Esther has served as the National Breeding and Puppy Program Manager for CCI for past six years.  We were lucky enough to receive some great blog posts from her!

If you think your puppy is a pretty good listener, you might be surprised to realize that he is really just guessing. How can you tell if this is the case? Try one or more of the following:

• Go through a doorway with the puppy and tell the puppy Down instead of Sit

• Open your car door and tell the puppy Shake instead of Car

• When greeting someone, instead of having the puppy Sit and Shake, ask the puppy to do a Back, Heel or Side

• Place the puppy’s bed next to the crate, and alternate sending him to each one.

How many tries does it take for the puppy to do the right behavior?

Dogs are very good at picking up predictable patterns of behavior, and once they do, they tend to assume things rather than listen closely  (don’t we all?). For example, we often see puppies automatically offer a Shake when meeting someone in public, without waiting for the command to be given. They have learned that Shake usually follows the Sit when greeting a person, and feel that they no longer need to listen to you in that situation- they already know what you are going to say.

So what should you do to make sure the puppy is really listening to what you say? Break the patterns! Use different commands at different times, as in the exercise above. Try to surprise the puppy often, and make him guess wrong so that he learns to listen to you closely.

And if the puppy offers a command (such as Shake) before being told to do so, correct him and make him wait until told.

The Pickle Test

Another way to see if the puppy is truly listening is to try some complete fake-outs!

Here’s an example: Every time I go up to a certain table in the training room, I do an Up on it with the dog. Over time, the dog becomes focused simply on the item and the command that it has grown to associate with it rather than the actual word coming out of my mouth! One way we test listening skills is by throwing in a word that means nothing to the dogs. A traditional choice is the word “pickle”. If I go up to the table and say “pickle” and the dog tries to “Up”, they have made a wrong choice, and it is fair to correct them. The next time I walk up and say “pickle”, if the dog chooses to stay put and listen, I praise the heck out of them! Try it yourself with commands the puppy knows well, and feel free to try different words (“orange”, “banana”, “purple”). Try to pick words that sound very different than the command until they know the listening game, to avoid a confused puppy.

No!  It’s never too late to teach any dog a new trick or get them to stop an old one (raiding trash cans, jumping on guests, etc).  Training an old dog new tricks is similar to a 40 year old going to back to college to study for their dream career.  It’s not impossible for the 40 year old to learn, but it might take a short period of adjusting to get in the swing of the learning process.

But we got our dog from a shelter and he doesn’t even know how to sit!

Not to fret, regardless of where you dog came from (shelter, retired show dog, or a puppy that you never got around to puppy classes with), she can start training today.  With a little bit of food, patience and gentle guidance, you can be on your way to a well trained best friend!

You and your dog have a couple of different options when thinking about training:

1. Local training classes – Local training classes are often held at obedience clubs, recreation centers, public parks, or sometimes at the county fairgrounds.  Group classes usually have between 5 to 10 dogs and one instructor and sometimes an assistant.  The experience of the trainer can vary greatly as can training styles.  It’s best to call and talk to the instructor to make sure you are aligned with their style and views before enrolling in class.  Remember you learn best from people you enjoy learning from!
2. Call a Private Trainer – Private trainers come in all different types and styles as well.  They are usually pricier than private classes, but they should be able to help you with your specific goals and will spend their time working 1:1 with you instead of a group class that splits 1 trainer between 10 people and dogs.
3. Read a training book – Dog training books abound and can easily be found through your local library for FREE!  Try to find the most up-to-date book you can and get training!  Books can easily help any trainer, novice or expert, learn new skills.  Like every other option, make sure you believe in the method before trying it out on Fido.  If the method doesn’t fit your belief or style get back to the library and look for a different method.

Do you have an old dog that you have taught new tricks?  Give us your tips!

Ten years ago, on a breezy spring afternoon, Esther opened the doors to Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa, CA. “I asked myself, ‘Why was I sent to a dog place?’” she amusingly recalled. “I was referred to CCI by a placement agency,” she explained. “I had expressed interest in returning to the real estate field.” Turns out, the qualities CCI was looking for in prospective employees were a good personality coupled with a tenacious work ethic. She was hired on the spot.

Esther has a comprehensive history at CCI beginning in 1995, when she started working in administration. “I was able to see, firsthand, all of the work that goes into preparing a dog for a person with a disability.” Frequently stopping in her tracks to watch training sessions across the campus became her modus operandi. “It was then I knew I had to be involved on another level,” she said.

In 1997, Esther entered a 10-week apprentice instructor course. She completed the program and was instantaneously ushered in as Interim Breeding Program Assistant. A few months later, Esther rejoined the Training Department to continue the instructor program. At the same time, Esther decided to take on another project in raising a puppy for CCI. This would be her first puppy, Valentina.

Over the next two years, Esther created and taught puppy obedience classes, said good-bye to Valentina (who was ready to start training at CCI), and quickly welcomed a new puppy named Hilton. In January 2000, Esther completed all of the necessary requirements for promotion to CCI Instructor. Shortly thereafter Esther would advance to Northwest Puppy Program Manager, her first managerial position at CCI.

