Made the Local News for Sunstone

Made the news yesterday for Sunstone Service Dogs! Access the written article here.

Happy International Assistance Dog Week!

Happy International Assistance Dog Week! All this week events  are taking place globally to celebrate the work assistance/service dogs and educate people about what a service dog does. The Willamette Valley Assistance Dog Club is celebrating with a Facebook post-a-thon and community information tables.

A Month of Movies: Wretches & Jabbers along with Sprout Film Festival

I love movies as people who knows me will heartily agree. One thing I especially love about movies seeing my experiences and the experiences of my fellow members of the global cross disability portrayed with the full breadth and depth of the human experience that it is on screen. What does this have to do with service dogs you ask? Well, my town participated in 100 cities.One night for Autism.I was ecstatic for two reasons:
1) I have always considered myself a part of the global cross disability and know that the only way things will truly improve for people with disabilities in meaningful in lasting ways is we as people with disabilities come together in common goals and understanding for the better-meant of everyone's life.
2) This was my first Sensory Friendly public film viewing of Wretches & Jabbers. A Sensory Friendly Film viewing is one where the movie goer does not have to endure the often painful sensory overload that today's movie house experience can be. At a Sensory Friendly showing the sound is at a normal level instead of the usual bone rattling decibels, the lights are lowered but not completely off, people may laugh, get up and move around, and speak if necessary without fear of being summarily thrown out of the theater for disturbing others.  I, for one, will attending many, many more sensory friendly films with my favorite movie watching companion, my service dog Shilo. At this showing I did not have to worry if the accessible seat were also right in the line of the speakers or the doors. With the sound at a decent volume and the lights up neither Shilo or I had to worry about being blasted out of our seats or stepped on/ jostled by other patrons coming and going who did not see use and tripped on us or bumped into one of us! I highly recommend sensory friendly film showings to everyone!

We also were especially lucky to have our town be a stop on the tour of the Sprout Film Festival again this year! Last year I inadvertently missed it and this year I was determined to go and I am so glad I did!As many of my readers know, I am a person living with cerebral palsy which is a developmental disability along with others like autism spectrum disorders, down syndrome, angelman's sydrome, fragile X, and many more; so, I was thrilled to hear that artists and every day people with developmental disabilities were making films of all sorts be they documentaries,  music videos, shorts, or animated that show people with developmental disabilities as the complex human beings were are with all the hopes, dreams, goals desires and talents as any person not living with a disability.  The selections for the matinee showing were funny, real, thought provoking, beautiful, and full of true talent. In the words of Anthony Di Salvo, founder of the Sprout Film Festival, who hosted out tour stop,

"The days of it being acceptable for a non-disabled actor to portray a character with a disability are over. Just as the day has passed where it was acceptable for a person not of a race or ethic group to portray a character representing  that experience has gone by; so, too, have the days of characters with disability being played by able bodied actors. There are plenty of talented actors and performers with disabilities to fill these roles!"

Bark in the Park: A tail waggin' time with treats!

Melissa, Shilo, Leslie, and Cammy going though the information booths.

 Bark in the Park was a blast! While the final numbers both people and dogs participating and how much money was raised in total is still being totaled; the members of Willamette Valley Assistance Dog Club raised $345 for Greenhill.

Besides a nice 2k walk on a lovely Sunday morning. The dogs also got to try their paw at agility thanks to the members of Willamette Agility Group (WAG); get tons of treats, and learn about the dog blood bank. 

Willamette Valley Assistance Dog Club Team walks 2k to support Greenhill Humane Society

Shilo does Bark in the Park 2011

Shilo, a rescued dog running to raise funds for pets still waiting to be rescued at Greenhill Humane Society! In a week of fundraising, we have raised $190.60! All the money raised is going to care for homeless pets. Find out out more about Bark in the Park and make a Donation Today!

Shilo and Cammy Meet Ian Dunbar!

The girls scramble to get to Ian!

I was very lucky to be able to scrape together enough money to attend one day of a three day lecture series put on by Dr. Ian Dunbar called "Science Based Dog Training with Feeling." While I would have loved to go to all three days, it just wasn't in the budget. Therefore I chose the day focused on Lure & Reward training. I learned and was reminded of a lot, so let me see if I can boil down some top points from the lecture.
Keys to Lure and Reward Based Training
1. Lure and Reward Training allows the Training to attach verbal cues immediately (1st trial) to a  behavior
2. The food Lure should be  gone (in other words the dog can see and smell the food while they are doing the behavior) in 6-12 trials for a given new behavior. Note that you continue to reward behaviors you want.
3. Allows the Trainer to immediately select and reward for the best performances of the behavior.
4. When phasing out food ask  more for less and replace with other reinforce like praise and life rewards.
5. The games Tug,  Fetch, and chase are intrinsically rewarding for dogs and can/should be used as rewards in training.
6. Train opposites

I could go one for days with what I learned about lure and reward training, instead visit Dog Star Daily read more about this training technique.


Understanding Pet Professionals & Getting What You Need
1. All pet professionals run their business on the assumption that you dog is both people and dog friendly. If your dog is not good with one of these two expect to be charged more because the work will be harder, take longer and use more staff to get the job done.
2. Don't be surprised if a Trainer fires you, if you don't follow through with exercises and homework. Your dog could be trained by them, yes, but it is your dog and they need to respond to you. The only way that will happen is if you do the work.
3. Don't sign up for group class with specific goals then go in expecting the trainer to throw the whole syllabus out the window because you and you dog aren't ready for it.

