Today we had our Service Dogs on the Town class at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Phyllis with Avalanche were our only students. We had a lot of fun!
Avalanche is doing really well! We focused on preventing a sniff of merchandise before it starts. It is key to watch your dog and notice when they start to lean in for a sniff, give them a command like a watch command, and reward for doing that instead of sniffing.
We also worked on using a harness for balance stabilization instead of the leash and collar. Turns out Avalanche needs a harness with a slightly longer handle, even though she is pretty darn tall already!
Hestia did fairly well today. She was very excited to see Avalanche at the beginning, but by the end of the session she was pretty calm and chill about it.
After Dick’s, we went to Panera to talk about the training we did and prepare for next class (bus riding!). We talked a bit with the cashier who called Hestia “whimsical”! That is an awesome way to describe her! Someone else called her “pint sized” shortly after that, which made Brad think of “pint-sized whimsy” which is a fun nickname for Miss Hestia!
Below are pictures! I am wearing purple guinea pig leggings and a grey top. Hestia is a small black and white Japanese Chin with a smushed nose wearing a purple service dog vest. Phyllis is dressed all in grey. Avalanche is a large Pyrenees mix wearing a red service dog in training vest. Brad is a bearded man in a power chair wearing a blue shirt, a blue plaid tie, a yellowish-brown plaid tweed blazer, a blue plaid hat, and a blue-green deer brooch on his lapel.
A closeup of Hestia’s face, this time fully in color!Veronica sits on a bench and smiles at the camera with a head tilt. Hestia sits on Veronica’s lap and looks off into the distance.Outside of Dick’s, Veronica gives a touch command to Hestia. Hestia LEAPS into action to touch Veronica’s hand.Veronica and Hestia pose outside of the store.Phyllis and Avalanche walk down the main aisle of the store, while Veronica and Hestia follow behind. Hestia is up on her hind legs repositioning into heel position.Veronica explains some intricacies of dog training to Phyllis.Hestia sits behind some treadmills with her tongue sticking out a little bit.Veronica points at Avalanche’s harness. Hestia sits and looks at the camera from behind some treadmills. Phyllis looks down at Avalanche’s harness.A closeup of Avalanche’s red harness with Phyllis holding onto the handle with three fingers.Phyllis checks out at Dick’s. Avalanche stands in front of her. Veronica stands off to the side, with Hestia getting into heel position on her back feet.Phyllis checks out, Avalanche sits next to her. Veronica smiles at the camera while Hestia lies on the ground looking up at Veronica.Brad smiles into the camera at Dick’s.A closeup of Brad’s pin– a blue-green deer. He chose it because we were going to a sporting goods store.A better lit shot of Brad outside of Panera.Brad got this close up shot of some baked goods with cranberries on top at Panera.While Veronica orders, Hestia lies on the floor looking up at her.At Panera, Hestia lies on Veronica’s lap. Phyllis smiles at the camera, while Avalanche lies next to her chair.
I really like the deer pin and also am a big fan of Hestia in purple!! 🙂
Cool dogs.