tlc Posted August 22, 2010 Author Share Posted August 22, 2010 I just spoke to one of the co ordinators a couple of days ago and we are all set to get the girls tested on the 18th August. I am looking forward to it but still apprehensive about my white girl Tully and it is annoying because she will be the best of the two of them to visit with as she is very calm with people and she will sit and offer a paw and be happy to be patted and loves her tummy being rubbed, Lacy is all that too but Lacy is a licker and a bit excitable but she loves people so she should be fine. The thing with Tully is I'm not sure how she will go with the test as she is not keen on dogs she doesn't know (she got attacked when she was younger) and even though I have worked with her a lot she is still reactive to some situations, so she may carry on a treat when we get to the reaction to another dog bit. She is by no means dog aggressive but will bark and try to chase the other dog away however she is better on lead. She is fine with dogs she knows and gets used to dogs she is around a lot but I'm not sure if the testing day will be over whealming for her. Geez I sound like a nervous Nelly Im sure it will be all good and so many people have said I won't have anything to worry about. We will wait and see. I'll be back with an update once we test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted August 22, 2010 Author Share Posted August 22, 2010 Thanks to all the newbie Delta handlers for offering to give up their time to visit people who for some reason or another cannot keep a dog with them.It is such a rewarding thing to do especially seeing the smile on the faces of the residents when they see a dog enter their room. We have visited nursing homes with all of my lot (one at a time) where we have been allowed and the residents just get so much joy from just seeing a dog. we have visited my OH mum when she has been in respite and the nurses have asked me If I would go and visit some other patients and they were so wrapped, it was great to be able to bring a smile to thier faces. Thier eyes nearly popped out of my head when I told them I had 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 12, 2010 Author Share Posted September 12, 2010 Well we only have 5 more sleeps till the assessment day and I'm a little nervous but thinking positive and had lots of positive vibes to get us through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Good luck!! Sending positive vibe towards your way! I'm sure Lacy and Tully will do awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 Don't worry too much tlc, it's been a while since I've seen a test but I'm pretty sure the reaction to another dog is from a distance, they are very concerned with safety for all dogs. They are also extremely good at recognising stress in dogs. Do lots of focus work around other dogs. They want to see that if she's a little reactive you know how to manage it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 13, 2010 Author Share Posted September 13, 2010 (edited) Don't worry too much tlc, it's been a while since I've seen a test but I'm pretty sure the reaction to another dog is from a distance, they are very concerned with safety for all dogs. They are also extremely good at recognising stress in dogs.Do lots of focus work around other dogs. They want to see that if she's a little reactive you know how to manage it. Thanks for the vote of confidence guys, Ive been working a lot wth Tully especially the last few weeks. She is perfectly fine around dogs she knows big and small but dogs she doesnt know she is reacitve too, so I have had to her to obedience the last few weeks and yesterday she was the best she has been for a while. I will have her ball in my pocket (she is ball mad and nothing else exsists if the ball is about) so if I get desperate I can pull it out if I have to. Not sure if we can have treats in our pocket. Im probly seriously worrying about nothing. Anyone that knows Tully knows she is all front, if a dog gets in her face she chases them away and thats the end of it. Occasionally she will single a strange dog out and bark at it but stays close to me she is never confrontational. Yesterday at obedience she single out a stafford out of a group of about 20 dogs from a distance but she did not like this stafford at all and yet one of her doggy buddys is a stafford. I guess they go by body language and this dog was new and also DA and had a muzzle on so this could have been why she barked at him?? Anyway Im rambling now, thanks again for the positive vibes!! Edited September 13, 2010 by tlc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted September 13, 2010 Share Posted September 13, 2010 ...and remember it isn't a test. It is a way for them to determine whether a dog has the right stuff to be a therapy dog at this point in time. If they don't "pass", they may need some time to work on their skills, or they might not be the right kind of dog to be therapy dogs, nothin' wrong with that. