The Blue, the Gray, and a Dog: Irwin Visits Gettysburg

They said "sit." So Irwin sat.

July 1-3 marked the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle is commonly considered a turning point in the American Civil War, ultimately leading to a Union victory. It was also the bloodiest battle of the war, with over 46,000 men killed, wounded, or missing.

The year after the battle, parts of the battlefield were preserved as a memorial to the Union Army, and by 1895, it became a National Military Park and memorial to the Union and Confederate armies. Northern and Southern states and regiments erected monuments to commemorate their part in the battle. The public began visiting the battlefield, and today, approximately 1.7 million people visit each year.

For the 150^th anniversary, reenactors set up camp and reenacted the battle for thousands of people—and SSD Irwin.

Donna and Jim took Irwin with them when they visited Gettsyburg. Visiting the town and battlefield put Irwin to the test. They walked through Union and Confederate encampments. The woods were full of tents and soldiers. There were hundreds of campfires, the smell of wood smoke mingling with food. Several hospital sites were set up, with fake arms and legs piled everywhere. Irwin got plenty of leave it practice.

With a reenactment comes gunfire and cannon fire, and the loud noises can be very scary for dogs. Irwin, however, did great. At one point, he was lying next to Donna, about the fall asleep, when gunfire rattled through the air. But Irwin merely lifted his head and pricked up his ears. He did a little bit of air sniffing when he caught another dog’s scent, but he stayed relatively relaxed and kept his focus. 

Almost asleep...

What's that sound?

During some of the evening reenactments, Donna took the opportunity to practice Irwin’s “sit” skills. In puppy class, we’ve been having our raisers give the dogs basic cues while they’re doing something other than standing in front of the dog. That way, the dogs will get used to performing behaviors regardless of the position of their handler. For many dogs, the position of the handler can make a huge difference in whether or not they will give a behavior, so it’s important to practice. At Gettysburg, Donna sat on the ground and cued Irwin to “down.” He did it!

All of the practice Donna and Jim have been doing with Irwin to get him to stay tucked in close when he’s in a sit or down has paid off. In the crowds at Gettysburg, Irwin stayed nice and close rather than sprawling out where he might get stepped on.

While they sat on the ground, the people around them asked questions about SSD. Irwin did many greetings with people. He even greeted a Union soldier!

It was a wonderful trip, and to top it all off, they saw a double rainbow! A storm was blowing in, although it waited to rain until the program was over. Irwin stayed calm and focused.

Every Dog Has Its (Off) Day

The saying goes that every dog has its day. Well, it’s also true that every dog has its off day.

Last Wednesday was Irwin’s off day, although the day did end with a smile.

In puppy class that evening, he was full of energy. We start every puppy class with puppy massage, which usually relaxes him. This time, however, he got so excited that Donna had to put him in a down-stay and ignore him.

Next, they practiced “get dressed.” On this cue, Irwin usually walks right into his harness to have it buckled on him, and once it’s unbuckled again, he walks backwards out of it. At puppy class, he performed the behavior, but not the way he usually does. This time he groaned every time he walked into the harness, like it was a huge effort to do it.

They then practiced sit, down, and stay while Donna was sitting on the floor, and Irwin did well with that. Later, they walked around outside, and Donna purposefully walked him passed several dogs to see what he would do. Irwin did well, only slightly pulling. He was much more focused.

We try to play a game a puppy class, and that evening, we had our puppy raisers switch dogs. “Irwin was so ‘hyped’ for his new handler, going down, then sit, then down like a crazy dog,” says Donna. “He eventually calmed for them, and he was able to stay in a down while she walked around him.”

Jim and Donna usually go out to dinner after puppy class, and Irwin is usually on his best behavior. Well, dinner that night was a challenge. They went to Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Donna decided to use the comfort trainer. The restaurant was busy and crowded. Just as the hostess was about to lead them back to their table, Irwin decided to try to rub his comfort trainer off by rolling around on the floor. Donna told him to leave it and asked him to stand, which he did, and they followed the hostess to their table. They had a very narrow aisle to walk through, and Irwin did a prance step, still trying to paw off his comfort trainer. He was drawing attention from the other diners.

Donna decided that Irwin needed some time to get refocused, so she noted where their table was and took Irwin outside. Going outside not only gave Irwin a chance to get focused, but it gave Donna the opportunity to recompose herself. Being out in public with a dog who’s misbehaving can be stressful. The dog then picks up on that anxiety, which can sometimes make the situation even more difficult. However, by taking a moment to relax, Donna was able to successfully walk Irwin to their table, with the help of some power treats—cheese!

