2012 in Review

Wow, where has this year gone?

It seems like yesterday when I thought I would start blogging about the Adventures of Raising Zaire. Fast forward 18 months, and I've barely kept up. Working full time, raising a puppy, starting a craft business, and planing the annual fundraising event will keep a person busy.

Here we are in December... only 65 days till Zaire goes off to Advance Training.

We have a few commands that we still need to perfect, like Out, Visit, and Under. And as of last week, we need to review Up and Jump again because in puppy class, she would only jump on an Up. Silly Zaire!

At the start of this year, Zaire was only 6 months old. She's now almost 18 months old and boy has she matured into a beautiful young lady. She still has puppy spunk, but she is a true cuddle-bug and loves to snuggle.

She has learned new commands, taken trips, socialized with friends, and has favorite humans she likes to visit, like Dr. Megan at Mordecai Chiropractic. What am I talkin' about, she is a people person and LOVES everyone!

With February approaching, it's time to start preparing for what is next. There are a few things that could happen; Zaire could get selected as a Breeder; get released; or graduate.

Since Zaire was born in Canada through the PADS organization, that makes her a desirable puppy for the breeding program. My fingers are crossed that she is selected. I would jump at the opportunity to become a Breeder Caretaker and help welcome future assistance dogs into this world.

When Zaire gets turned in in February, she will undergo health, temperament, and train-ability testing to determine if she has what is required to be selected as a breeder. I've been told that this process can take between 6-8 weeks. My patience will be tested during that time!

In the event that Zaire is not selected as a breeder, she will continue her advance training with the hopes of her graduating. 

In the meantime, I've already decided that I am going to raise another puppy. I mailed in my application this week and hope to bring home a second puppy in February.

Being a puppy raiser for CCI has brought some many blessings into my life. I am so thankful I made the decision to become a puppy raiser. Now, I'm hoping to add Breeder Caretaker to my list next year.

In 2013, my goal is to become a better blogger as I will have my second puppy in training, and I'll have to keep you updated on Miss Zaire in Advance Training.

Peace and Love!

Merry Christmas

Zaire and Santa

Every year, Western Farm Center offers Santa Paws, a fundraising event that supports Canine Companions for Independence.

This is our second year, and I must say, Zaire handles Santa and wearing antlers very well.

Miss Z loves posing for the camera!

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Peace and Love,
Cyn and Zaire

Super Dog - Bone Appétit 2012

Super Dog Zaire with her Super Hero Parents

This years theme to Canine Companions for Independence signature fundraising event was Dynamic Duo's!

Held on September 9, 2012 at the Jean & Charles Schulz Campus in Santa Rosa, CA. We enjoyed food and wine pairings, training demonstrations, silent & live auctions, and heard from people with disabilities about the benefits of having a Canine Companions assistance dog. 

This year I had the honor of Co-Chairing this event. I'm happy to announce that we netted nearly $160,000 for Canine Companions! 

The monies raised at this event continue our mission of placing highly trained assistance dogs with adults, children, and veterans with disabilities, including ongoing support for the lifetime of the placement - free of charge.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this event such a success! 


Planning for 2013 begins in January... I can't wait.

Happy Halloween!

Go Giants!

This year Zaire's Halloween costume doubled as her game day attire to watch the Giants win the World Series!

Photo Session with Genevieve Elaine Photography

Happy 1st Birthday

Birthday Girl

My dearest Zaire,

I look back over the last 10 months that I've had you, and I feel truly blessed that I was picked to be your puppy raiser. You are one special puppy!

You have so much puppy love to offer and I love every minute of it. You constantly amaze me and make me so proud. There are times when you are silly, and it makes me laugh out loud. And there are times when you are as stubborn as I am, and that makes me laugh too.

I think about your future and I know you are going to do amazing things in your life and I look forward to seeing you grow.

