It’s time again for a Sandy update! A lot has been happening over the summer as he continues working towards his goal of becoming the ears for his owner Kathy. Join us as we take a look at what he has been doing!
In June, Sandy spent his first few days away from Kathy while she was on vacation. Without his favorite human, he was a little sad, but quickly turned around his mood, taking full advantage of the break from training. His hopes were set very high that all rules would be abolished. However, Sandy’s dreams were quickly dashed when he realized he was still not allowed on the couch, and 3rd and 4th dinners never arrived.
All hope was not lost, though, when he began “training” Kathy’s husband on a new game of “stair fetch.” Sandy would send the ball rolling down the stairs, and to his delight, the ball would be thrown back up the stairs for him to catch. Nothing compares to a great game of fetch! While Sandy could have played this game all day, it only lasted for 30 minutes, which from his viewpoint, was deeply disappointing. A full day of play, and perhaps a treat or two, would have made the day much better.
While there was some fun during Kathy’s absence, it was time to return to Sandy’s training when she arrived home. Over the last several months Sandy’s training has been building his skills, leading to more difficult tasks. The next step in the training process was to visit a public place while listening to heel and stay, and continuing to heel without the leash being held, all requiring his ability to ignore distractions. As expected, he mastered this task. While visiting a busy store, this dedicated dog stayed close to Kathy, never pulling, even with all the new smells and distractions. He walked on stairs for the first time while on a leash, and rode in an elevator. He even remained close to Kathy while she was sitting on a bench, and settled easily while surrounded by tempting stuffed animals. Sandy did it all with ease, and as though he had been doing it for years.
While this young dog appeared to be a pro at staying attentive and focused in the chaos of a store, the environment did overwhelm him, which became apparent through his continued panting. There was also the dreaded car ride to the store, which is always a little unnerving for this vehicle-fearing canine. Luckily, for all his effort, he received a delicious piece of ham at the end. Even though the new environment, and transportation situation, were stressful, Sandy remained incredibly dedicated to his journey of becoming the ears for Kathy.
Fourth of July created some additional anxiety for Sandy, with the loud crashing sounds from the fireworks. Poor Sandy was shaking with fear throughout the evening, but some solace from his humans during the bombardment on his home helped him to feel safer. When the sounds finally stopped for the night, it quite possibly was one of Sandy’s most happiest moments. Thankfully this holiday only comes one time each year.
With the fear of blasting fireworks behind him, Sandy continues working on sitting under Kathy’s legs while she is on a bench, which will eventually lead to his ability to visit a restaurant. It can be a difficult skill to learn with all the people and dogs walking by, new smells, and places to explore. As with every new skill, Sandy is putting his full effort into learning it and following the commands.
A next big step in the hearing dog training process is wearing a service vest. While he finds ties and bandanas acceptable to wear, the vest is not. He tried hiding under the table after the first attempt to secure it on him, but he did reluctantly accept it after the second attempt, realizing it was not coming off. It will take some time for him to become accustomed to this new attire, but Sandy will certainly master this skill with time.
Most of the time training is for Sandy, but he decided to turn things around a bit and do a little of his own training, especially since it worked so well with his fetch game. He loves mealtimes, snacks, and treats, as many dogs do, and carefully mapped out a plan to get more of the things he loves. When the time was right, he began barking at the window, only to sneak back to a table filled with food when his humans came over to look out the window. While it was definitely well planned and executed, Kathy and her husband were too quick at reaching the table. Unfortunately, Sandy’s plan didn’t result in an extra meal, but at least there’s always the opportunity to try another time or two.
Over the next few months, Sandy will continue stepping one paw at a time forward to reach the goal of becoming a hearing dog. While he has accomplished a lot, there is still more to learn in this journey. Through his steadfast training and dedication to Kathy, Sandy will most certainly reach and exceed this goal.
Continue to check back for updates on Sandy’s hearing dog journey!
- Tags: Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Dog Hero, service dog, Your Hearing Dog