Irwin went under the table nicely, but soon he started his “crazy dog” rolling to try to get his comfort trainer off again. Donna waited for his to stop, then cued him to “visit” (put his head in her lap). She removed the comfort trainer. After that, Irwin did much better. He actually ended up sleeping while Jim and Donna ate. When they were ready to leave, Irwin did another “visit” to have the comfort trainer put back on for the walk out of the restaurant.

“It was not the most relaxing meal or the best puppy class, but we made it through smiling,” says Donna.

Irwin’s Daily Routine

As Donna and Jim spend more time in the orchard, Irwin’s daily activities have settled into a routine of accompanying them to the orchard, with lots of breaks when it’s hot. Irwin has been working on sticking close to Donna in a heel or side position (“heel” is on the left, “side” on the right). He has also been doing well with “leave it.” Since they’re thinning peaches right now, there are peaches on the ground that he has to ignore, as well as weeds, twigs, and turkey manure. (The orchard is organic.) Donna keeps Irwin’s leash attached to her waist. When she was training SSD Judge, he managed to get into the manure, so rather than give Irwin the opportunity to get into mischief, she helps set him up for success by keeping him leashed.

Before they move on to the next tree, Irwin practices heeling, and he’s quickly getting the hang of it. When there isn’t much rain, they also water the trees. There’s a water tank and hose on the ATV, and Irwin either rides with Donna in the utility, or walks with Jim as he waters the trees. Irwin’s balance while riding in the ATV is great, and he is developing muscle strength.

In the heat of the day, they take lots of breaks. Irwin gets plenty of play time, when he plays ball early or late in the day and goes swimming. During breaks, they also practice “visit,” “up,” “all the way up,” “car” (cue to get in the car), “fix-it” (cue to untangle his paws from the leash), “stay,” “come,” “paw,” “under,” and “back.” They also practice greetings with the other workers.

All of our service dogs learn how to get dressed in their service dog harness. It’s a useful skill, especially if their partner is unable to put the harness on themselves. On the cue “get dressed,” the dog walks into their harness so their handler just has to buckle it. Irwin has started walking into his harness, and when it’s time to take it off, he walks backwards out of it.

In the house, Irwin practices being in a restaurant. Donna walks with him around the table as if they were at a buffet, and then Irwin lies under her chair or the table while she’s eating. They’ve also been working on his self control at doorways. Donna has been having him wait at all thresholds before going into rooms, and he sits at the outside door waiting for the “go on through” cue. This practice has helped him stay focused despite the many distractions that are outside, such as rabbits and chipmunks. He doesn’t bolt through the door to chase them, even though he has had many opportunities to do so. Instead, he chooses to look intently at them and ultimately ignore them.

Donna has also been working to keep Irwin tucked in closer to her when he’s in a sit or down. It has helped keep him from sprawling out when they’re in public. And when she’s working in the kitchen, Irwin relaxes on his blanket in the kitchen, keeping him out of the way.

Check back on Monday to read more about Irwin’s experiences in puppy class and at a restaurant.

Thank you!

  

The numbers are in for the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community.  You helped raise $17,986 for Susquehanna Service Dogs! Wow! 

Thank you so much to everyone who raised money, donated, and joined us for the Walk! You did an amazing job! 

We have some of the best volunteers and supporters. Did you know that 182 people signed up to walk for us in the Highmark Walk? That's more than any other group that did the Walk! Thank you for continuing to support SSD.

5 Tips for a Safe Summer with your Dog

Friday was the first day of summer. Summer means warm weather, picnics, swimming, fireworks, and simply more time spent outdoors. If you have a dog, you may want your dog to join you for some summer fun. Here are five safety tips so your dog can safely join in.

Don’t leave your dog in the car. Even if the windows are open and you park in the shade, your car will heat up to dangerous temperatures in minutes. If you can’t take your dog with you, leave them at home.

Know the signs of heat stroke. Dogs don’t sweat (except a little bit through their paw pads) and they rely on panting to stay cool. If you’re playing outside, be careful not to over exercise your dog, even if they look like they’re having a great time chasing tennis balls around the yard. Your dog may overheat and start to show signs of heat stroke. Here is a list of signs, from mild to severe.

• Heavy panting and difficulty breathing
• Bright red tongue and mucous membranes
• Thick saliva
• Vomiting
• Unsteadiness
• Bloody diarrhea
• Gray lips and mucous membranes
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Coma
• Death

If your dog has any of these symptoms, start cooling your dog down immediately. Move the dog into the air conditioning, spray him down with cool water (not ice water), place cool packs around your dog’s groin area, and wipe his paws with cool water. Monitor your dog’s rectal temperature and stop cooling your dog once his temperature drops below 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. If you have an SSD dog in training, be sure to contact the puppy coordinator.

