Hello again,
I hope you’re feeling well and happy. Right as I mentioned in my previous blog 1,
this one here will take us back some ways to the beginning.
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…a gorgeous little black puppy was born on Wednesday 13th July 2011. When I was born I was intended to be a pet dog…however due to circumstances beyond my control the family whom had taken me in as a pet found I wasn’t suited to life with them. If my puppy memory is correct I think an allergy might have been involved…although that may not be 100% accurate. Anyway as they had heard about the Medical Detection Dogs charity and the great work it’s involved with they donated me to them. I like to think that they knew I had big important things I would accomplish in my life and so they kindly set me on my way to learn and support someone in need…”
In order to
be placed with L, once we were
matched I then had to learn to recognise her “Hypo odour” so that I would be
able to warn her whenever I’ve smelt it. Now this; my friends I’m afraid is a
top secret type of training, so I’m not at liberty to share the details.
However I can tell you that us dogs do enjoy doing it and the fact that it can
help people makes it something AMAZING to be part of.
My Intensive Scent training took 8 weeks to get
me ready to recognise L’s hypo scent. I hope I’ll get to assist L with
it, keeping her safe and making her very happy!
So once I’d
completed my 8 week training the next stage was to begin my training with L. So she came along for 3 days to the Medical Detection Dogs centre and worked with the staff to learn about me, learn about dog behaviour and general welfare
requirements, learn how to take me into public places, learn how to hold me and
control me as well as being taught all of the important rules that Assistance
Dogs and their handlers/partners have to follow. This makes sure that society is
confident we will know how to behave appropriately and trust us to attend all
sorts of places where pet dogs aren’t allowed to go. Once I’ve completed my
training phase and passed an exam (…I’m pretty certain L & I have to be tested to prove we are capable of my being a
Qualified Assistance Dog) then I will even be allowed to fly in planes. This
time next year I’m planning to be writing from Hawaii ;)
After L had learnt all about the rules, then she
had to learn about my Alerting behaviour… Shhh, again this is TOP SECRET so I’m
very sorry but I can’t share exact details. Never mind though I’ll have plenty
of other bits of interesting information to share with you guys…I promise!
If however
you’re very interested in learning a bit more of the training stuff, then my
friends at Medical Detection Dogs have released a video about an Alert Dog like me called Coco,
who helps his partner Karen every day.
You’ll get an idea of how we get trained and what’s involved if you just
watch this. Happy tail wags till next time, Frodo xx
So I hope to see you back here from time to time to catch-up
on all my adventures and just see what an Assistance Dog in training gets up
to.
Happy tail wags till next time, Frodo xx
