Day 1: Sharing what we know

The first step in evaluating what Ranger still needs to learn is to figure out what he already knows!

He has already passed the AKC's Canine Good Citizenship test.  That means he knows:

• Sit
• Down
• Recall off-lead
• Greet a friendly stranger
• Sit nicely for an examination
• Greet a friendly dog
• Heeling
• Controlled walking through a crowd
• Appropriate reaction to loud noise/distraction
• Appropriate response to supervised separation from me.

In addition to the above, we also passed our Public Access Test.  This means Ranger can also:

• Load and unload in a car in a controlled manner.
• Approach a building/business in a relaxed manner
• Heel appropriately inside building/business.
• Demonstrate appropriate restaurant manners (lay under/next to table; not sniff floor, tables, food; not disturb other restaurant clients; ignore dropped food)
• Be controlled while leash is dropped and being picked up. 
• Ignore distractions/noise.
• Does not demonstrate any aggression or fear towards friendly strangers

That's a pretty good list, right?  For a companion dog, that would be an outstanding list.  You would have a dog that was welcome almost anywhere and a delight to be around! 

For a service dog, that's just the beginning.  


Here's what we *don't* know yet (and some explanations of what we would use these skills for!):

• Brace:  Ranger will firm up his body and allow me to use him to help me stand or to lean into him during a vertigo attack.
• Lean to:  Ranger will lean his body into me to provide tactile stimulation and/or support during a vertigo attack.
• Forward:  Ranger will help move me forward during situations of muscle freeze or contractures until I can get to a safe place to sit.
• Find seat:  Ranger will find a safe place for me to sit or lie down.
• Paws up:  Ranger will put his front paws up on designated surface.
• Touch:  Ranger will touch an object with his nose (help open handicap doors, turn on/off light switches, etc).
• Get
• Take
• Hold
• Carry
• Give
• Drop
• Names of item:  Ranger will learn the names of specific items.
• Retrieve specific items:  Phone, basket with medicine, bottle of water, etc.
• Pull (doors)
• Tug (laundry baskets, etc)
• Find :  Find specific person located in house, store, etc.
• Turn on/off lights by wall switch
• Bark/silence on command
• Alert to sounds:  Phone, someone at door, microwave, timer, etc.
• Full body press:  Press his body against mine while lying down to help aleviate pressure in back/joints.
• Lay on me:  Lay his body on my back or on a specific joint to help with pain.
• Anxiety attack mitigation:  He will recognize and redirect my focus during an anxiety/panic attack and/or help to remove me from the situation.

That's our list.  Its almost comprehensive.  There are a few other tasks on there to help with anxiety/panic attacks - but for the most part, its fairly complete.

Today's task:  Getting ourselves organized!
Tomorrow's focus:  "Touch"