[nagdu] New dog... Err.. Not-so-new, now!

Janice Toothman janice.toothman at verizon.net
Mon Feb 18 13:35:47 UTC 2013


Hi Jen,
I am curious. If you don't mind sharing, the reason Aiken was trained to 
work on your right side? Thanks in advance.
Janice
On 2/17/2013 7:07 PM, Jen&Nixon wrote:
> *Note, I ended up being long-winded!*
>   
> Well, Marsha asked for it, so thught I'd do it publicly instead, so all is
> aware... I tend to read the group more since I'm always "fur"ever behind
> messages, I run my own business plus have two volunteer jobs (volunteer
> resources coordination is my main duties at both places, Red Cross and
> Canadian Cancer Society). I have other minor stuff I do as well and live at
> my own place after so many years with my parents for so long until an
> apartment came along, which was a complete fluke! I had watched the building
> get constructed beside the Red Cross I volunteer at; which originally was
> going to be for seniors, until they opened up the application for people
> with disabilities... I was on a house-sit job in April 2012, saw the ad in
> the paper, shared the information with my mother, who couldn't grab the
> article fast enough and pull out her phone fast enough in sheer
> excitement... LOL! A month later, I was packing up moving! April was also
> the month I found out there was a suitable match for me, for Dog #3. Nixon
> retired in February 2012. My chaotic lifestyle wasn't going well for Nixon
> and he was getting up in age as well (He'll be 10 in May). I unpacked and
> make sure all was ready before I left for San Rafael, in two weeks. I was
> pretty much burnt out after three weeks training due to the unexpectedness
> of everything that was happening in my life at the time, I even took a week
> off from work after I got back from San Rafael.
>   
> Training did go well, although due to my knowledge of dog training, I think
> I intimidated my instructors, including the apprentice that was matched up
> to work with me, who was 7 1/2 months pregnant! I wondered how she was
> keeping up with me in class! My stomache couldn't handle the food (we were
> staying in the hotel during the new dorm being rebuilt), safety issues, plus
> my sinuses acting up to high gear (none of these are an issue at the Oregon
> campus, and may request this, even if it takes far longer to find that
> suitable dog that best meet my needs and re-train the dog on the right
> side). I applied for a new dog in the summer of 2011, when I started to see
> signs of Nixon's work starting to slip so started to work him only on a
> part-time basis and only routes he knew well and could do well. It was
> almost a year before I got a class date due to the Canadian winters, they
> don't feel comfortable sending Canadians down, but I am hoping they will
> re-consider in the future especially if I narrow the campus down next time
> around, as finding that right dog that best fit my needs take time.
>   
> Aiken has been trained to guide on my right side. He's a spunky, funny,
> stubborn, and absolutely adorable 2-year-old golden / labrador cross. His
> personality is the complete opposite of Nixon. Nixon is so mellow and slow
> and just takes things in with a grain of salt. Aiken has challenges that I
> can work with, due to my dog-training knowledge, and the staff knew I could
> handle a dog with the personality he had. Since he's a cross, he does have
> the spookiness tendency and stubbornness when it comes to wanting to go one
> way, when I really am insistent going the other direction. Since my schedule
> is *NEVER* the same each week or even day, he strives so well on that. His
> tail *NEVER* stops wagging as he guides me. The bond took quite a while to
> kick in compared to Nixon, as it was love at first sight, and we had *NO*
> issues what-so-ever. Aiken had some relieving issues, but it has decreased
> enough that I can handle it and am able to live with it. He doesn't relieve
> indoors, and has learned over time that you don't relieve right in a middle
> of a crossing. We are coming up on our anniversary in June as a team, and we
> are doing *EXTREMELY* well.
>   
> One of my favourite pictures that mother sent me when Aiken went to the
> "farm" for a few days while I was on a pet sit job (the dogs when they met
> weren't comfortable having Aiken on the premises...), Aiken and Nixon were
> curled up on the couch together. It was absolutely adorable. I'm willing to
> send it if anyone wants to see it ... there's enough contrast on it for
> those who are low vision. Nixon doesn't like to play so Aiken learned early
> on, you can't play with him, and Aiken is very playful ... once he does the
> labrador loops, he can be under control easily and quickly... lastly, his
> house manners are phenomenal! He doesn't touch food at all on my table, or
> if I spill his own food on my floor, he will just sit there and stare at me,
> "Whatcha do that for???" LOL!
>   
> So, there's a novel of Aiken... yes, I know it is funny I have another
> famous person's dog name... Richard Nixon and now Clay Aiken. LOL!
>   
> Jen McEachen and Aiken
> Pampered Critters Pet and House Sitting Services
> Prince George, BC
> pamperedcritters at gmail.com / www.pamperedcritters.ca
> <http://www.pamperedcritters.ca/>
> "Like" us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pamperedcritters
>   
>   
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