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Ginseng’s October Adventures

November 3, 2017 by shrimpchickenleoiant

My moms told me I grew a lot this month. I don’t think I have. My shadow is still the same height as me and it is SO fun to play with. They also told me I’m doing so well in public. They think I’m being good when I lay under tables in class or at restaurants but really I’m just so tired from growing so much. I also got new treats this month and they are extra delicious, I come running to my moms as soon as I hear the bag open. Sometimes I get big pieces and sometimes I get small pieces but they all taste so good that I don’t even care how big they are. This month I also saw so many kids. Kids are great cause they’re like human puppies. They’re my size and they love to play with me. Sometimes they pull my ears but I don’t mind because I love meeting new friends. I also got new toys this month. They have really helped with my chewing habits. I sometimes even go to chew my toys before I chew my moms or the furniture! Chewing has been hard though cause all my teeth keep falling out of my mouth. Sometimes I lose teeth when I’m eating and I think I swallow them. Other times, I lose them when I’m chewing my toys and they fall on the ground or into my moms hands. My moms say the tooth fairy will come because all my teeth are falling out. I do not know what this means but I’m very excited.

This month I also went to a very fun obedience class with two of my moms. I had to ride in the car for a long time but once I got there I was very very excited. There were so many puppies just like me! One puppy was afraid of an owl statue but I was not. I marched right up to it because it was my new friend too! Guess what else… My brother was at the class! His name is Dandelion and he is a good boy just like me. After the meeting I even got to go to the pet store! There were so many cool animals there. My favorite was the bearded dragon. They are tiny and fast, just like I used to be!!

My moms also told me that a holiday called Halloween was this month. I don’t know what that means but they put cat ears on me and I was not happy. I am not a cat!!! How humiliating.

Overall I had a great month. I learned a lot and my moms say I’m getting better every day. I won’t lie, I still love chewing my moms and chewing the furniture, but I am trying my hardest because the worst thing is when my moms are disappointed in me. I don’t like the look they give me when I do something wrong. It’s like I hurt them. Also I don’t like when they stop giving me the good treats. I will do anything for the good treats.

Love and tea,

 

Ginseng

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FAQ 1: Can I pet your dog?

We love it when our dog gets to meet new people! Exposing the dog to new sights, smells, sounds, etc. is our main goal throughout the semester. Most of the time, we would absolutely love it for you to pet our dog, but, please always ASK before petting! There are times when we want our dog to focus on a command that has been given to them, and someone petting them can be a huge distraction. Being able to listen to the commands given by a handler is really important for a service dog in training, so be sure to ask first!

FAQ 2: What organization do you work with?

We work with a facility located in Xenia, Ohio (about 2 1/2 hours away from Wooster) called 4 Paws for Ability, that trains service dogs for children and veterans. They are an incredible organization that trains all kinds of different dogs–seizure alert dogs, mobility assistance dogs, diabetic alert dogs, to name just a few. Check out the 4 Paws for Ability website (http://4pawsforability.org/) to learn more!

FAQ 3: How do you learn how to train the dogs?

We don’t! It’s important to realize that we are NOT providing the training for these dogs for the service they will eventually provide for a child or veteran. We are fosters, so we do general care, keep up basic obedience commands, and provide lots and lots of socialization experiences for the dogs. However, we do attend a 5 hour orientation at the beginning of the semester to go over our responsibilities. We also have monthly meetings at 4 Paws to work with the trainers on any issues we may be experiencing with our dogs. In the end, it is the dog trainers at 4 Paws who train our puppies to become service dogs, we just socialize!

FAQ 4: Does the dog get to go everywhere with you?

Yes! Legally, service dogs in training have the same rights as full fledged service dogs, allowing them to go everywhere we go. This is important for the dogs in training so they get to experience anything and everything they could encounter as a service dog. Our dog goes to class, restaurants, the grocery store, the county fair, and anywhere else that we go. There are lots of great places around Wooster for the dogs to get new experiences!

FAQ 5: Is it hard to give the dog back?

Of course, giving the dog back at the end of the semester is incredibly difficult. We absolutely love every dog that we have on campus and letting go is bittersweet. While the good-bye is hard, we know that the dogs we work with go on to have a huge impact in the life of someone who needs them. 4 Paws even has ‘graduation’ ceremonies for fosters to attend and meet the dog’s new family. These families are beyond incredible and meeting them makes saying good-bye well worth it.

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