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 Well guess what Lacy and Tully passed thier Dleta assessments, I was stressing and worrying for nothing they breezed through with out a hitch and passed with flying colors. I am very proud of my girls and the way they behaved today. Tully barked a bit at the other dogs but she happily said hello to the smaller ones and steered clear of the bigger one ;) but it was all good and we had a lovely day. I have had a pm from Dezzy (also testing today) but I will let her come in here and fill you in on her day. Heres a few pics of our journey. Last night getting all spiffy for the big day. Stevie wonder of the bath tub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 So the assessment was in Geelong about a 2 1/2 hour drive so we set off early and another lady from our town was being tested too with her little dog lexi so she followed us and we met up for the dogs to have a little run before the test. After we passed her is me Lacy and Tully with Betty and Lexi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 After the assessment we went down to the water front (thanks for the suggestion Helen) and shouted ourselves lunch Shannon (DOLer Mawson) and my friend Lee who also has a Delta dog (my youngest dogs brother) Lee and the girls Shan and the girls All tired out after the big outing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Well done! Didn't sound like they would be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 Thanks, seems like the only one who doubted them was me bad doggy mumma!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 You're allowed to be unsure! Anyone would be. As megan says, not all dogs make good therapy dogs, and a lot of their owners can't see that their dogs are not handling the stress well in the test and the news has to be politely broken to them. Disappointing if you really want to do therapy work with your dog hey?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezzyno.1 Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 HUGE congratulations tlc on your girls passing.......I too was up at 6.30 and set off reasonably early anticipating getting lost but with the help of my dad went directly there and was 3/4 of an hour early...lol......Dezzy passed with flying colours and behaved himself beautifully....do not worry I had some doubts myself about Dezzy but he proved me wrong......cannot wait to catch up next week at training day and will be great to speak to you face to face and again huge congratulations on passing....by the way the assessor was very nice and so were the people who ran the day....I was so nervous and they were great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl85 Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Well done!! What do they have to do for their assessment? Im getting Lexi prepared for hers in February hopefully, when she is old enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothieGirl Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Congratulations, well on their way to a great cause - putting smiles on peoples faces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 Congrats to you guys too, it was a little nerve racking but Shan had already been through it so she had told me not to worry and it was easy as (she knew my guys would pass ) The ladys and the assessor were lovely and wouldn't let us go with out having a cuppa first! Lacy thought the whole place was great she took herself inside for a sticky beak, how embarrassing Shan went and got her out! Didn't realize I would have to have my photo taken today I would have ran a dye through my hair Just hoping the grey doesn't show out in the photos. What they had to do was very basic stuff, go for a little walk on lead do a sit, the assessor then held the dog and i walked away and back, then I walked away again and had to call the dog. The a group of people (one with a walking frame)had to mill around and roughly pat/handle the dog. The assessor hugged the dog tight then shouted loudly at the dog then gave a little tap on the back side. and that was about it. He also observed how the dogs were with the other dogs that were there. Lacy wasn't phased by the tap up the bum but Tully spun around as if to say hey why did you do that. poor little poppet, she was a little confused like one minute your hugging me next minute your shouting at me!! Anyway I was very proud of my girlies as you guys have probly figured out by now and we had a great day. Looking forward to next week. I am coming down with the other lady that passed today as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 You're allowed to be unsure! Anyone would be. :D As megan says, not all dogs make good therapy dogs, and a lot of their owners can't see that their dogs are not handling the stress well in the test and the news has to be politely broken to them. Disappointing if you really want to do therapy work with your dog hey?! Yes for sure, I have been going to test for a while but it just hasn't been the right time also I knew Tully just wasn't quite ready but with a bit of work and after visiting my MIL in respite and seeing how much joy it brings to the residents and also to the girls when they go I got my act into gear! I would have been devestated if they didn't pass!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraNik Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Well done! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGirl85 Posted September 18, 2010 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Lexi is on the right track then, when you say they observe how they are with the other dogs is that looking for aggression? I think this is the main area I need to work Lexi on she loves to say hello to everyone, I can get her to work around other dogs no worries, but they are a big distraction lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now