Avoid walking on hot pavement. Unlike people, most dogs generally don’t wear shoes. Spending too much time on hot pavement can burn their paw pads. Try to walk your dog on the grass or in the shade, if possible. If you have a working dog, try to minimize the time your dog needs to walk on pavement.

Make sure your dog has plenty of cool, fresh water. Your dog should have cool water to drink. If you happen to have a baby pool, you can fill it with cool water for your dog to wade in. However, be careful about giving your dog ice. The sudden coldness can cause severe muscle spasms that can lead to bloat, which can be deadly.

Groom your dog. Good grooming will keep your dog’s hair from getting matted, which can trap heat. By regularly grooming your dog, you can also spot fleas and ticks. Since the bugs come out with the warm weather, it’s always a good idea to make sure your dog is up to date with his flea and tick and heartworm medications.

SSD Lagoon Visits Hershey Park

Guest post by Shanne, SSD Lagoon's puppy raiser

I have just been dying to take Lagoon to Hershey Park.  We only live a few miles away, and I knew it would be great practice for her – lots of sounds, lights, moving objects, smells, food on the ground, people ….  Lots and lots of people.  Anyone who knows Lagoon understands that like Will Rogers, who said “I never met a man I didn’t like,” Lagoon has never met a person she didn’t like.  I anticipated that people would be our most difficult challenge.

Finally the day was here!  I had the day off from work and the weather was beautiful.  I loaded up the treat pouch with kibble, but also threw in a bunch of new pepperoni flavored treats that are fairly new surprises to Lagoon.  Of course I grabbed a can of cheddar cheesy spray for back-up!  Although we were leaving for the park right after Lagoon’s midmorning “Get Busy” break, I also threw a roll of small bags into my purse just in case.

Lagoon “Got Dressed” in her harness and I chose the shortest leash that I could find – it’s about 3 feet long, but once I grab it and hold it the way I need it I think it is closer to 2 feet – so that I could (hopefully) maneuver Lagoon through the crowds without her deciding that other people were more exciting than me.

I planned to keep Lagoon at the park for a 2 hour maximum, depending on her behavior.  I also knew that I might need to make an “early exit” – so in addition to me and my kids, my dad went along so that Lagoon and I could leave if necessary without interrupting the kids’ fun.

When we got to the park it wasn’t as busy as I thought it would be – probably since it was a weekday – but there were still plenty of people.  Lagoon did great walking in from the car, standing in the security line to get my bag checked, and going through the ticketing line.

We decided to take Lagoon to the monorail and ride.  Lagoon didn’t hesitate, and stayed in a “down-stay” the whole ride.  When the ride was over Lagoon even waited for me to cue her to exit the ride while other people walked past!  I was surprised!

My dad and the kids went on another ride while Lagoon and I waited.  On the ground by the bench I chose was a bunch of peanut shells.  Lagoon REALLY wanted to eat those peanut shells.  We practiced “leave it” but ultimately I decided to move a little farther away from the temptation!  After we moved, Lagoon had a nice greeting with two of the park workers.  Then the ride was over and we were on the move again!

About every 2 or 3 steps was a click & treat, and even though it was a short leash Lagoon kept it nice and loose walking next to me.  I didn’t even need to break out the cheese!

As we walked we saw a traveling band playing.  I wasn’t sure how that would be, because when we were at a Memorial Day Parade, Lagoon seemed startled by the drums in the marching band – but she wasn’t fazed at all today.

By this time it had been almost an hour, so we decided to take Lagoon to the carousel for her last bit of fun at Hershey Park.  She waited patiently in line even though we were surrounded by children about her size.  At first when we got on the ride I sat on one of the benches and had Lagoon lay on the floor in front of me, but the ride attendant asked if I could actually get her into the immovable car – so that’s what we did.  Lagoon lay at my feet during the ride and was quite well-behaved.

Lagoon and I left my dad and my kids and headed for home.  On the way out, we had to navigate the turnstile!  I really had to think about that for a minute.  I decided to give Lagoon the “go on through” command, and then had her back up until she was out underneath the turnstile and I could follow her through.  She did it perfectly!

Since Lagoon had done so well in the park – and because I was running out of treats – I decided to reward her by getting out the cheese for the walk back to the car.  Needless to say, Lagoon was very excited (and of course on her VERY best behavior) all the way to the car.

I took Lagoon home, got her settled and returned to Hershey Park to spend the afternoon with my dad and the kids.  In total, Lagoon’s visit to Hershey Park lasted an hour and a half – and was a good experience for both of us!