Recertification Test

B and I woke up to six inches of fresh snow, and blizzard-like conditions. As I have to cross several summits, including Donner Summit, I was a little bit nervous about going, but figured I'd try and if it got bad, I'd just turn around and we'd go to Santa Rosa for our Recertification Test later on.

When we got to Truckee, the sun was shining through a small spot in the clouds, and there was a gorgeous rainbow, so I figured it'd be okay. 

The Donner Summit crossing went okay, just extremely slow, and it was really snowing hard, and I couldn't even see the edge of my hood at times. We went through three separate chain controls (where each vehicle is stopped and inspected by Cal Trans inspectors). Boreal ski area was on a wind hold, and it was pretty bad up there. You know it's really bad when the entire ski area goes on a wind hold (the chairlifts are dangerous in high winds). Incredible start to the first day of spring!

Then at the top of Donner Summit, I passed a bus with Japanese characters painted on the side of the bus that was stopped and 180° to the highway (facing opposite direction to traffic), so I guess they skidded even though they were fully chained up. Or maybe they threw some chains on the other side that I couldn't see, and skidded. There were quite a few wrecks up there.

I had to stop at the Gold Run rest stop to use the restroom, and brought B inside with me, as I was trying to hurry because it was getting really late. I thought it'd be faster for B to "hurry" in the designated dog area, then go inside with me to the bathroom, rather then to make two trips back and forth to the car. 

I thought I was alone as there were only two other cars at the rest stop, then all of a sudden I hear all these voices chattering away. B was sitting with her back to the door, so her tail was sticking out a little bit from under the stall. So I figured they were talking about her tail and a dog being in the bathroom. It only sounded like two or three women talking.

Then when I opened the door, to my shock, there was a long line of about 40 older women from Japan, and all these camera flashes going off in my face. They must have been from that bus up on top of the summit. I guess they will go back to Japan, and B and I will be featured in some of their vacation slide shows, where they might chuckle and comment something like, "those Americans sure love their dogs".
 
Gosh time flies! I can't believe it's been six months since I last saw K and my classmates and their partners. Everyone looked great, including the dogs. 

One part of the test was the food temptation test. I got very nervous because B loves food. B did very well on the food test. I was so nervous, I was like a deer in headlights. K had to remind me it was okay to praise B for not going for the food temptation. Shame on me, as I normally give her a lot of praise and love.

After we finished everything, K told us we passed the recertification. My two classmates and I had some questions. K answered our questions and concerns. 

The drive was a lot easier and quicker going back home even though it was raining the whole way and very foggy at the top of Donner Summit. We got home in two hours (instead of nearly the four hours it took us to get there).

Visiting the Charles M. Schulz Museum

I wanted to see the Charles M. Schulz Museum because he and his family have done a lot for CCI. 

So after class, I made a quick trip to the museum, and it was very interesting.

Besides the museum, there is also the ice rink, and the gift shop, where I picked up a few souvenirs.

Here are some photos, but if you're ever in the area, I highly recommend a visit. 

Approaching the museum, note Snoopy
on top of his doghouse on the right

Amazing 2-story high wall mural made out of
actual published Peanuts comic strips

Close up of wall mural

a small section of the upstairs

Everything is so detailed,

even the bathrooms!

Nice touch! Tile repeats throughout
the bathrooms, including the stalls.

Snoopy and Woodstock playing in wet cement?

Snoopy's Home Ice

Art gallery and gift shop, note the replica of Charles M. Schulz'
Hollywood star in lower right corner.

Sopwith Camel, taken from the upstairs of the gift shop,
picture taken in honor of my father, a pilot

An example of how international Snoopy was

pictures taken in honor of a friend in Italy

Fifth Day of Class

We are all happy that it is Friday and close to the end of a very long first week of classes, as we have class tomorrow. We are learning a lot. Almost everyone has a cold, so it's been not easy. We are all trying our best and the trainers are really understanding of those of us who aren't feeling 100% including myself. 

I am very impressed with CCI as a whole, and how the trainers adjust the schedules to fit everyone's needs the best, and the wonderful accommodations (the living in these beautiful newly remodeled dorms, but also the trainers understanding that we all have different needs).

Anyway, the dogs were all very excited to work for their partners, and unfortunately I was moving slow today. I really hope we all feel much better tomorrow, but we are fortunate to get Sunday off. I will probably rest on Sunday, and try to regroup for a new week, hopefully where we all are back to our normal health.

I am not a trainer, and this is just IMHO (In My Humble Opinion). The dogs all seem so wonderful, they are such beautiful and handsome, extremely happy dogs, and so excited to work for us all. Even though I have been through two classes before elsewhere, I am so impressed with this program here at CCI, the dogs, the "voluncheers" and all the staff. I leave class each day for the evening feeling confident and empowered, and I think that says a lot for the coursework and how hard the trainers work with us on the material (everything from the textbook to training to dog handling).

