Trainers, Toilets and Trains

Today’s photo is of Karen, our trainer.  She is reluctant to feature, but it is important to recognise that our trainers have to train a wide variety of dogs and new owners in all weather and many differing environments, she is a key part of the process which should end in me qualifying with Jay.  Behind every successful partnership there is a good trainer! 

 

Today I have to mention something which we generally refer to as “spending” – the dog’s toilet habits.  While I don’t intend to spend too long on this, it is important to understand that the dog needs to establish a good “spending routine” so that it doesn’t get caught short while it is out working.  We have all become understandably sensitive to piles of something unpleasant deposited in the street and, if this is to be avoided, dogs need to “go” at appropriate times.  I am spending time every morning encouraging Jay to do just this in the garden by telling him to “get busy” – the command used to encourage the dog to perform.  As yet I haven’t persuaded him to do this before Karen (our trainer arrives) though he is then happy to oblige.  So my challenge is to succeed in persuading him to “get busy” before Karen’s arrival.  Should I let you know if I succeed?  I’m not sure.

 

We’ve had a very busy (no pun intended) day today.  This morning, while we were waiting for a suitable train, we headed from the station into town again to practice Boots and M&S.  After a 2-minute train ride between stations we walked from Shrub Hill Back to Sight Concern’s Centre.  On the way we called in at the Learning and Development Centre so that Karen could work out how to teach Jay to get from the road to the main door.  This is tricky because it involves crossing a car park, but Jerry managed it so I am sure Jay will too.

 

Trains are tricky for dogs – there is a lot of noise, high steps, gaps between the train and platform and often well-meaning travellers whose help is not always needed or helpful.  When getting and and off I always give my dog a long lead so that it can jump safely up or down.  I am now extremely careful because one of my dogs did twice slip between the train and the platform.  He was fine but I would not want that ever to happen again.

 

This afternoon we had Mark, Karen’s trainer with us; he watched her watching me.  We went back to County Hall.  All went pretty well, but Jay can sometimes become a bit bored when he has to walk back from somewhere when he has only just got there!  It’s understandable, isn’t it.

 

I think we have now walked most of the routes which Jay will need to work.  Over the next few days Karen will gradually begin to step back to see how Jay and I get on.  He is likely to be anxious at first without her reassuring guidance, but he should then become more positive as he realises that he and I are going to work together from now on.  It all takes time and patience.

 

We have now had four very busy days and this evening is the first time when I feel noticeably tired.  I expect Jay does too.  For me relaxation will include a nice glass of wine – for jay it will probably be a game in the garden and  chewing his nylo-bone.  Tomorrow we will do some traffic practice and repeat some of the routes we have done to date.  This will be good for Jay because it will help his self-confidence increase as he recognises and tackles tricky obstacles, junctions and me as a handler.

 

Incidentally, today I have made it onto page 3 – not the Sun, the Worcester news; they  have run a little feature on Jerry’s retirement and Jay’s arrival.  Good publicity for National Guide Dog Week.