Discovery Park of America

Back in April (yes, we're working our way backwards) Moray came on a field trip to Discovery Park of America.  This is a pretty new museum that is about two hours from where we live and has pretty much anything you can imagine a museum can have.  It is a really cool place, and an awesome training outing for Moray!

Entrance to the park

During the latter half of March and all of April, Moray had a skin infection on his face that started as a result of an abrasion from his gentle leader.  This meant we were not allowed to use a head collar at all for over six weeks.  We got permission to use a martingale collar with him during this time, but if you have any experience with training collars, you know that a martingale doesn't offer nearly the control that a head collar does; which in turn means that the dog has to work harder and show a lot more self control than with a head collar.  It was kind of frustrating at times to have that option taken away, but it was a great time for Moray to really develop his self control all on his own.

Our field trip landed right in the middle of this, and with it being a popular spot for school tours, and lots of people and kids there that day, Moray was pushed to his limit and really stretched in his ability to stay focused on me.  But he proved himself well and did fantastic all day. The museum only opened last November, and one of the docents told me that Moray was the first service dog he has seen come through and that we set a very good example for all the rest.  Yay!  I don't think there's a higher compliment for a raiser and puppy in training than that. 

The first thing that Moray saw was a mini aquarium.  This was the first time he has seen fish tanks, and he was so interested, but still collected himself well.

In the bubble!

We took a few minutes to just sit and watch all the busyness going on.  In new places, its often most productive to let them take it all in before you ask them to participate and work throughout the crazy.  

There were TONS of school field trips there and lots of kids running around.  I'm not a fan of doing these types of things because kids often try to get all over Moray without permission, but I was pleasantly surprised by their behavior and we only had a handful of drive-by pettings that we had to deal with.  

One of the coolest things they have there is an earthquake simulator.  Moray got to go in with us and it was really good for him!  He was slightly startled at the movement at first but, did well, as I praised him throughout.

In the earthquake simulator with my mom

Moray also got to learn about glass elevators, stopping frequently to look at exhibits while weaving through lots of people, playing dress-up, waiting (with my mom!) for me at the bottom of a huge slide, and even aquatinted himself with several dinosaurs! 

Can anyone name the object in the picture?!

"Up" on a meteorite! 

Heat sensor, anyone?

There was also a huge section of the museum that was outside that we got to explore.  Moray was a little distracted by some geese and ducks he saw, but did very well, and was so exhausted by the time we headed home!

Uh oh...

A "challenge" started by our friend Monica!

May Graduation Part 3

Friday was graduation day!  We got up, and during breakfast in the hotel talked to many people about Moray and CCI.  I find it so funny that up there, we got SO many more comments about him being a "seeing eye dog" than I do down here.  It was fun to get to educate about other types of assistance dogs and CCI too!

We soon headed over the the venue for graduation.  We were there about an hour early and were talking with each other and other puppy raisers there too.  There were several local news reporters who were there, and of of them asked to interview Moray and I.

They ended up only using a few seconds of the clip, but it was still fun!  And Moray enjoyed a brief break in the "no licking" rule to ham it up!

This was Moray's first CCI event, and he had to work very, very hard to keep focused with 50+ other dogs there.  It definitely helps that all the others are as well behaved as he is, but it still took a lot of self control, and he ended up doing really well.  it took it out of him though, and he was out like a light the whole four hour drive back to my aunt and uncle's house afterwards! 

Lots of other awesome CCI dogs!

Good boy, Moray Man!

If you have never been to a Canine Companion's graduation, you are truly missing out on an amazing presentation of genuine love, sacrifice, joy, and hope.  I have said it before, and I'll say it again: CCI knows how to do it.  It was even more amazing to be "part of" it and see my uncle receive his new service dog, Hickory.  

Hickory's puppy raiser handing over the leash

With Hickory's trainer and puppy raiser 

All graduated!  I know your raiser is SO proud of you, Hickory!

We spent our last day at our family's house visiting, taking a nice long walk, and having some puppy play time with Hickory!

Hickory settling in at home

They played so well together and loved each other!

Hickory! And a squeaky ball, lol

Smart boy kept coming over because he knew I carried treats for Moray! ;)

It was a whirlwind trip, but great on all fronts.  Moray did so well and really showed me how much he is growing and maturing, and proved that he is able to handle more and more distractions and environments.  He was a sleepy boy all the way home!

May Graduation Part 2

We headed to Canine Companion's Northeast Campus on Long Island Thursday after brunch.  we had called them the week before asking if they offered tours before the graduation ceremony on Friday because the actual ceremony is held at a hotel and we really wanted to see the campus.  After hearing that we were puppy raisers from another region, they said we could get the "real" tour if we came Thursday, hehe!  That turned out to be perfect since we planned to stay the night there and see my aunt and uncle Thursday night anyway.  

We got just a little lost and ended up on 42nd Street.  It has been years since I've been in New York City, so it was fun to drive through anyways.  Moray slept the whole way, but (spoiler alert!) he *may* be back to work the city in the fall!

I would be lying if I said I didn't tell Moray more than once that he "better be on his best behavior!" Puppies will be puppies, and sixteen hours in the car over the last 48 hours didn't help him out much either!  But to his credit, he did very well and I was proud at how hard he tried...even if puppy brain took over a little!

With the infamous Woodstock!

It was really neat to tour the Northeast Region and see the similarities and differences compared to the Southeast.

Kennels! Don't remember the names of these sweeties.

Anyone know Nation or Maddie's raisers? Sweet girls!

Medical room

Some Advanced Training Dogs playing

Am I the only one who finds CCI's walls so amazingly inspiring?! Haha!

After our tour we got to see my aunt and uncle and meet sweet Hickory who they had been matched with.  We also got to sit in on the graduates' last lecture which was such a cool insight into the "other side" of CCI.  It was so neat to see this side of excitement, reception, and joy after only ever being on the side of tears and saying goodbye to the puppy you've raised and loved for 18 months.  To see and meet many of the new teams and families and hear about their stories from the last two weeks was an amazing experience.  I guess as a puppy raiser you have to imagine so much of what your dog is doing in Advanced Training and during Team Training that it was neat to see it become real.

Lecture time in the cafeteria. 

Hey Hickory!

I always find it fun the watch the difference in graduate dogs and puppies in training.  I get complimented on a daily basis about how well behaved my pups are.  Don't get me wrong: both Dante and Moray had/have pretty great public manners, but seeing the mature dogs who have had such extensive professional training side by side with puppies is so much fun for me.  And of course, being there Thursday, Moray was the only puppy in yellow until we went to the play yard, so I definitely had the little whippersnapper, haha! After the lecture wrapped up and we were talking together, we asked about taking Hickory and Moray out to the play yard, and one of the trainers looks at Moray and says, "Absolutely.  This one really needs it, huh?"  Oh Moray!  You try so hard to be a good boy, but sometimes you just need to run it out!

Levine! 4 months old and the only pup out there smaller than Moray my peanut!

Moray played very nicely the entire time, and ran hard, and I mean h-a-r-d for 45 minutes with other dogs who were graduating and a few puppies in training.  

We went out to dinner nearby, and Moray was excellent.  About 15 minutes into our meal, a group of puppy raisers, graduates, and supporters of CCI came in and sat a few tables away along with at least six other CCI puppies and dogs.  This was the first time Moray has ever seen other dogs in public (besides puppy class), and he did amazing.  He perked his head up as they all walked in and got settled, but never tried to get up or bring attention to himself.  He soon rested his head again, completely ignoring them, and went to sleep.  He was one tired pup and slept soundly in yes, our third different place in three days!