Some of us, including myself, were a little bit nervous about our first field trip today, and everyone was talking about it before class started this morning. When class started, the trainers were quick to reassure us about our abilities to do well on the field trip. Everyone and their dogs did well at yesterday's practice lunch, and luckily, today's field trip went well. Kudos to the staff of CCI and to Fresh Choice in Rohnert Park and their staff for ensuring a successful field trip for our September 2012 class!

This morning we worked on timer sound training and also added a new sound, an alarm clock. So that went very well and it was interesting. My pre-match did very well, but was a little hyper. As I didn't feel very well this morning, I didn't walk the dog as far as usual before class like I normally would have. One of the trainers suggested that I throw a ball for the dog and also let it run in the enclosed play yard with other dogs.

After we did the soundwork, we went back to the classroom for the lectures on how to load and unload the dogs into our cars, and also about safety. Then it was time for the dogs to receive their new CCI Working Dog vests! They are beautiful vests, as they are blue with yellow. All of the dogs seemed excited to receive their new vests.

We then went to Fresh Choices and my pre-match did very well in line, and in allowing me to balance a tray with a bowl of steaming hot soup, salad, dessert, and a drink on it. Then we started to find a place to sit down, and two little toddler brothers ran past several times, very closely and brushing up against the dog each time they ran by. I was not appreciative of that, as I had hot food and was worried about holding the dog's leash and wondering if the tray would go flying. Luckily, thanks to the dog, it did very well, and did not even react to the little boys. 

The dog also did very well under the table, as I accidentally dropped a piece of a hard boiled egg, and it did not try to grab it at all, nor did the other dog that was under the table with it. So kudos to both dogs for a job very well done! The dog had a bumpy moment, because a staff member came up to the table with a small portable manual vacuum and went towards the dog with it, so it jumped from a down to a sit, which was totally understandable. I must really commend this dog very highly as it startled, jumped then got right back into a down stay, all on its own! I am so proud of it. So smart, and so well-trained.

After we left the restaurant, we had more soundwork, then we had another lecture, then we ended for the day. So as usual after class, I did the homework and quizzes. Then the dog and I went outside to the play yard so it could run and play with two other dogs, including its friend from lunch today. It was such a beautiful evening that we all hated to go inside. The trainer's suggestion worked out very well, as due to my bad cold, the dog was still able to get its workout in while I was able to not have to do so much. I tried something new in the play yard. It's a stick thingy with a cup for holding a ball inside it, and it makes it easier to throw balls for the dog. It is wonderful, and I will buy one. Below is a short video of my pre-match (Black Lab mix) stealing a ball from a classmate dog (Yellow Lab mix). I hadn't realized she was stealing the ball at the time of filming this, so unfortunately shut the phone off just as she was running off with the ball.

Anyway, the dog and I are off to bed, as we both have a very busy day again tomorrow. Tomorrow we are having a Mexican lunch, as they are apparently having a board meeting here at the CCI campus (as it is the National Headquarters). The Board members requested that they include our class and the trainers at their luncheon, which is very sweet and thoughtful of them. They may regret it later due to our colds, but hopefully not!

Fourth Day of Class

This morning, we were all excited for class to start, knowing that we would be having our first night at "home" in our dorm rooms with our pre-matches. I had already put my shoes away as Ginza ate the top part of one Sorel boot when she first got matched with me.

Today we had several very informative lectures on Canine Health, and Canine Communication. I am really learning a lot here.

We did a lot of training practices, mostly working with the timer and getting the dogs to respond to us in different situations. Just before lunch we did a quick walk so they could do their business if needed. Then we came back inside and practiced with us holding empty plates with our dogs on leash, in preparation for our field trip tomorrow to a buffet place. 

Once we got the hang of handling plates and dogs on leashes, we tried again during our lunch with actual food on plates, holding the dogs' leashes, and walking with them to the table. We had a nice lunch, chicken salad on croissants provided by the "voluncheers".

After lunch we did another walk then we had another class lecture (the one on Communication). Then we went back to doing soundwork with the timers but making it more challenging for the dogs to push them a little bit. 

One dog did not want to do the soundwork. She actually refused to respond to the timer, so one of the trainers thought maybe she was upset about her new collar. So they tried to get the dog to have another go at responding to the timer, but this dog just tucked her tail in between her legs and ran to her crate, and nosed the door open so she could enter the crate. When the door opened, she jumped at the sound of the door slamming into the crate next to her own crate, then she got inside her crate, and managed to pull shut the door to her crate! 

So the trainer said, "get her outside". Yep, that was the problem. She had to go and apparently she didn't want to try to practice as she may have been afraid of having an accident, bless her heart. Once she came back from outside, she was fine and did a great job on the soundwork. Smart girl!

At the end of the day we had another lecture, which was about taking our dogs "home" tonight to our dorm rooms for the first time. They covered everything in the lecture, and it was an excellent lecture, so I felt confident in taking my pre-match "home" tonight. My pre-match is behaving very well, and is asleep next to me, but it was still good to hear what to do in certain examples, just in case.

Edited to add after Graduation:

First night at "home" in the dorm