tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171198292011-06-08T01:29:29.192-05:00Grizzley is a Mini-Aussie who was in training to be a hearing response dog. This site documented his training, experiences, and growth. This site was started when Grizzley was 14 weeks old and continued until the final outcome - which was a release from our program. The site provides an inside look at what it takes to be a volunteer trainer, the work it takes to become a service dog, and what happens if the dog doesn't make it. http://www.americanassistancedogs.comSuzienoreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1149598766969416002006-06-06T07:51:00.000-05:002006-06-06T08:03:07.146-05:00

Grizzley's stay at his new home was very short lived. I guess he was brought back a day later with a "No, can't deal with the energy" response. So an ad was put in the paper and he is now living with a new family.The woman runs a horse rescue and actually adopted Grizzley and Tanner (another mini-aussie from our program). Tanner went to live with her mother after she lost her husband to

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1144599601855969422006-04-09T11:19:00.000-05:002006-04-09T11:20:01.856-05:00

 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1144598346494335192006-04-09T10:40:00.000-05:002006-04-23T09:33:59.996-05:00

When Grizzley stayed with me I had some difficulties with him that I believed were a combination of his breed and my setup. My dogs are usually in their kennels for about 10 hours a day 5 days a week. With Grizzley, it was as if he spent 10 hours winding himself up and then exploding once his kennel door was open. He did have plenty of room to run and three other dogs to play with, but I felt he

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1142098676713500562006-03-11T11:35:00.000-06:002006-03-11T11:37:56.733-06:00

Welcome to Chrystine and her family!! They have taken over Grizzley's training and development. Hopefully, I can get pictures soon to post.

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1140751102593295552006-02-23T21:15:00.000-06:002006-04-23T09:37:22.770-05:00

Grizzley has a new girlfriend - Cardi. She is also a mini-aussie and Grizzley just LOVES her. Cardi came to live with us to finish up some basic training so she can be placed with a hearing impaired client. The two of them play and play and play until they tire out. When they do have that quiet moment together - Grizzley cleans Cardi's face - trying to keep her beautiful all the time. As you can

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136777151506677232006-01-08T21:24:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:25:51.506-06:00

We are working on fetch. Obviously. He went and got the squeaky duck but then he sat down and chewed on it. He is just starting to bring things back. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136777061476316552006-01-08T21:21:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:40:28.560-06:00

Poor little Grizzley! Actually, he is getting his kennel training. He sleeps and naps in his kennel. I have not done kennel training prior to raising service dogs. I love it! When the dogs get a bone to chew on - they take it into their kennel. When they eat, they eat in their kennel. There are NEVER food issues between the dogs. They have their own space and they use it when they need it.

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136776807148251462006-01-08T21:18:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:21:42.563-06:00

Here is "down". We use the command "down" for laying down and the command "off" to get him off of things or people. The two commands have to be different but they can be any command you want. With enough practice, Grizzley will be able to go "down" on command. For now, he has to follow a treat in my hand.

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136776725652900642006-01-08T21:17:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:18:45.653-06:00

Here is Grizzley practicing sit. ALL FOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR will get you a treat! 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136776506694810372006-01-08T21:12:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:34:57.593-06:00

Here is Grizzley playing "Peek-a-Boo" with one of my kids. She hides in the sleeping bag and calls his name. Grizzley runs to her and digs on the sleeping bag until he gets a little corner of it up. He then dives inside to get her! It really cannot be stressed enough how important it is to treat the dogs as if they are your own. Raising a dog in a kennel setting is not going to create a well

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136776295228003222006-01-08T21:09:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:11:35.236-06:00

Yes! Playing. Here is Grizzley playing with Bear. It looks fiercer than it really is. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136776145426598882006-01-08T21:08:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:09:05.426-06:00

 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136775983213679002006-01-08T21:05:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:06:23.213-06:00

My kids figured out that a bone filled with peanut butter makes a great "bottle" and they can hold him like a baby while he "drinks" it. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136775902524666362006-01-08T21:03:00.000-06:002006-01-08T21:05:02.526-06:00

Here is Grizzley with one of his toys wrapped around him. He's so much smaller than the other dogs in the house so he gets more of the goofy dress up stuff done to him. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136775560845541582006-01-08T20:57:00.000-06:002006-01-08T20:59:20.850-06:00

Here's Grizzley after his bath. The lens was steamed up too. The kids love him because he's only about 30 lbs. and they can cuddle him like a baby. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1136775165267687592006-01-08T20:51:00.000-06:002006-01-08T20:56:27.326-06:00

Grizzley's trying! He is a bundle of energy and we tried to get him to sit for the picture. Good luck!

