Hey everybody! Much has happened in the world of Viking
Pups, and once again I am way behind on the times as far as keeping this blog
updated- so here we go!!
CARVER is amazing, as per usual!
This incredible dog is turning into a perfect seizure response dog (as if there were any doubt) and is working on responding with his ‘paw’ just to a mimic seizure, no command necessary! We’ve built up enough anxiety around the event of the seizure that Carver understands that this is an URGENT event- and in the words of our head trainer “We’re placing a dog who will wake the DEAD to tell them [Carver’s client] is having a seizure”.
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| Carver had the best summer vacation of all of us and went to the ocean! |
This incredible dog is turning into a perfect seizure response dog (as if there were any doubt) and is working on responding with his ‘paw’ just to a mimic seizure, no command necessary! We’ve built up enough anxiety around the event of the seizure that Carver understands that this is an URGENT event- and in the words of our head trainer “We’re placing a dog who will wake the DEAD to tell them [Carver’s client] is having a seizure”.
Look at him move! Wake the dead indeed.
NORA is moving along incredibly well on all of her tasks!
She is able to retrieve objects from the floor, touch doors and cabinets closed, and for the first time (at only eight months) has opened a fridge! Not to mention that most of these tasks she’s still shaping- meaning they aren’t even the finished product yet. We’re super excited about just how perfect this happy little lady is.
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| She even pouts about having to call off training session! |
She is able to retrieve objects from the floor, touch doors and cabinets closed, and for the first time (at only eight months) has opened a fridge! Not to mention that most of these tasks she’s still shaping- meaning they aren’t even the finished product yet. We’re super excited about just how perfect this happy little lady is.
Pardon the commentary by yours truly- psyching up puppies is 10% practice
90% making a fool of yourself
AND, the new additions to the Viking Pups family (though
they’re new by about a month and a half now, sorry!) are
ARIEL
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| Also known as 'red leash' |
ELSA
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| Also known as 'Pink Leash' |
And NALA!
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| Also known as 'Weirdo' ahem- I mean 'Black Leash' |
These three Disney themed ladies will go on to take facility
dog positions at schools- and all three will be competing for a coveted
position at the Aledo Child Advocacy Center, to testify with children, a
special job indeed! We’re working our butts off to make sure these girls are
perfect for their jobs and they’re proving to be up to it- they’re even
starting to learn ‘settle’ and ‘place’ already, at only three months old!
We’d love to give a HUGE thanks to Formaro Labs for the chance to work with dogs with such an incredible temperament- all three babies are whipsmart and totally bombproof, something they’re going to need around as many kids as they’ll be working with!
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| Nala learning 'place' |
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| Ariel learning 'place' with a twist (that being her ear) |
We’d love to give a HUGE thanks to Formaro Labs for the chance to work with dogs with such an incredible temperament- all three babies are whipsmart and totally bombproof, something they’re going to need around as many kids as they’ll be working with!
Ariel, Elsa, and Nala are all happily settled into their foster homes and we can't wait to see them all back at Augie- classes are going to be full of black labs, and we're looking forward to another 'Is that Bobo or Cami' type situation. Don't worry, WE'LL be able to tell them apart- we think.
EMMY is making amazing progress, unsurprisingly!
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| Pretty Emmy |
This girl has absolute perfect drive and she never fails to
astound us with just how fast she learns. Her guidework is perfect, her
retrievals are amazing, her deep pressure therapy never fails to calm even her
trainers down- we can’t get enough of this gorgeous girl, even when she’s blowing
coat and looks like she’s a four month old ragamuffin again.
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| You don't understand Mom- I can't go out with my hair looking like THIS |
All of us at Augustana are going to miss Miss Feistypants
though- because she’s leaving Augustana for grad school with her handler,
foster, and all around lead trainer Mary. We’re losing a great dog and our
awesome Viking Pups President in one go, but it’s worth it to see both of them
flourish in a new place. Thanks for the amazing time, both of you!
On another note- we are getting TWO more puppies in a little less than a month! This year is going to be absolutely insane with puppies, but we’re so happy to be helping people like we are! Expect some wonderful pictures soon of the future FLYNN and PIPER- and we’ll let what they look like be a surprise. ;)
A special thanks to:
QCCAN
To learn more / keep up to date about Viking Pups:
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