Dear ALl, Heart comes home tomorrow.  I ma fairly sure that Animal Care & Control will issue her Service Dog tag right then & there.  Until her stitches reabsorb -- 10 days after today's spaying -- I can't begin to train her outdoors much.  Our Trainer wants me to get her to sit, come, & go into her place (wire crate) with hand signals as her first lessons (indoors).  1st, Heart has to learn to be a Good Canine Citizen, then learn the coomplexities of Public Access, &, as she goes along, learn how to help me with my disabiliteis.  I'll possst here as there is news.  Yours in Him, Deb 

Oh Deb, what wonderful news! I just can't convey how excited I am for the both of you.

Deb you should keep a journal of Heart's progress.....I feel another 'Marley and Me' newspaper column in the making!

Dear Toni & Stacie SLK, Thanks so much for your love of my Heart, WHOM I am taking home as soon as I leave the office of my personal physician, Peter!   Dear Michelle CinnamonHuskies, I am indeed keeping a journal, right here on the web for all of us Forumites to read!  I also have to keep minute training records, mostly of how I shape complex behaviors by successive approxiimation/stages.  Love & ruff-ruff/Arf! to all, Deb & Heart

Deborahmichelle:

Thanks so much for your love of my Heart, WHOM I am taking home as soon as I leave the office of my personal physician, Peter!  

Deb does this mean we get to celebrate heart's home comming?

 ?

"Dear Peter, & please share with Kelli & Kat, Heart has been home for 2 hours.  She is a jewel.  She is a treasure.  She is quite well trained in teh 1st place -- I could not be more lucky!  With Ana's work with her 2ce/wk (the Trainer), I'm certain that she will develop into a reliable Service Dog. 
 
"She wept at the first jet practice flight of Fleet Week, but immediately habituated & did not cry at the 2nd flight.  I made the mistake of picking her up to comfort her & put her on the bed when I could see that she didn't like being held, & she went into a submissive defecating posture (but didn't produce), so I will know better next time.  She hasn't entered the crate yet.
 
"When she entered the building for the 1st time, she bounded up the stairs (probably after Ana's dog Dara who had been here on Monday).  Except for crying over the horrid jet noise, & a few barks in that incident too ---- it covered only about 3 minutes, she has been just fine.  We've been on a 4-block walk since returning home.  I've made a vet appt at the SPCAA f Sunday (it's free f Animal Care & Control adoptions.). 

"She is so alert to everything.  She is so fine a specimen of Poodle.  She is already trailing me.  I couldn't be more happy.
 
"ACC says she cannot be licensed as a Service Dog f 30 days, but I'm going to vest her anyhow on the 11th day (when her spaying stitches will be healed).
 
"She doesn't like turkey liver treats (maybe it's the added cranberries!), but she does like peanut butter.  I hope that she'll like the organic kibble that Whole Foods markets under its own label (remember the Frugality Forum's Anonymous Donor's gift card!).
 
"If you have as great a weekend as I will, you will be very lucky!  (No offense meant!!!)
 
"Yours fondly, Deb"

(PS -- she's been here 3.5 hours now .... a delight!) 

Deb, I'm so glad that you got to bring Heart home today. 

Shellia

Deb, I'm so glad you finally got Heart. It sounds like you've both found someone to love.

Jill

Dear All, Heart already knew "Sit" when she came to me.  She learned to respond to my saying it yesterday, as well as learning her new name.  (Much nicer than "Shakira", no? -- just joshing!)  Today, I have to teach her to sit at street crossings & to enter & feel safe in her den/crate.  If I can''t do the latter today, I can't go to Torah (Bible) Study tomorrow.  I can't stay for services in any event because Ana the Trainer says thaa 3 hours is the max for crate time.  I'm quite willling not to go; I just am going to call the Rabbi today to explain.  I'll need to bring Heart in to  see him relatively sooon, anyway, so that I can bring her with me to shul/synagogue.

She seems almost psychic.  I said to her, "Let me take a look at those stitches" (from the spaying), & she rolled over onto her back & stayed there!

As you may remember, I go to sleep at 5:30-6PM.  She woke me aat 8PM with kissing my cheek & then circling around near the doorway, so of course I took her out, but to no purpose.  I woke up naturally at 1AM & took her out again, to no purpose.  She is sleeping soundly now (5:40AM); when she awakens, I'll take her out again.  She slept with me on the bed, & duly moved over from the bottom of the bed next to my feet when I wanted to stretch out froom having been curled up.  She is such a sweeetie-pie!

Yours in Him, Deb