In the coming months, we are taking an amazing road trip, where you'll get to visit Oregon, Washington, and Canada. I can't wait to take you on this adventure and show you new and exciting places, people, and things. We are going to have the best time! The biggest surprise of all... I'm hoping to get the chance to take you to meet your mama and see where you were born in Canada.

Zaire, you are the sweetest girl and I have more love for you than words can describe. You have blessed my life and I couldn't imagine my life without you in it.

Only 7 more months till you go off to College...

Love you sweet girl,
Mama

Zaire Speak

Speak = bark

For the past several months, we've been working on the Speak command.When I say Speak, the goal is for Zaire to let out a bark. As a puppy, Zaire wasn't much of a barker, so I never had the opportunity to teach the Speak command. The only thing that would make Zaire bark was the use of the blow dryer after her monthly bath.

I contemplated using the blow dryer to engaged Zaire in speaking. However she needs to be comfortable with being dried by a blow dryer that I didn't want to encourage the barking.

Some people teach their puppies to Speak by putting the food bowl in the pups crate and shutting the door. When a pup is food motivated, they bark, you treat them, and say good Speak. This technique has worked for another puppy raiser in our class.

I attempted to do this because Zaire is very food motivated... Zaire walked up to the crate, looked at the food, looked back at me, looked at the food, looked back at me, and then came and sat next to me on the floor. I waited a couple of minutes and when she didn't bark, I opened the crate, put her food bowl back in it's normal place and released her to eat. Attempt #1 = Fail

The next day, I tried it again. Attempt #2 = Fail.

Zaire loves her food, but she wasn't willing to bark for it.

Another puppy raiser in class suggested using the vacuum. He got his pup to bark at the vacuum when he was vacuuming the house.

I took the vacuum out and started vacuuming the house. Zaire still wouldn't bark. She thought the vacuum was a monster and would run up to it, quickly run away like it was going to chase her, and then run back to it. The vacuum gave her the zoomies, but no bark. Attempt # 3 = Fail

In class one night, Patrick, our trainer suggested getting the pup really excited and tease them by using a high valued treat. It worked! Attempt #4 = Successful (but not by me, Patrick gets the credit.) Patrick and Pete (another puppy raiser) were able to get Zaire to bark 3 times. I was amazed!

Seeing her bark in class, gave me hope that she would eventually learn the Speak command. We went home and tried practicing what I learned in class. I had zero success! Papa Jake on the other hand, was able to get Zaire excited enough to let out a bark. Whenever I tried, Zaire wouldn't bark. That's when I decided to pull out the blow dryer. I had been hesitant in previous weeks, but I was determined to get a speak out of her.

I took the blow dryer out of the bathroom and immediately Zaire started to bark. I brought it in the kitchen and gave her a treat every time she barked. After I gave her a treat I said "good speak". After a minute or two, I put the blow dryer away, as I didn't want to continue using the blow dryer, as we are still trying to be comfortable with the blow dryer.

A few weeks later I went on vacation for a week and left Zaire with a wonderful family in Windsor. I received an email during my vacation saying how well Zaire was doing. The only problem was that she was jumping while she was speaking. First, I was surprised that she was speaking, because she had never barked when given the Speak command. And secondly, we had not been practicing in the weeks leading up to my vacation.

When I came home from vacation, sure enough she would let out a bark with a slight jump on the Speak command. It made me wonder where she learned to jump and speak at the same time. It then dawned on me that whenever my boyfriend would get her to speak, he was getting her excited and she would be jumping up and down. So she learned the Speak meant a bark and a jump.

I quickly corrected her jump and only treated her Speak when all four legs stayed on the ground. She is one smart puppy. In one week, she's already perfected the correct way to Speak. I'm impressed!

Since she's new to the Speak command, the first bark that comes out of her mouth is usually a silent one, or a quiet woof. It's the cutest thing. One day last week we were at the chiropractors office and I told Zaire to Speak. She let out a quiet woof and the girls complemented her on using her library voice.

I'm very proud to say that Zaire knows Speak!