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!

Hey look, a real blog post!  Didn't know I was capable of it -- and on a Monday night to boot!  But, in all seriousness, Moray has had a busy week, months, and year so far!  

One of Moray's most exciting things of the last few weeks has been a road trip with my family.  We traveled 12 hours in the car each way, and he was a fantastic traveler and sidekick.

Hanging on his pillow.

 

Pit stop and water-drinking.

This was his first big trip, and actually his only one besides a trip for our CCI puppy raiser workshop last summer when he was only 14 weeks old!  It really stretched him as he had a lot more "working time" than he is used to, and every single place we went to was new for him.  

"Hotels are fun!"

Moray got to visit with several of our friends' dogs and have play time with them.  Although, making sure he had enough play time and down time was definitely a challenge since the weather did not always cooperate.  We got creative!

Like running between my mom and I up and down 3 stories of stairs in the hotel!

And Fetch in the room!

A friend's dog, Lola, and Moray.

We did have one set back for the week.  Moray had been running with a friend's dog in their yard, which is partly concrete.  We are always careful, and he seemed fine when he was running and even when we left to go to lunch.  Once we got back to our hotel, however, we were noticing blood all over the carpet.  Moray plays hard, so hard that I haven't had to cut his back nails for months becasue he wears them down himself.  It turned out that he had worn four of them down so far they started bleeding uncontrollably.  Thankfully, the hotel was fantastic about it, and even though they were not a pet-friendly place, they were so nice and felt so bad for Moray.  Some styptic powder and "new skin" for slightly scraped paws, and he was fine.

Moray thinks "Dancing with the Stars" is a good way to unwind!

One of the things that was so funny was Moray's complete and utter LOVE for my brother in law.  Moray is always friendly and happy to meet people, but I have never seen him take to someone like he did Curtis.  He was so cute (and a little naughty!) following him around, and trying to figure out what his beard was! It was so instant, and so precious!

The rest of our week there was filled with visiting at friends' houses, going to restaurants, stores, and even the mall.  Moray was very good the whole time!  This was by far his biggest challenge.  While he is confident, he is also pretty laid back, and doesn't necessarily need -- or want -- to be "working" all the time.  He was so good on all his outings, and showed he is capable, and becoming much more reliable in his good behavior. Yay Moray!  I will admit I was kind of nervous to see how you would do, but you really proved yourself!  he is well on his way to becoming an amazing assistance dog!

"Look how small and out-of-the-way I can stay!"

We also got to do some educating on service dogs and laws that give them public access.  Yay for open business who want to learn, and a perfect little ambassador in Moray!

Sleepy head after a loooooooong day!

"Where we headed next?"

AWESOME job in a crowded coffee shop.

Cutie Patootie at the mall!

"Under!"

"Up!

So stinkin' cute!

Nice loose leash, Mor!

Bowling is boring!

So focused and good!

SO sleepy on the way home!

Out of the norm outings always seems to come in spurts around here.  In the last two weeks Moray has gotten to experience and go to several different places outside of our usual schedule of classes, church, more classes, or the occasional grocery or Target trip.  

 Moray has been to just about every government class all year long, so it was only right that he got to accompany us on a field trip to our county's courthouse last week.  This was only his second time downtown in the city, and he did fairly well.  He was rather distracted by the different sights and smells compared to what he gets in our town, and I think that I will have to make it a point to take him downtown once or twice more to get him completely comfortable.

One thing that Moray is always amazing at is "hurrying" wherever I tell him to.  He didn't miss the lack of grass, and willing did his business right on the pavement.  All those hours of standing at the bottom of the driveway with a whiny puppy are sweetly paid off at times like these!

Many times a successful and pleasant outing is a direct result of how the public relates to us and treats us.  Sometimes we are unwelcome places, or they hassle me about having a puppy.  No matter, whenever I take a puppy to a new place, I cannot help but think about that, if only in the back of my mind.  This was a great trip from this point.  Security was great; they did not make either Moray or I go through the metal detector -- just wanded me down, and did not mess wth Moray at all.

On the elevator

Moray was not exactly on his best behavior during our time there.  He was far from horrid, but defitinely reminded me that we have a ways to go in his training.

Of course, he couldn't stay that way for long.  I will admit to being slightly annoyed with him.  Not that I sould have been, because Moray is still just a puppy and cannot be expected to be 100% solid in everything.  We needed to make a stop at Whole Foods before we went home, and Moray decided to be a perfect gentleman the entire time.  Zero pulling on his leash, zero soliciting for attention, and 100% focus.  The perfect positive ending to a very busy day!