[nagdu] an update on Soleil and me

[The Pawpower Pack via nagdu]

Good morning, Y'all,
I thought I'd come in here and give an update on Soleil's training.  For those who do not know me, my name is Rox'E, I'm Deafblind, with severe balance issues from the disease which damaged my hearing.  Soleil my yellow lab is my new dog.  I'm an owner trainer, and since Laveau my working dog for the last 6 years has kidney disease, her vet strongly suggested I begin training another dog since it's impossible for me to use a white cane and have the level of independence I do with a dog.  
I'm pleased to say that Soleil has completed guide dog and mobility brace and counterbalance training.  She has taken and passed both the ADI public access test and the canine good citizen test offered by the ACK.  Both tests were given by a neutral trainer whom neither she, nor I, had met before.  I also have about 5 hours of video showing her working in various situations, should there ever be an access issue which must be resolved in court.  
We are now moving on to sound alert training, and retrieve and tug training.  
She should be done with that in 5 years, hahahaha! 
Laveau is doing well, but tires easily, and cannot work outside once we get into the really hot temps— I live in Louisiana, so it's good Soleil is ready to go.  She is still very green— like a dog who has just come home with its handler.  And I look forward to walking many miles with her. 


 Rox and the kitchen Bitches: 
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone