Sunday, January 16, 2011
Schreiber January 11, 2010
A new year with Pink Girl; our visits have been infrequent as she is medically fragile and gets ill frequently. I was told she had been asking about River and was happy to see him. She asked about Amanda, who was sick and stayed home that day. Happy to see him didn't translate into happy to cooperate with the therapist. Pink Girl wanted to demonstrate her rolling skills instead of the crawling she was asked to do, much less working on walking. She did cooperate for her favorite, holding a hula hoop for him to jump through and this is hard work for her to stand as straight as possible and tell him "over". She also enjoys dropping treats for River, which I think is his favorite trick for her to do.
MIL Rest In Peace
My friend's MIL passed on a few days ago at hospice. I had taken just River for another visit right before Christmas while she was still at home. She was confined to bed at this point but still delighted to see him, although she could only talk in a whisper. River greeted her with kisses; he seems to know she enjoys them. She requested that he lay on the bed with her, so I told him "up" and got him laying along side of her where she could easily pet his head. We visted briefly; she drifted off occasionally, then woke to apologize and blame it on her medication. She still kept her hand on River. When the hospice nurse arrived, seemed the right time for us to go. I hugged her good bye and promised her a copy of the photos we were planning to take of River and Noche in Santa hats. I'm sorry we didn't get it done in time to show her.
Limping Along
That could describe the frequency of my blogging here, but today it refers to River. About 15 minutes into his agility class, the instructor and I noticed that he was limping, so no more jumping or training for him today.
She checked his nails and pads wihtout finding anything. We hadn't observed anything happen. He had been doing a series of 2 low jumps, with the goal of driving through the jumps to a target bag that Amanda was throwing. He tends to look at Amanda after each piece of equipment, which slows him down overall. He was making good progress on focusing on the bag and heading for that after 2 jumps. So then, he started from the pause table, took a bar jump and then turned to the 2 jumps in sequence. Coming back after the second time of this was when we spotted the limping. He put weight on it and moved fine at a walk, but with a little more speed, favored his left front. So, clipped the leash back on him and he got to rest. We got to help Wendy play with her 8 week old border collie puppies; gotta love that puppy breath smell.
River was still limping earlier at home and we have been discouraging running and jumping the rest of the day. It's late evening as I write this and he is walking without a limp right now. We're ignoring his requests to throw a toy so he won't run. I prefer to err on the side of caution and at least wait until tomorrow. Hoping this is the equivalent of a turned ankle, that maybe he just took a jump awkwardly, and will recover quickly.
She checked his nails and pads wihtout finding anything. We hadn't observed anything happen. He had been doing a series of 2 low jumps, with the goal of driving through the jumps to a target bag that Amanda was throwing. He tends to look at Amanda after each piece of equipment, which slows him down overall. He was making good progress on focusing on the bag and heading for that after 2 jumps. So then, he started from the pause table, took a bar jump and then turned to the 2 jumps in sequence. Coming back after the second time of this was when we spotted the limping. He put weight on it and moved fine at a walk, but with a little more speed, favored his left front. So, clipped the leash back on him and he got to rest. We got to help Wendy play with her 8 week old border collie puppies; gotta love that puppy breath smell.
River was still limping earlier at home and we have been discouraging running and jumping the rest of the day. It's late evening as I write this and he is walking without a limp right now. We're ignoring his requests to throw a toy so he won't run. I prefer to err on the side of caution and at least wait until tomorrow. Hoping this is the equivalent of a turned ankle, that maybe he just took a jump awkwardly, and will recover quickly.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Glasses to Read
Not a catch up by any means, but a brief comment on last week's reading visit. The 4th grade girl read beautifully, if holding the book a bit close. When we chatted after her reading, she mentioned that she had lost her glasses a month ago, but hadn't told her parents. On a hunch, I asked if she could read the sign on the bulletin board across the room - about 8 feet from us - 2 large easy words - poster sized and she couldn't. I asked gently how she managed the board in the classroom and she said her teacher let her get up whenever she needed to.... hmm, so the teacher know she needs and is missing her glasses. She explained further that she feared " a whipping" if she told her parents about the glasses. She told me she was going to tell them soon, even today - trying so hard to please, even a relative stranger like me.
