Lost in the woods...found by my dog!

Dave ran the track today through a wooded area. Hans did great. I ran alongside him and was a little nervous when the path divided into three directions, but Hans barely hesitated before pulling again in the right direction.

I found out after the track was finished that an earlier group had come upon a snake! Good information to find out AFTER we were done!

We had a few extra minutes, so Dave and I decided to drive to a different park area and try our own track unassisted. I'm happy to report that it was successful! Dave laid a track and hid with Jonathan and I found them with Hans. I still need lots of practice. Hans knows what he is doing, but I don't always read the signs right. The good news is that I could talk myself through the hesitations and figure out where to pick up the track again.

We're all tired of living in a hotel room. Lots of cabin fever going around. We have three more days of training until I become certified. Part of me is so anxious to be home and back to a routine...the other part is concerned that I only have three more days to learn everything I need to know before flying solo.

Oh yeah...we found out the Hans has food allergies. He has uncontrollable itching from it and we are in the process of changing his food. I also have to give him supplements...yes, this dog belongs in our family!

I can't wait to see everyone and introduce you all to our new wonder dog!

Heather

My first track as the handler

Well, I did it! Today I took the leash and ran the track. Hans was right on it and we found Jonathan. I feel better now that I have one under my belt. I still have a lot to learn, but I know I'll be able to do this.

We also did a couple of tracks at the mall. 'Reading' the dogs is different on an inside track than outside, so we have to practice lots of both so I know the signs to look for. I've learned how to hold my arms so Hans doesn't yank them out of their socket and lean back in the run so I don't end up in a face plant on the ground. Fortunately, I'm a good student...and didn't have to learn this the hard way!

Today while working on commands, I had Hans in a 'down' about 40 feet away while all kinds of distractions (2 cats, bouncing balls, swinging tug toys, heeling dogs, knocking doors...) and he stayed for over 1/2 hour without breaking the command. I'm so proud of him.

I'm having trouble uploading video from our camera, so you're stuck with pictures. I'll try to remember to take more tomorrow.

Heather

Tracking and more tracking...

I've never run so hard and so far in my whole life! Those of you who know me well will appreciate this...today I tracked through tall grass. I had two thoughts going through my head the whole time...1) find my kid! 2)this dog better be scaring away all the snakes!!! The things we do for our kids!

Jonathan hid today with his personal aid, Karen, but without the trainer who the dog is use to searching for. Hans still found him! I'm loving this dog more and more!

Andrew has a new buddy that he gets to hang out with several hours a day. This has helped out a lot with boredom and jealousy issues that might have been a problem otherwise. Aaron is getting lots of one to one attention from grandparents. He misses me, but I try to give him a lot of attention in the evenings.

Tomorrow we track in the mall. That should be interesting. I'll let you know how it goes. I can't wait to catch up with everyone. We are exactly half way done with training. In a lot ways it is going too fast and I worry that I will not have the confidence to go home and do everything right. In other ways it feels like doggie boot camp and I'm soooooooooo exhausted.

Dave took some video footage of our track today. It should be entertaining since he was running while he was taping! If it's any good I'll see if I can upload it.

We miss everyone! Hope all is well.
Heather

Tethering Success!!!

Thank you for the prayers! Tethering was a success today. We took Jonathan and Hans to the mall...on a Saturday! Not my first choice since it was very busy and I was nervous, but it went extremely well. Hans stayed in a 'down' all through our lunch in the food court. He was such a good boy! Then I said to Dave, "let's just try tethering him." We used my iPod to make it an enjoyable time for Jonathan, and he didn't fight it at all! He was very happy to walk around the mall and not have someone hold on to him. I think he really liked the feeling of a little independence. This is really going to change our lives because now we'll be able to go places and I'll be able to concentrate on more than 'where's Jonathan?!' Someone asked me how I liked the mall, and I really couldn't tell you anything about it, othere than it's big and there are several levels. We were there for a couple of hours, but I was so focused on Jonathan and Hans that I don't even know many of the stores that are there. Guess I'll try to pay more attention next time!


Here's a picture of Jonathan listening to his Veggie Tales songs while he's tethered to Hans.

Another day of tracking!

We tracked again today, and once again Hans was awesome! Dave and I are exhausted from all the running, but so excited that our dog is doing what he's supposed to do!

We learned about tethering in class today. This is going to be a huge challenge for Jonathan. Even wearing the special vest has been an issue, but we were able to get him to keep it on for 1/2 hour today (I distracted him by letting him listen to my iPod the whole time.) We haven't even tried attaching him to Hans yet. He still doesn't want to have much to do with Hans unless they are chasing a ball together...so we are playing LOTS of ball!

