mischa and i did our first public access trip today! considering it was his first time ever in that kind of environment i was so impressed with him!
[image description: two photos of a large white shepherd dog who is lying down on a half concrete, half grassed area. end ID]
things i expected and did happen:
2 people asked for pats
2 people asked questions ("what is he training for?", "what breed is he?" etc)
1 person took a photo (without asking me)
lots of stares! i expected that but not as many as i got!
things i expected but didnt happen:
access issues - no one said anything, and mischa only had a "in training" bandana on, no identification as an AD
mischa was nervous but very well behaved! i didn't expect him to behave badly of course, but given it was his first time in PA work and in a shopping centre i was prepared for him to not want to even go inside lol
things i didn't expect:
another assistance dog was there and mischa was like 👀 but didn't try to go say hello which was good
mischa... takes up a lot of space. i knew that of course but its one thing at home and another in a crowded shopping centre!
mischa did mark 2 or 3 times but only outside on the bushes, he didnt even try inside which was good cuz i was nervous about that 😅
i think i was more nervous than he was!
i didnt ask him for any tasks since this was just about him getting acclimated.
things to work on:
keeping him close - his loose leash walking needs work in new areas, and in the shopping centre he was a bit too distracted to listen
focusing on me (he sniffed a lady who was next to us a bit too much)
keeping a down-stay (he stays down for a while then sits up again)
bring treats next time! i forgot them today because this was an unplanned trip lol
[Image description: two photos of a big white shepherd dog at the beach. In the first photo he's standing in the shallows, and in the second photo he's just left the water. End ID]
[Image description: a photo of a white shepherd dog looking at the camera. Next to him is a rope toy. He is sorely in need of a bath! End ID]
Mischa and I have been working on his loose leash walking and he's been doing really well in our neighbourhood - new places are still a struggle but we've got a good foundation.
I've been looking at owner-trainer organisations, to have that extra support and community. I think I'm leaning towards Verndogs - I was looking at RAD Dogs but Verndogs are much cheaper. Minddogs is the biggest org here but they're very expensive and also very strict.
I've also decided that I want to train for bracing/mobility as well as psychiatric tasks. I have balance issues and vertigo episodes, so I think some extra support will help. I could use a cane but Mischa is already there, so... why not?
Image description: a screenshot of an ad on tumblr. The image in the ad is of an artist's wooden posing mannequin, with highlighted circles on its chest, wrist, and groin. Above the mannequin it says "human biology". Under the image it says "make a natural difference" and the text continues but is cut off. End ID
obsessed with this illustration from The Voyage and Travels of Sir John Mandeville (published between 1357-1371), they look like theyre having a fun gossip session at the beach
[Image Description: a drawing of four beings, each gesturing to each other. from left to right they are a man lying on his back with his singular leg in the air, ending in a large foot; a cyclops; a man with no head and his face on his chest; a man with a dog's head. end ID]
