspeakable

Journal -Think about what partnership means to you. How would you define partnership? Share your ideas; don’t just copy a dictionary definition. What were the best part and the hardest parts of your day today?

It was a beautiful day today, too beautiful to sit inside the barn with our dogs, but we did get the chance to practice some basic obedience skills and learn some more commands. McLean and I both had the chance to move and exercise a little bit, and he did a great job! He is a totally different dog when the harness is being used on him than when he is a “free” dog. Without the harness, he can pull me more, seeing as he is almost my weight. JDespite this issue, I cannot wait to bring McLean home with me on Friday. only 4 more days!

Our journal entry must discuss the best and worst parts of our day, but my whole day was pretty good. I think the best part of the day came after I came home. Showbo was laying in her bed, as usual, unaware of our entrance into the house. The whole family called her, and she finally came downstairs to greet us, excitedly, with a tail wagging. She has never wagged her tail with excitement until she experienced retirement, at which time she became separated from human beings. Anyway, I told her “good boy” a few times tonight, and I even called her by the name McLean. What is wrong with me?

As I previously mentioned above about having a pretty good day, overall, there is definitely one thing that is very frustrating for me. The haltee! I do not like the haltee! McLean knows it takes me forever to situate it and attempt to secure it around his little nose, but he just waits for me to finish and snap the buckle. His ear and his long fur, or hair, continuously gets stuck in the haltee strap that goes around his neck, and it eventually slides off his little nose. Now, I must start the process all over again. Yea! Hopefully, I will master this task sometime before these three weeks are done.

Now, I will write my own definition of a partnership. A partnership is between two people, or a person and a dog, whereby both parties commit to the well-being of each other. They support each other, and one’s weaknesses are countered by the other’s strengths. A partnership is a give and take relationship if it is to remain a partnership. Otherwise, it may result in one of the two always being very unhappy and miserable. The giving and the taking must be equally balanced for an awesome partnership to begin, continue and go to the end! Just as in business partnerships, trust must exist, on both sides of the partnership.

That is all for now, but I imagine I will be back tomorrow night. Good night!

I posted the guidelines here. Please read them, as they are very important!

Journal: Focus on one personal goal you wish to accomplish in these three weeks plus one fear you have relating to team training (beyond just surviving the three weeks).

We, recipients, are to write a goal to accomplish a goal during these three weeks, as well as a fear. Actually, I have a few goals and many, many fears! Last night was the “initiation” dinner for team training, and my family and I sat with McLean the whole team. He was out of harness, which made it even harder for my two girls to restrain from interacting with them. They were there again today, and there were no problems.

I had so many mixed emotions about Showbo and McLean, and I still cry when I think of, or talk about, Showbo. I do not compare their personalities, but I continuously call McLean by Showbo’s name and refer to him as a girl. He does not let it bother him, and I think that is because I use a good tone of voice.

A goal of mine could be mentioned as really learning McLean, his body language and his likes/dislikes. This learning process may not end after these three weeks, but I hope our understanding of each other definitely increases, and McLean and I strengthen our relationship.

If I can only talk about one fear for team training, it would be related to the amount of time and dedication devoted to getting a successor dog. No children existed for me back in 2003, when I trained with Showbo, and I have more responsibilities now at home. My fatigue has also become more present within the last 9 years. Today was a long day, and there were a few boring moments. Showbo is retired now, but I still received all new equipment for just McLean. The coolest fact I learned was the ending of using the prong collar on our dogs, as it has become more and more frowned upon by society. So, my biggest fear is getting fatigued daily and being unable to perform to the best of my ability. McLean, please have patience with me!

I must say “good night” and go to bed. Tomorrow is the first real day of WORKING with our dogs, and I need sleep!

Sorry if this entry has scattered thoughts, but they may get worse as the days get longer.

Marie, McLean and Domino

Last night, Marie began three weeks of team training with her new service dog, McLean, with a nice group dinner in the CPL training barn. McLean looks like a great dog. He’s a labradoodle, and weighs about 62 pounds, which is about 20 pounds more than Showbo. I’m told he’s “all hair”. Many of the trainers told us that McLean is a great dog, but I’m not sure if they tell all of the recipients that about their dog.

Marie was very emotional at the dinner, and wasn’t able to hold back her tears several times during the night. Domino did an excellent job of keeping a smile on Mom’s face by cracking jokes and saying funny things to her. I heard Marie tell somebody “it’s not the same as Showbo.”

After dinner, there was a meeting where people could ask their questions and get an idea of what is in store. Marie and McLean is the only successor team; everybody else is getting their first dog. They will have a lot of “field trips” to places like Exton Mall, Chili’s, a ride on the train into Philadelphia, and even attend a Blue Rock’s baseball game. Everybody has a lot to learn.

Team training is not going to be easy for Marie. CPL teaches independence, and is no-nonsense. She has full days of training, followed by homework most nights. She is required to write a journal every day starting tonight, which will be posted here. I’m looking forward to reading it, and I hope you are, too.