Puget Sound Assistance Dog Club Conference June

"It Doesn't Have to be a Mountain- Simple Solutions for Service Dog Issues"
Conference Registration Form
Saturday , June 18, 2011
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
The Inn at Gig Harbor
3211 56th St. NW
Gig Harbor, WA

The Assistance Dog Club of Puget Sound welcomes you to a day of discussion and
the sharing of information. The conference will open with a presentation on
Vaccinations, Parasite Control and Lumps and Bumps presented by Janie
Unbehagen, DVM. The afternoon presentation will be Easy to fix behavior issues
and what problems are really red flags presented by Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM
All Creatures Behavior Counseling. Lunch will offer you an opportunity for
small group discussions on several different issues related to assistance dogs.
Tables for vendors will be available throughout the day as will information
related to assistance dogs.

Conference Fees (includes Boxed Lunch) - $45 (Closing Date is June 1, 2011)

Program:
9:00 – 11:30 Opening Session: Maintaining a Service Dog's Health
Janie Unbehagen, DVM

11:30 – 1:30 Lunch and Round Table Discussions

1:30- 4:00 Easy to Fix Behavior Issues and what Problems are Really Red Flags
presented by Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM All Creatures Behavior Counseling.

All registration forms must be submitted no later than June 1, 2011.
Registration will be available on first-come, first-serve basis.
CEUs
The ADC Conference has been approved for CEU credit by the Certification Council
for Professional Dog Trainers for 5.5 credits.

For a registration Packet please e-mail: assist_dog_club@hotmail.com.

Pets and Santa Claus

No matter whether you are working with a service dog or a service dog in training the local malls are offering pictures with Santa Claus!
Valley River Center:

Pet Night with Santa

Monday, December 13, 2010
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Bring your special pet to visit Santa!
December 13th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Pets must be on a leash or in a cage.

Gateway Mall

St. Nick's Pet Pics

11/29/2010 - 12/13/2010

A waggin' good time.
Monday nights from November 29 through December 13 are St. Nick’s Pet Pics.
Four-legged friends are invited to capture a holiday-hugging photograph with Old St. Nick. Costumes provided make your fuzzy companion even more adorable during a special mall trip to celebrate the holiday season.
Santa welcomes dogs and cats only, please.
LOCATION: Santa Set
TIME: 6:00pm - Set Close

These events are a great way to work with a service dog in training in a mall environment. Candidates ready for this kind of event are able to:
-Walk at their handler's/ Trainers side in a highly disstrating environment
-100% house broken including no marking behaviors
-Mastered at least intermediate obedience skills
-Can work/stay on task around other animals and display no inappropriate behaviors in their presence (i.e. barking, whining, growling, lunging, pulling)

News: Disability Community Candidate's Forum- October 6, 2010

All you Washington State readers don't miss this chance to mingle with candidates and discuss issues important to service dog partners. 
Disability Community Candidate's Forum

Sponsored by: Seattle Commission for People with disAbilities, Alliance of People with Disabilities, the State Independent Living Council, and the University Heights Community Center Association

Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Time: 6 pm to 9 pm

Place: University Heights Community Center, Room 209

Address: 5031 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Parking: Free on-street or off-street; available in center's south lot from University Way NE.

Access: Available with lift from southern west entrance up to and including 2nd floor; additional free parking available from Brooklyn Ave NE for north lot and accessible entrance. Staff will be available for lift assistance.

Bus lines: Proximate to Metro Bus Routes 70-74 on University Way NE, 66 and 67 on 11th Ave NE, among others.

Notes: All candidates for state legislator in King County are invited. This is a non-partisan event. 

RSVP to Event Contact Julian Wheeler, at julianfwheeler@aol.com. 

 

Yappy Hour! by Lexi Dog

Are you looking for an event to take your service dog in training for practice with public access and working in public? Just want to hang out with other dog people? This event might be for you!

Join us for an ICE CREAM SOCIAL at this month's Yappy Hour on Sunday, August 1st, where delicious frozen doggie treats will be served to our favorite four-legged pals!
 
Come mingle with other dog lovers, enjoy fine wines and food from LaVelle Bistro & Wine Bar, and spend some time out in the sun with your dogs!
 
Date: Sunday, August 1, 2010

Time: 3-5pm

Place: The patio at LaVelle Bistro & Wine Bar
at 5th Street Market in Eugene

Join us for an ICE CREAM SOCIAL at this month's Yappy Hour on Sunday, August 1st, where delicious frozen doggie treats will be served to our favorite four-legged pals!
 
Come mingle with other dog lovers, enjoy fine wines and food from LaVelle Bistro & Wine Bar, and spend some time out in the sun with your dogs!
 
Date: Sunday, August 1, 2010

Time: 3-5pm

Place: The patio at LaVelle Bistro & Wine Bar
at 5th Street Market in Eugene

Local Event: Canaine Good Citizen Test Frebruary 24th

The Emerald Dog Obedience Club is offering the Canine Good Citizen Test on February 24, 2009. The Canine Good Citizen Test and the new STAR Puppy Puppy Program are a great minimum standard for potential service dogs in training as well as a check for dogs who may be getting on in their working years. Recently, the CGC has become internationally recognized as the standard for well trained, well loved pets.
Not in Oregon? Find a CGC Evaluator in your area.