Sigh, I mentioned it to the coordinator, who said the student had a good relationship with her teacher and she promised to check with the teacher about it.
This bright girl also asked me - "Why do we read to the dog?" I explained the premise, that an uncritical audience encourages struggling readers, while thinking to myself, that I am not entirely sure that the goals of this particular program are clear.
Sigh, I mentioned it to the coordinator, who said the student had a good relationship with her teacher and she promised to check with the teacher about it.
This bright girl also asked me - "Why do we read to the dog?" I explained the premise, that an uncritical audience encourages struggling readers, while thinking to myself, that I am not entirely sure that the goals of this particular program are clear.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Four visits in Three Days, written after the fact
Tuesday - Schreiber Pediatric - PT visit with Pink Girl, she most enjoyed holding the hula hoop for him to jump while she worked at standing up straight.
Wednesday - Acadia Rehab with Ump followed by home visit to MIL, both preceded by River's agility lesson with Karen that morning equals one very tired dog.
Thursday - New visit for a reading program at Wickersham Elementary School. we were in an auditorium seated on the edge of the stage, with another team on the opposite side. I had brought along a blanket as asked, to have specific spot for us to sit. The school was extremely warm. River needed a water break and he wanted to lie on the cooler floor of the auditorium rather than the blanket by the end of our hour. The response to the dog varied; one boy who approached him eagerly had a large dog at home. One girl was utterly terrified of him. I sat between them( instead of River int he middle as usual), she still startled if he even shifted position. She watched his tricks from a distance, took the card we gave her and all but bolted out of there. Most were somewhere in between, fascinated but a little cautious. I think we saw about 5 students. They had short books, read pretty quickly and didn't want to linger. The other team with older class, longer books, I think had 3 students. We will be going weekly, but they will be rotating through different classes, so no one will be returning. From what I've read, most reading to dog programs see a benefit to encouraging readers because the dog is unconditionally accepting. These kids seemed to be adequate readers, perhaps this was a reward, for the novelty? I am even more interested in learning about the READ program now. It seems to be that seeing the same kids would be more helpful to them and even more of an incentive, and more effective as we build rapport with them.
Busy dog week - Sunday was intro to agility with Wendy, Monday - rally class with Wendy; Saturday we'll be at the Gifts That Give Hope Fair stumping for KPETS - he gets Friday off.
The following week is Thanksgiving week, so we had no visits planned. As it turned out, we did end up going to see MIL, who is now in a hospital bed ( she was in a wheel chair our previous visit, had been managing with a cane before that, and walked freely at our first encounter). Amanda came along this time and we brought Noche as well. Both dogs behaved amazingly well; at one point we had them on either side of her in her bed and she had a hand in each one's fur. That was really what she wanted and it brings tears to my eyes recalling it. I am so glad we could provide that simple gift.
Wednesday - Acadia Rehab with Ump followed by home visit to MIL, both preceded by River's agility lesson with Karen that morning equals one very tired dog.
Thursday - New visit for a reading program at Wickersham Elementary School. we were in an auditorium seated on the edge of the stage, with another team on the opposite side. I had brought along a blanket as asked, to have specific spot for us to sit. The school was extremely warm. River needed a water break and he wanted to lie on the cooler floor of the auditorium rather than the blanket by the end of our hour. The response to the dog varied; one boy who approached him eagerly had a large dog at home. One girl was utterly terrified of him. I sat between them( instead of River int he middle as usual), she still startled if he even shifted position. She watched his tricks from a distance, took the card we gave her and all but bolted out of there. Most were somewhere in between, fascinated but a little cautious. I think we saw about 5 students. They had short books, read pretty quickly and didn't want to linger. The other team with older class, longer books, I think had 3 students. We will be going weekly, but they will be rotating through different classes, so no one will be returning. From what I've read, most reading to dog programs see a benefit to encouraging readers because the dog is unconditionally accepting. These kids seemed to be adequate readers, perhaps this was a reward, for the novelty? I am even more interested in learning about the READ program now. It seems to be that seeing the same kids would be more helpful to them and even more of an incentive, and more effective as we build rapport with them.
