| An unsuccessfull team with my dog |
[Jul. 8th, 2006|12:15 pm] |
Well I have some really bad news to share with all of you, and I'm really sorry I haven't been keeping this well updated. Unfortunately, I'm being sent home tomorrow morning, because my O and M skills aren't where they need to be at the moment, according to my instructors and class supervisor. They think that I veer way too much, and that my traffic reading for lights isn't good at all, and they were just throwing this all in my face at once. They think that it won't be fair between me and my dog that we continue this program, and that it's just going to get more stressfull than it actually is. I feel that I should go brush up on my o and m skills this year, and possibly apply to a different school in the near future; not sure of what school I should apply for yet, but I will decide that whenever I feel ready and confident with things. I hate being put in this situation, being the only classmate leaving the class. Why do these things always happen to me? I tried so very hard to succeed, and the O and M instructors and the other instructors here just didn't want to give me another chance. I love Tehoma; she's such a sweet dog, and I just can't pull away from her. Well, they took her away from me yesterday and placed her back in the kennels and what not. I was able to say goodbye to her, but it was the hardest thing in the world. Another hard thing is going to be leaving my classmates; I made some really great friends here, hopefully I will be able to keep in touch with them and go visit them some day again. So I'm thinking about deleting this journal, because it's been a bad experience for me, and I don't want to reflect on the past when i am thinking about applying to get another dog. So, I'm really sorry for those who were really looking forward to reading my training journal; I was really excited at the very start to update and let you all know how things are going. I hope to be successfull another time.
I feel really bad for having to delete this journal, but I think it would be a good idea at this point.
Anyway, that's all i've gotta say,
Char |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 7th, 2006|07:59 am] |
Yes, I know I didn't update in here yesterday, but I got to be extremely busy, and didn't even get much time on the computer. So I have quite a lot to write about today.
So yesterday was dog day. In the morning, we did some heeling practice with Juno, and then we went to the downtown loundge again. While we were there, I did some work with the O and M instructor on traffic lights, because I needed to brush up my skills a bit on that, and then I did another juno walk with one of the instructors. Yesterday afternoon, we had a lecture about how to handle our dogs once we received them, how to bonde with them, etc. Then Heather, one of the instructors went over who was going to get what dog and such. So I was just patiently sitting there waiting to hear the name of my dog. Then I heard, "Charlene, you are getting Tehoma, a female black lab". And I was so excited to hear that, thought the name was really neat! Actually, at first, it reminded me of a microsoft word font, hahaha!
So anyway, we spent the rest of yesterday just bonding with our dogs, feeding and watering them, and relieveing them.
Today, we started our first harness walks with the dogs. This morning's walk went very well for me; and Tehoma was very well behaved. She obeyed almost every command that I gave her, and I only had to correct her a few times. This afternoon's walk went over great as well; and I think it was because I felt a bit more confident about my traffic light crossings.
Besides that, I've just been taking it easy for the evening. I have a picture of Tehoma for those who are interested in seeing it, at least those who are able to see. So please let me know if you are interested in seeing it, and I'll send it over!
I guess that wraps things up for yesterday and today, but I will write more tomorrow, and I'll remember this time.
Char and Tehoma |
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| Day 3! |
[Jul. 4th, 2006|09:17 pm] |
Hey everyone!
I'm just sitting here in my dorm room, and figured I should update you all on how today went. So this morning we had this lecture about guide dog work, and did some heeling practice with the leashes. Then we went to the downtown loundge to do some juno work, using the harness. This morning's workout didn't go as well as I wanted it to, and it's because I was very tense when holding the harness. I tried to relax as best I could, and found a good walking pace for me too. So after lunch, we had another lecture about guide dog control, did some more heeling practice and learned some new heeling commands like the sit stay command. Then we went back to the downtown loundge again and did some more juno workouts. I did much better this afternoon, and I was a lot more relaxed. I realized that I just have to walk with my dog, and not over walk it instead. I think that's what I was kind of doing.
Ever since then, I've just been hanging out, and enjoying some freedom because once we get our dogs, which is tomorrow by the way, we will be busy feeding and relieving it for most of the day as well as working the dog too.
I will definitely update again tomorrow and let you all know about my dog; I'm so excited!
Bye for now,
Char |
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| Day 2!! |
[Jul. 3rd, 2006|09:42 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | My dormitory room | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  happy | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Someone in the music room playing the piano | ] |
Hey everyone!
Well today was rather eventfull for the most part anyway. I ended up waking up at about 5:45 or so, eating breakfast, and then we had a lecture about communicating with a guide dog and such. Then we ended up doing some juno work with the dog afterwards. For those who don't know what juno is all about, it is a fakticious dog, actually what they do in class is use a rolled up carpet as the dog, and the instructor holds it while I'm working with him. So we did the basic heeling commands today, and praising the dog. It was rather interesting, and I've already started learning things such as correcting the dog when he's in the heeling position and not doing the right thing. We also got our leashes as well, and we used them when we were working with actual dogs later on in the morning.
After that, we had lunch which was amazing as usual, and then we went to the downtown loundge in San Rafael after lunch to do an O and M caning route so that the instructors could start taking notes on the pace that I walk, etc. Then after that, we came back for supper, and since then I've just been hanging out. I did some jamming with a friend of mine who I met here today, where I was playing the piano and she was playing guitar. It was lots of fun; I haven't had the pleasure of doing that for a long time.
So that leads me to now, just sitting here and winding down from the day. I know these last entries have been a bit on the boring side, and I'm really sorry, but I'm sure they'll get more exciting as the month preceeds on!
Take care everyone!
Char |
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| Day 1! |
[Jul. 2nd, 2006|09:38 pm] |
Hey everyone!
Well, I finally made it to GDB, and I feel much more calm now compared to how I was feeling before. It was a very long stressfull day though. I managed to get into Calgary from Saskatoon okay, but, it turned out that I had this layover in Calgary for two and a half hours! I was not impressed, of course, but oh well, not much I could really do, the flight was delayed.
Anyway, I got here and ate some supper which consisted of prime ribs, baked potatoes, and cooked vegetables. Oh, and the best part, of course, for dessert, we had chocolate moose, mmmm!!!!!
Anyway, I know that I've been doing lots of rambling for this entry, but I just had to share the details with everyone!
I unfortunately don't have wireless internet access tonight, but I should be able to get it tomorrow. So I'm currently using one of the GDB computers. So sorry for those who were wondering where I was and why I haven't been online yet.
Anyway, after we ate, we had a bit of a meeting to welcome us to guide dog school, and went over the rules. Ever since then I've been just doing some unpacking and what not.. I will probably have more to write about tomorrow though, so I will catch you all later!
Char |
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