Now 19

Went and practiced today with Jason. Thad is doing so much better just after the first 2wks with him. He Showed me some more things while working on stays and being more consistent with lower softer tone in my voice.
We practiced some later on at home. I let him play some before we went to a meeting at RROTC later on that nite.

Nov 21

Finished Thaddeus' Chipin add:
http://windyssd.chipin.com/windys-service-dog

Pract iced come when called, around to heel. Sit stays and down stays. Went out to stores to practice.

Nov 25

We went to the food bank this morning and Thad did really well. I've been working on sit, down, stays, under, light, and come when called with him lately. He touches the light switch I placed on a board but still not consistently and his stays are long but when he is sitting if his head goes down that means he's going down, I say nope and he switches his body a little. We still have a long way to go but is showing improvement.

Nov 28

Yesterday I had Thad do a down stay and went around corner for 21/1 min, had him follow me everywhere I went and sit when I stopped. Today we went into town and practiced sitting every time I stopped, sitting when I was in line at checkout and moving when I moved, then him sitting under tables. He did a pretty go job for this being his first time do this in public.

Dec 2

Yesterday Thad took the day off from practice because I had not slept the night before. I am just like a drunk if I do not sleep, so I go no where and do nothing.

So far today we have been to church. It was breakfast Sunday this wk and he did a excellent job laying under the table quietly the whole hr.
Practiced some when we got home and plan to go to a meeting this afternoon and practice more before bed.

He does a 5 min down-stay with me out of the room!!!

Dec 5

Monday Jason was sick so we decided to try it again Friday and we just practiced at home. Went out in town yesterday and practiced. Today we started working with his harness on walking, heeling without sniffing.

Dec 10

Today is Thaddeus' 1st year and I had to take him to the trainers for a wk to learn how to behave like a real service dog and so they can hopefully build a bond so training wont be so difficult. I miss him so much. I have spent most of my time sleeping. CAN'T wait till the week is over!!!!

Dec 18

Yesterday I picked Thad up from the trainers thank God I missed him so. The trainer said he had to bond with him, but spent very little time with him and left him in his kennel most of the time so he did not bond. The trainer said he kept looking for me the whole time he was there. Well he has to be retrained to act right. He did not total mess with all the training I had done, but most. I think I will just stick to the trainers who come to my house and train us together. I am grateful he did not charge me for his failed efforts in training. Yesterday and today I have kept Thad on lead most of the day in a down stay.

Dec 26

I have been working with Thad on his basic commands since he went away for the wk with the Trainer. He said he needed to bond with him which if you leave a dog in a kennel and ignore him, not tethering him to you and taking him with you everywhere you go will not happen. So basically I think it did more harm then good. However has gotten me more enthusiastic about training. I finally have Thad back to where he is suppose to be and was before I dropped him off for that wk. I have ordered him a new mobility harness and will be hiring the man I used for my other SD soon as we are finished with our fund raiser. Other than that we will just keep working on the basics and we have also started farther and farther away sit stays.

Jan 3 2013

We are going to take a break for the next couple of wks and concentrate on nova-list at RROTC. Another training class for completion but I figure he could use all the practice at different things and discipline he can get. I plan to call my Assoc. Pastor next wk for help with my fundraiser I have decided on. I am looking forward to the next year.

Jan 4
Well, could not sleep so we went around Wal Mart and practiced. We practiced more of the same things when we got home to keep him sharp.