Two weeks ago, Robbie and I ventured out into the world to dip our toes back into the pool of public access. It went pretty well, though it felt like we were living in a different time. Fewer people out, some in masks, some not. Barricades at store entrances and monitors directing foot traffic. Robbie & I outside, instead of inside running errands. When we began Robbie's public access training in late 2015, our trainer was insistent that Robbie learn how to exist and how to do all of his commands near stores before ever going inside one. A list of 20 or so exercises became our bread and butter for public access work. Some were exhaustively boring, others more engaging. We were always certain to have at least 1 or 2 people staring at the spectacle of me and Robbie pretending to be statues or bouncing recalls between my husband and I. We got used to the looks. Robbie got the socialization. By the time we went inside he was more well-prepared for what we encountered. With the advent of the Coronavirus, and stores being both deserted and packed full, we've had to revisit those early exercises, working outside stores once more. It's safer for Robbie and I this way, and lets my husband shop faster without the slowness factor of having a dog with you. It's a little boring for us, but Robbie seems ecstatic to be out and about again. Once more, we'll make sure everything is good to go, in aspects of us and public health, before we go back in stores again. Store #1Robbie and I positioned ourselves about 50 ft off to the side of the entrance. He could hear and see cars drive past, watch people pushing carts, hear people talking, see people of all types, hear and see birds, and hear machinery. We were waiting outside for 28 minutes. We split that time between 2 Long Sits, about 5 minutes each, and 2 Long Downs, more than 10 minutes each. Every now and then I'd ask for Focus, like right as someone passed in the distance or when he'd hear a cart roll by. He did a really good job maintaining his attention on me with most distractions, but did struggle more with higher distractions like carts rolling fast on the pavement or seeing my husband reappear. That was to be expected, but it did tell me that will be a target area to work on as we resume PA work. This exercise is massively boring and painful, but worth it all the way. Number of Periods Waiting in the Truck: 3One errand called for a drive-thru run, and two other places didn't have available space for working, so we hung out in the truck. This was good exposure for Robbie, though, to practice being chill in the vehicle while waiting for one thing or another. Since the Coronavirus, we haven't taken him anywhere, so he hasn't been getting chances to experience being in the vehicle. Low effort for me, but still training happening! Luckily it was a cool day, otherwise this would not have worked. Not sure what we'll do once summer hits. This time around, Robbie jumped out of the truck in his bright blue vest, trotting on a 15 ft long line, ready to work. We moved ourselves to the back of the parking lot where there was a grassy area. Down side, the flat spot was at the top of a steep incline. Up side, it meant Robbie got to practice his hill assist task. He loves that one! We worked up there for 40 minutes, mixing playtime with serious work time. Robbie experienced the sounds of road traffic, tires being filled with air, birds, people talking, horns honking, the conundrum of knowing we were supposed to be inside, smells of a new place, and the pressure of lying alongside a sidewalk during rush hour. He did amazing! The biggest mistake he made was trying to break Down by belly crawling through the grass. He was so excited to be out working that at times, his enthusiasm made it a little hard to be so serious. It was a wonderful afternoon and training session for us both! Store #2Advice to Other TeamsDo what feels comfortable to you. Watch your dog for what they feel comfortable with. If they seem a little uncomfortable, ask them to keep going a little bit longer then end. We can't let their confidence or training slip. Normally I wouldn't have been okay with Robbie being as goofy as he was in his vest, but he was engaged, he was motivated, he was trying, and that was what was going to give him the best possible experience while being re-immersed in a stimulating world.
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Being an animal trainer, I'm used to running into walls with whatever animal I'm working with. It's part of the life. My usual approach is to ask a more experienced trainer or do research. Read books, read other blogs online, watch videos - anything I can do that may point me in the right direction. Sometimes though, there isn't a perfect answer waiting for me to find it and I have to accept that I may never know exactly how to break down the wall. For the last few months, we've been living in the unknown. Will it be possible to get a handle on the virus? When will businesses re-open? When will life return to normal? Just how high of a risk faces me? Will we be okay?
One question we need to ask, in addition to those above, is, "How are our working animals doing with this?" Chances are, they're struggling just as much as we are - but they can't post it on social media. My background with animals is based in riding and training horses. As a result, two things come natural to me: using leather products for working with an animal, and routinely cleaning/conditioning the leather to help it remain serviceable for as long as possible. Leather can be expensive, so needing to replace halters or saddles completely because they were never cared for properly can add up quick. Even if it can be saved with a thorough cleaning and reconditioning, that can take time depending on how much tack you have or the severity of what's wrong. If you've ever experienced the heart drop of walking into the tack room and seeing green/white instead of rich, soft brown, you know what I mean. We use leather leashes for my service dog at home and on the job. We've had the same leashes for several years and kept them in good condition by taking care of the leather a few times a year and if they get wet. It made sense to me, because it was no different than caring for my saddle. It also seemed like a no-brainer that leather would require a little maintenance love.
Naturally, then, it surprised me to learn that dog owners don't do the same for their dog's leather gear. Websites that sell leather leashes, collars, or harnesses do not also sell leather care products, nor do they offer suggestions on caring for the gear. Other handlers I've spoken to didn't understand what I meant when I said I needed to condition my leather leashes as a chore. To that change, here's a quick post on how to care for dog's leather gear! |
My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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