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1128968194207267112005-10-10T13:08:00.000-05:002005-10-30T21:37:13.063-06:00

Grizzley is understanding the command "come". I have treats by the back door and when I yell "Grizzley Come!" he runs for the back door to get a treat. All three of my dogs do that AND they always get a treat."Come" is a command for emergencies. If one of the dogs gets out and they are by a street or something dangerous - I can yell "Come" and they will come right to me. I may not have a treat to

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1128967681260576772005-10-10T13:04:00.000-05:002005-10-10T13:08:01.260-05:00

Grizzley has definitely gotten aquainted with all the people and animals in our house. He knows the layout of the house and if comfortable. Now we start with basic obedience. Our Training Director already taught him sit so he knows that well. I just taught him "down" which is lay down. He follows a treat for now but will eventually figure out how to do it without one. First I put him in a "sit"

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1128967410554945672005-10-10T12:59:00.000-05:002005-10-10T13:03:30.560-05:00

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127702547726628072005-09-25T21:38:00.000-05:002005-10-30T21:38:32.550-06:00

Here is Grizzley meeting our kitten "Cookie" (short for Cookie Monster). Within one week the two of them chase each other periodically. Cookie has caught on to the run and chase game. While Grizzley is busy doing something like chewing on a bone, Cookie jumps from something high and lands in front of him. Then she takes off at full speed across the room jumping back onto something high. Grizzley

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127701879338491742005-09-25T21:28:00.000-05:002005-09-26T08:47:46.036-05:00

This is one of those training experiences you just have to wait for and take advantage of it when it comes. Grizzley got to experience a VERY loud thunder storm. He would listen to the thunder but didn't react at all. When the rain died down to a sprinkle we went outside. He went to the bathroom in the rain (this can be a huge problem) and then he played with the other two dogs. He doesn't have a

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127701695904495272005-09-25T21:18:00.000-05:002005-09-26T08:45:55.976-05:00

CHILDREN: Grizzley went to the daycare to pick up my child. They were all playing outside which was good. Some of the kids came over to see him but most of them didn't even know he was there. At this age, he's very unpredictable with children.NON-WORKING WALKS: He's been on a few walks outside. We usually take him down to the corner and back (about 4 houses away).LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE: I took

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127701103928845802005-09-25T21:16:00.000-05:002005-09-26T08:49:56.093-05:00

One of the first places he went was my work. He had to cross a vent in the middle of the floor and he put his brakes on. He would NOT cross it. One training piece is to take them over as many different floor surfaces as possible. It's surprising when you have a dog that will not go onto a certain type of surface. We start this young so they get used to different flooring.

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127700843981680552005-09-25T21:14:00.000-05:002005-09-25T21:14:04.953-05:00

Here's another close shot. He is very hard to get a picture of because he runs constantly. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127700771909459972005-09-25T21:12:00.000-05:002005-09-25T21:12:51.910-05:00

Here is a very close up picture of Grizzley. His eyes are so sweet.  

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127700694394498852005-09-25T21:11:00.000-05:002005-09-25T21:11:34.396-05:00

Here are all three dogs of the house. Kiya (on the left), Bear (center), and Grizzley (on the right). 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127700615056008952005-09-25T21:10:00.000-05:002005-09-25T21:10:15.156-05:00

Here is Grizzley getting acquainted with Bear (another service dog in training with American Assistance Dogs). If you look closely, both dogs are in the air. 

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17119829.post-1127699173652233952005-09-18T20:46:00.000-05:002005-09-25T21:03:01.236-05:00

Meet Grizzley. He was 13 weeks at the time of this picture. He traveled to Minnesota by plane in the cargo section of Northwest from Georgia. He is a red and white Mini-Aussie.

Suzienoreply@blogger.com0