During the past six years, Esther has served as the National Breeding and Puppy Program Manager. Hers is, irrefutably, a big job, “but one that I enjoy doing each and every day,” she says. “CCI is about helping people. If every American lived by that motto, our country would be a better place.”

In addition to her professional responsibilities Esther continues to devote volunteer time to CCI. Esther is a breeder caretaker for CCI’s infamous stud dog, Baumann, and an active puppy raiser for her fourth puppy, Journey. When reflecting back to that serendipitous spring day, over a decade ago, when she cracked open the doors, Esther remarks: “Actually, I feel like my life began when I started my career at CCI.”

Stay tuned for more stories and tips from Esther!  Let us know if there is a particular training topic that you would like to learn more about.

CCI matched me with Inga, a plump, yellow Labrador retriever puppy.  Inga was just eight weeks old when I picked her up from the CCI regional center in Delaware, OH. A couple of weeks of enjoying puppy breath and frito feet, then it was down to business.  You can see in the below picture that Inga is getting into a little bit of trouble…

Obedience training begins early for CCI puppies. Because of CCI’s specialized breeding program, the puppies are remarkably smart, with confident, calm personalities. Inga turned out to be a breeze to train. At times, after I introduced a behavior to her, she would look at me as if to say, “I already knew that one.  I just didn’t know what you were going to call it.”

Training Required

Puppy raisers are asked to introduce the dog to 30 behavior commands, including the basics like sit and down, as well as more advanced behaviors such as toileting on command. However, the most critical job of a puppy raiser is the socialization of the dog. These dogs need to be solid and dependable in any public situation and the puppy’s first year is the best time for exposure to new environments.  In addition to the daily office work, Inga goes to wherever a person may want to go. 

Her visits have included 

• Restaurants
• Grocery Stores
• Shopping Malls
• Movie Theatres
• Doctor’s offices
• Museums
• Baseball Games

She’s an ambassador for CCI and has done herself proud each and every time we’ve been out in public.

I may be stating the obvious by saying, that there is no way to be invisible if you’re in the grocery with a dog. Being a low-key and rather shy person, this is hands-down the most difficult of part of puppy raising for me. It takes some getting used to, this center-of-attention business. But really, I do love the questions I get from folks.  I enjoy talking about the CCI program and what these incredible dogs can do for people.

Common Questions

Of the different questions, the one we hear most often is “how can you give her up?”  The easy answers I throw out there is that “we begin with the end in mind” or “she’s not my dog, she belongs to CCI.”  But that’s too simple. The real answer is that I have been given an opportunity to do something that will impact a person’s life in a profound way.  Folks who are teamed with these skilled service dogs achieve a new level of independence, both inside and outside their homes. A child in a wheelchair is transformed into that kid with the cool dog. My part in this whole thing is small, but it is pretty wonderful.  And you know what else?  I get a new puppy every 14 months.  Now that’s just wicked cool on its own. 

Inga Leaves the Nest

I’m not sure how this happened, but all of a sudden my 14 months of puppy raising the lovely Inga is over.  It’s time for her to move back to the CCI regional center and begin her advanced training.  I take a deep breath every time I think about this, but the state of denial is getting harder to maintain as we get closer to her turn-in date. So here’s my happy place thoughts right now. . . I’m going to send her off to college. We’ve had some really great fun and I wouldn’t trade the last year for anything.  She’s grown her wings so she can fly out of my nest. Her destiny is bigger than just me. I know that and I’m a proud mom. I feel pretty good that I’ve done the best I could.

This should be enough of a happy ending, I think. But there’s more I have to tell. We’re all signed up to do this all over again.  We have another little yellow fur-shedding machine coming in a couple of weeks. And don’t you know, I can hardly wait.

Stay tuned for more updates about Donna’s latest CCI puppy.

Sending my kid off to college this past year was tough.  I knew I would miss his companionship, the sound of his laughter, and the excitement (i.e. drama) that his presence brought to the household.  I even missed the dirty dishes and smelly socks that seemed to grow from the carpet itself.  But as any empty nester could tell you, it is refreshingly wonderful to focus on my own hobbies again. No mistake now – I adore my son and wouldn’t trade the last 18 years for anything.  I had a great time hosting birthday parties and going to band concerts.  I’m a proud mom and feel pretty good that I did the best I could for this kid of mine.  But he’s grown his wings and has flown from my nest. Truth be told, it’s more like he learned to fly after a teensy push from momma bird’s foot while he was looking over the edge of the nest.  If you’ve had the pleasure of a teenager in your house, chances are you know where I’m coming from.

So now back to my own life. For some time, I had wanted to get involved with Canine Companions for Independence. CCI is an awesome non-profit organization that trains and provides skilled service dogs to people with disabilities. I was first inspired by friends who were longtime volunteer puppy raiser for this organization.  Then two of my co-workers became CCI puppy raisers. I watched as several beautiful pups grew up and moved on to their dog destinies. And so finally, after sending the kid off to college, it became my turn and I contacted CCI about signing up as a volunteer puppy raiser. It seemed like a perfect fit – I love dogs, I work in a pet-friendly office, and now I even have a newly vacated spare bedroom. It’s all good.

We would love to hear your comments/stories about your involvement with CCI or other service dog organizations.