I got to work with Hans on behavior disruptions today. The dogs are trained to 'nuzzle' (push their nose onto a target), 'touch' (touch with their paw), 'kisses'(yeah, that's exactly what it sounds like), 'lap' (laying their head on a lap), and 'over' (putting the front half of their body over the child's legs for deep pressure - this helps a lot of kids with autism). We worked our dog pretending to do the behaviors of our child that we would like disrupted or redirected (basically it's suppose to distract the child long enough for them to forget what they're upset about). Let's just say that I was pretty much covered in dog slobber before we were done.

Here's a picture of me in training class. Hans has been in an extended 'down' position and has fallen asleep! He's starting to earn the nickname 'Big Slug' :)

We have an excellent TRACKER!!!

Well, we tried our first track today. Hans is amazing! It only took him a few seconds to pick up on the scent and then he was off like a shot straight to Jonathan.

Here's how the process works:
Hans has been trained to track a specific trainer at the facility. He always tracks the same person because he is being trained to be a 'scent specific' tracker. Today, that person hid with Jonathan, and Hans tracked her-but now her scent was mixed with Jonathan's. (Actually, it's skin cells that are shed that the dogs are tracking.) We will track every day that we are here and gradually remove the trainer from Jonathan's hiding spot. We also will mix up the people who hide with Jonathan so that the only common thread is Jonathan's scent.

The head trainer, Jeremy, thinks that Hans has some Blood Hound mixed with German Shepherd. I believe him...but I really think he's part HORSE!!! He's all legs and runs so fast...I've been working out so that I can keep up with him, but I need to up my endurance by a whole bunch! I'll be the one dragging behind my dog on the ground this next week!

We're also continuing to work on obedience skills. That sounds funny to say...the dogs completely know their skills already-they just need to get used to getting the commands from a new person. Hans is doing well, but is still testing me to see if I mean it! I have another child pushing his boundaries!:) I can now put him in a 'down' and walk out of the room and he'll stay until I come back to 'free' him. He heels really well most of the time now and today we worked on giving commands from all over the room and working them while there were distractions.

Jonathan loves to play ball with Hans. I'm pretty sure that will be the key to our success with bonding. Hans is a ball lover as well, so it's great interaction for the both of them.

Grandma and Grandpa Noble are leaving tomorrow. They have been incredibly helpful. They've spent a lot of time with Andrew and Aaron. Grandma and Grandpa Johnson come in tomorrow night to spend the remainder of the time with us.
We're all exhausted, but training is going really well. Thanks for all the prayers.

Heather

Hans is with us!

I only have a short amount of time to write...but I wanted everyone to know that training is going well. Hans is listening to my commands and bonding well to me and starting to bond to Jonathan as well. This morning I took Hans out for a walk. When we came back in to the hotel - he went directly to our room and stopped at our door. I was amazed that he already knows the scent to follow! This is a really great dog.

I'm in love!

Heather

A Trip to the Zoo!

Jonathan is adjusting to all of the new environment changes very well. So well, that we decided to try going to the zoo yesterday. We all had a great time - which is something new for our family. We were able to stay for three hours. Here are some pictures of our day.

A Sleepless Night...

It's 2:15AM....................the wait is killing me! We get Hans in less than 8 hours. I'd do the math, but that part of my brain has shut down. Now I'm going to have bags under my eyes for the video.

Heather

We're here!!!

We're at our hotel in Ohio. It took 6 and1/2 hours of driving yesterday to get here, and it's so great to finally be here! Training starts tomorrow, but we came a day early to let Jonathan acclimate to the new environment. He had a really good day yesterday considering all the changes. Thanks for all the prayers-they're working. Please keep them coming!

He ate a sandwich in our hotel room last night, and he finally fell asleep in a different bed...I know these sound like small things...but they are huge accomplishments for him.

We get to meet Hans tomorrow!!!!!

8 more days...Jonathan got a letter from his dog

We're getting so excited to go to the 4Paws training facility! The founder of the organization, Karen Shirk, traditionally sends out letters to the kids from their dogs about a week before training starts. It's a very special announcement just for them. Here's Jonathan's letter from Hans...

Dear Jonathan,

I feel like I have been waiting on you forever. I think you are the most special boy ever for loving me just the way I am. I was so sad and thought no one would ever want me, not that I feel there is anything wrong with me. I can track better than all of them! But you know they gave me that label, sigh. I am so glad you do not care about "labels". I have been working extra hard because I want to be the best service dog ever so you will be so happy with me! I love to play ball and want to sleep in your room. I still remember sitting in the shelter as a puppy praying for a boy to love but all the boys kept coming and taking other puppies. Karen says that is because I was meant for you and I think she is right! So hurry, hurry, hurry and get here to see me, okay?

xoxoxoxoxo Hans

PS Didn't I grow into a handsome dude! Now don't listen to Karen who lectures my ears everyday showing them pictures of German Shepherds and telling them to stand up. I think they give me character!