Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Baybarker Autumn Newsletter

I think every one knows that Chris who runs Baybark, is teaching Middi and me, how to become a team and hopefully get that difficult Service Dog registration.
I an always full of worries that I am not doing the right thing and my darling boy is "blowing me off again"!
Not my words, but usually true.
Behind those serious eyes is the cheekiest brain, he can be a perfect angel and do everything I ask, 
or he can frustrate me so much with his inattention, that I am almost in tears.
Really its just like being a young mother all over again.
None of this has anything to do with what I was going to write about tonight, so back on subject!!
Chris has just published her Autumn News Letter,
and there is an article about Middi and myself.
She writes it as if Middi and I are doing all the work, this of course is not true, without her eternal patience with both of us I think I might have given up a few weeks ago.
Middi becoming a teenager has been very difficult for me, 
he is very strong physically and really wants his own way, not a good combination for a wheelie who likes to forget that she has a disability!!
ANYWAY,
this is what Chris wrote -----
A service dog in the making .......
For some months now, it has been my privilege to train a lovely standard poodle by the name of Midnight and his owner Anne. This beautiful black boy is destined to be a service dog.
Anne, lives in a power chair and had decided for various reasons that she wanted to train her own service dog, rather than have one assigned to her as is the usual process in Australia.
While there is nothing wrong with training your own dog, a service dog must be trained to a level beyond that of most ordinary dogs, the process can take up to two years, and when you are confined to a wheelchair this becomes more difficult.
Midnight is a very quick leaner, mastering walking nicely by Anne’s chair fairly early on.
His puppy training included the commands sit, drop, stand, back, and a few others.
As he progressed towards more complex training he has had to learn to feel comfortable with car rides, getting on the wheelchair lift in Anne’s transport vehicle, sitting quietly beside the chair and being confined to a crate on occasion.
While not yet a year old, Midnight must learn to ignore distractions around him when he is working and this area has been the most challenging so far.    He is now very large, very strong and still very much a puppy. He loves other dogs, but his exuberance in meeting them is often unwelcomed by the often surprised dog.
He and Anne can regularly be seen around the parks and shops of Bentleigh or McKinnon and they have become local celebrities.
 Anne adores her dog, and it shows in the dedication she has in training him.
As he matures, I believe he is destined to be everything Anne dreams he can be, giving her more independence and of course his, unconditional love.

Its a great article and of course I love the last part because he does give me his unconditional love, but it is really nice to hear someone else say it.
Read Chris' news letter, it is very interesting learning about the agility world and clever dogs and their owners.
While you are there browse her website, if you have a dog of your own I am sure you will learn something new. 
No pictures tonight, 
you will have to read the news letter for them.

Until next time --- Thanks Chris!!!!!

Oops, forgot the link !
http://www.baybark.com.au/files/Autumn%20newsletter%202011.pdf

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