Back in January 2002, Maggie/Ivy (#211),
one of Patty and Leon Gilbo's
lovingly nurtured babies, was placed with Canine Assistance Partners
(CAP),
a service dog training program in Eugene. Since then she has
become known
as Kismet (Kizzy) and has been growing and learning to become
an assistance
dog for a mobility impaired person. There have been some bumps
along the
way and some triumphs also as Kizzy steadily advanced in her training.
Last Saturday, Kizzy and a young girl
with cerebral palsy who has been
chosen as her partner successfully completed the Public Access
Test. Kizzy
is now officially an service dog for the girl and they are spending
the
first week of a life together as a team.
We are hoping we will receive a picture
of our Golden Bond rescue dog that is
going to spend her days assisting and being best friend to her
new partner. What a great ending to a Rescue Story!
Dog Name: Ivy/Maggie renamed Kismet by
Canine Assistance Partners
To: Golden Bond Rescue
From: Canine Assistance Partners
Time Frame: January 13 through February 18, 2002
Since Kismet was evaluated by CAP and picked up from her foster home on January 13, 2002 she has been very busy learning about the components of her new life!
The first week she learned her new name
Kismet; was introduced to working
on a head collar; going potty on command; and began her socialization
work
out in the big world of humans.
She had a few rough places the first week:
she was afraid of all the black
puppies/dogs in training and wanted to mount them all. With their
patience
and Kelly's work (her trainer) Kismet learned they were all just
dogs and
would not ever hurt her and was able to give up her need to dominate
them. Kismet is very distracted by birds but she is a retriever
and she
will learn that they hold no place of interest in her new world.
She
stressed over the car trip to Eugene but not on the car trip back
home with
her trainer. No surprise with so many changes in her life in such
a short
time. All-in-all a lovely resilient girl.
By the end of the first week she was beginning
formal pick up and carry
games, was going out into many busy human environments and had
learned that chewing nylabones was a great stress reliever.
Week two saw the beginning of more formal
obedience training with the
introduction of directional commands. Her socialization exercised
consisted of: a vet visit, McDonalds, Fred Meyers, Target and
a Pediatrician's office with a toddler for a check up.
Noted some noise sensitivity and began
sound desensitization work. Also
noted some grooming discomfort (putting her teeth on her trainer
multiple
times) now her daily routine has been changed to include 2 times
daily
grooming with massages and cuddle sessions to change her perceptions
about
grooming.
Week three Kismet began working next to wheelchair playing pick up games. The chair made her nervous (heavy panting and jumping around) but she was able to work through her concern and picked up everything, very nice puppy.
A fun day was had and she got to play
in the snow that was a huge thrill
for her. The rest of the week included more socialization work,
leash work, pick up and carry work building the foundation.
Week four brought a surprise -she is sound
sensitive to gunshots. Her sound
training has changed to include many gunshots, car backfire sounds,
etc. She will sleep, and eat to low levels of these sounds until
she shows
no notice or discomfort from them.
Another treat this week took a bath with
the toddler and she really loved
that! Water, a child and toys ,what more could a dog want.
She attended a seminar on grooming for
our new volunteers and was worked on
by several people and has come to the point of enjoying the attention.
Summary: After one month in the program
she is doing very well and we are
pleased with her progress.