mmowens40@yahoo.com (845) 675-7200
Irwin at the Grocery Store & Glimmerglass Opera
One can never know where ones guide dog will land: it might be in the Bronx
with crowded and busy streets and subways, or in a quiet village on a lake, or
in a suburb with buddies two houses down. Thus, it is incumbent upon the
puppy raiser to expose his/her puppy in training to as many venues as possible.
In our next adventure, Irwin shares going out on the town as a puppy in training.
Read previous adventures with Irwin - check the drop-down menu above.
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Next time: Irwin Goes Out on the Town
* copyright: Marti Owens
*
* copyright: Marti O.
*
"No bite" training. Begin teaching your puppy "No bite" as soon as s/he comes home. Puppies' biting usually is a form of play, so do not punish your puppy for doing it. Help him/her learn that it hurts you. Whimper when s/he bites (it probably does hurt), and in a distressed tone, firmly say "No
bite, No BITE"
holding your hand
(or bite site). Be sure
to sound distressed.
Give your puppy
something s/he can
bite (a toy).
Be consistent.
Be patient/tenacious.
My college students had spent an evening at my home for a class session. It was a
pleasant change of venue. One of the students had used balloons filled with vocabulary
words (like fortune cookies) in his presentation. When the evening ended, five or six
inflated balloons remained unopened, and lay on the table. While I cleaned up and cleared
the table, one drifted to the floor. "A new toy for ME!" Irwin concluded.
A teaching moment, I thought, as I watched with interest and caution. "No bite" I gently suggested, but Irwin "bit" at it and the inevitable happened. Irwin quickly ran between my legs for protection when the balloon popped. I repeated my good advice. "No bite." He looked up
at me, ran a happy lap around me, as if to say, "That was fun! Let's do it again. Give me another balloon, Mom. Another balloon!" Irwin jumped up and down with joyful anticipation.
As I slowly offered another balloon, I repeated the command, "No bite" and "Gentle." The balloon lasted a bit longer this time, but eventually met its fate. POP! Irwin repeated his dash between my legs, his happy lap, and his request for yet another balloon toy.
Irwin clearly loved his new toys and the adventures they provided. What it is that makes balloons so wonderful? Their colors as they bounce across the floor or fly into the air? The scrunchie sound they make as you rub your nose against their skin? The surprise when the burst? POW! Another popped balloon, another happy dance, and so the toy balloon play continued on and on. Irwin loved balloons.
My work was not quite done, as I sat at the table assessing the evening's class, and thus, Irwin's play continued as well. I provided one balloon after another, as he played on and on. I always repeated "No bite" and soon the command was no longer needed. Irwin learned how to scrunch and squeeze and snap the mouthpiece of the balloon without popping it. It was veritable circus. Stretch out the yellow balloon's "lip", let it snap back, fling the bright red one it into the air, watch it bounce across the floor, retrieve it and repeat the happy routine. Run a happy lap with a blue balloon bouncing along, shaking it back and forth. If it popped, never fear, one can secure a bright red one after a happy lap. With a new balloon in tow, another bounce and chase as it flies into the air like a bird. Flying balloons are wonderful! Everyone loves to watch a balloon zip out of control as escaping air propels it through chaos and then to a limp rest.
Irwin shared his toys with me, like he always did. I stopped my work to play volleyball or chase, and the balls skirted across the kitchen floor.
After so much pulling and snapping, however, the last balloon finally gave in and lost its bounce. The air found the pin-point hole and fell limp. Irwin brought it to me with regret, sometimes seeking another, this time just sadly saying adieu to a playful snappy friend. Besides it was time for bed.
Post-script: Irwin did not regularly ingest items, thus he could play with balloons for hours without a problem. As an aside, he learned "No bite" by playing with them and thus prolonged his play. I do NOT recommend using balloons as a normal teaching tool for "No Bite", however. They are ingested too readily. I also was at Irwin's side when he played with balloons to assure his safety; I was happy to be the one who provided these colorful friends!
Episode 6: Irwin meets a balloon, or three.
INTRODUCTION: In 1997, in New York, a kind, 40-year old man, Willie, had a heart attack. When he awoke, he was blind.
In 1997, a few miles north of New York City, puppy Irwin was born blind. In about two weeks, he awoke to sight, just like puppies do. His nine Labrador puppy brothers and sisters were soon enlisted in a special training program for exceptional puppies. They would study to become Guide Dogs for the blind, someone like Willie. In time, Irwin and Willie became partners, and Irwin shared his sight and insights with him. Irwin seemed to generate miracles ~ for me, for those around me, and for Willie and his family.
Irwin came to my home in early July to begin his training. Irwin cleverly made himself at home and showed us all his intellectual prowess by opening his crate locks (Episode 2) and doors! (Episode 3). During the 18 months Irwin lived with me, many lessons/command/concepts were learned, by Irwin, as part of his training, and by me, as part of life.
One important lesson for any puppy is to learn not to bite. Just like most puppy teeth, Irwin's teeth were more than sharp. He had played with with his siblings by biting, and learning "No bite" when he played with people was important but seemed odd to him. This episode recounts the role balloons took in this lesson for Irwin. (CAVEAT: This is not recommended for most puppies - especially ones who tend to ingest objects). "No bite" is an imperative to prolong the play.