Trainer Found

This is my third attempt at posting this blog. The application on my phone has some sort of fatal error and won't post after I've finished writing it. Grrr! Needless to say, the first 2 attempts were much more interestingly written but they are gone. So here is the point:

After much hunting and much frustration, we have finally found the trainer we are going to be working with. I could not believe how many trainers wouldn't work with a service dog and how many of those who did wanted $100+/hour. CRAZY! But we found Marni and everything is going to be okay.

We met Marni for the first time on Tuesday. I really like her and really like her teaching style. Within 20 minutes she had me feeling like I could do this and that Paige was wonder dog. She is leaving us with a pretty intense homework schedule after every meeting. This is the way that it needs to be if we are going to progress as quickly as I want. This weeks homework: Look - Paige has to just look me strait in the eye; and Touch - Just targeting stuff with her nose. Example - my hand, a coaster, a CD, my pill case (this one was my idea. I figured that she would have to find it eventually anyway so learning that it is a target now wouldn't hurt.) Targeting like this will eventually be worked into a whole bunch of the manoeuvring stuff that we will eventually do. I'm trying to get her to touch under my leg when I'm sitting down. This is the beginning of climbing under chairs, benches, tables, etc. She is catching on very quickly. I'm proud of her.

Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form a dog trainer. Anything that is documented in my blog is what I am going through with the training. If you are in need of training advise, please contact a reputable trainer in your area.