Busy dog week - Sunday was intro to agility with Wendy, Monday - rally class with Wendy; Saturday we'll be at the Gifts That Give Hope Fair stumping for KPETS - he gets Friday off.
The following week is Thanksgiving week, so we had no visits planned. As it turned out, we did end up going to see MIL, who is now in a hospital bed ( she was in a wheel chair our previous visit, had been managing with a cane before that, and walked freely at our first encounter). Amanda came along this time and we brought Noche as well. Both dogs behaved amazingly well; at one point we had them on either side of her in her bed and she had a hand in each one's fur. That was really what she wanted and it brings tears to my eyes recalling it. I am so glad we could provide that simple gift.
Gifts That Give Hope 2010
River collected comments and cuddles while the humans shared info about KPETS activities. Our KPETS table was one of many non-profits at the event, where visitors could donate to the non-profit and get a card for their giftee explaining what had been given in their name. The event included food vendors and children's activities and was a pretty lively place. Ironically, a volunteer at the raffle table next to us had her young Havanese puppy in a crate under the table; it was a bit of a challenge for River to "leave it", although he did, with a few reminders.
I've noticed that we get to hear many stories about people's dogs when we staff the KPETS tables. I think a survey would show that asking about our dogs and therapy activities tops the list, then talking about their dogs and lastly asking if their dog could become a therapy dog.
I haven't any info yet, but I believe it was a successful fundraiser for KPETS. River did his part!
I've noticed that we get to hear many stories about people's dogs when we staff the KPETS tables. I think a survey would show that asking about our dogs and therapy activities tops the list, then talking about their dogs and lastly asking if their dog could become a therapy dog.
I haven't any info yet, but I believe it was a successful fundraiser for KPETS. River did his part!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Door Ajar
So since my nephew was able to train their Corgi to close a door in only 2 days, I had to give it a try with River. 20 minutes and quite a few BilJac liver treats later, he has it!
Nephew used a clicker and a post-it note as a target and started with his dog targeting the post-it with his nose and then moving it to the door, then holding it there longer and eventually pushing it. Smart dog figured out that his paw works better and usually chooses that method.
River already knew "touch" with nose and "paw" touch with paw, so I started with "touch" on the basement door - which swings easily and closes with a satisfying click. We moved pretty quickly to using a paw - much easier to push the door. I still use a hand signal of pointing at the door to indicate "paw the door" but am also using verbal "close the door" with the goal of telling him to "go close the door," which might be handy to keep the puppy from the basement steps.
He can do cabinet doors, too although I am limiting this due to concerns about scratch marks. He can do interior doors, but so far our exterior doors are too heavy and don't swing as easily - maybe he could do a "double high five" and jump against those stubborn ones.
Still not quite caught up to the dog in the Youtube video who picked up laundry, turned on the coffeemaker, retrieved both the paper and the remote, etc ... nephew's goal- his dog to bring him a soda from the fridge. Heck with that, I want him to do laundry.
Nephew used a clicker and a post-it note as a target and started with his dog targeting the post-it with his nose and then moving it to the door, then holding it there longer and eventually pushing it. Smart dog figured out that his paw works better and usually chooses that method.
River already knew "touch" with nose and "paw" touch with paw, so I started with "touch" on the basement door - which swings easily and closes with a satisfying click. We moved pretty quickly to using a paw - much easier to push the door. I still use a hand signal of pointing at the door to indicate "paw the door" but am also using verbal "close the door" with the goal of telling him to "go close the door," which might be handy to keep the puppy from the basement steps.
He can do cabinet doors, too although I am limiting this due to concerns about scratch marks. He can do interior doors, but so far our exterior doors are too heavy and don't swing as easily - maybe he could do a "double high five" and jump against those stubborn ones.
Still not quite caught up to the dog in the Youtube video who picked up laundry, turned on the coffeemaker, retrieved both the paper and the remote, etc ... nephew's goal- his dog to bring him a soda from the fridge. Heck with that, I want him to do laundry.
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