Looking Back: Moving On

When I first gave Thornwald to a different raiser, my heart was crushed. I put all my energy into raising him, but as time passed, it hurt less. I love him and I learned so much from him, but if being with a more experienced raiser will help him succeed, then letting go is exactly what I needed to do as part of raising him. Soon afterward, I started to experience weird symptoms and I was very thankful that I was not in charge of Thornwald at that moment. I could not drive and I was in no state of mind to give him the best lessons a hyper, seven month old puppy needed. I was so happy to see him when I got to visit him and I was proud. It was like visiting a child at college. It was shocking, but I was never angry. I did this for Thornwald and whomever would benefit from him. Anyone who thought it would be impossible to give him up weren't thinking in the same mindset that I was thinking. 

I am so glad that I was able to raise Thornwald and would never trade that time for anything. I love my current dog, Cash, and I was able to help him through his recovery (he was an underweight stray) because of what I learned with Thornwald. 

I now see service dogs and what they do in such an amazing new way. It's fantastic to see these dogs from the beginning. Susquehanna Service Dog does that. I love hearing success stories or seeing service dogs in public. I love knowing that these lovable animals can do so much and that such a fantastic organization can make this happen for so many people. And they are trying to expand. 

Now that I am moving back with my parents, I won't be able to volunteer for Susquehanna Service Dogs, but they won't be far from my mind. I hope to find a way to raise money or donate supplies they might need. They inspired me to see the potential in all dogs. They showed me the importance of consistency and positivity. I've been able to translate their teaching methods to other aspects of my life. And for the first time in my life, I was able to overcome my mental health issues because my life was not focused on me, but on a puppy, its potential, and the person he would eventually help.  

And as a bonus, they showed me how to train my own dog. 

If you are looking for a place to donate to, consider them! Just send them an email or look at their list on their website. You won't regret it.

Esther

My First Time in Lancaster City: I'm Not a City Dog (Yet!)

Even though we live in the Lancaster area, we do not go into the city. There is nothing in the city that I cannot buy outside of the city with free parking. The only resource in the city that I use are the Lancaster General Health resources (doctors and emergency department).

Knowing Thornwald needed to visit a city, I decided that a day in Lancaster would be perfect! I had it all planned. I was going to take him to Central Market, the Lancaster Art Museum, the Library, City Hall, and a few stores. My plan was to get him used to walking around busy streets with new sounds and to visit places that he might visit with a handler. I had him walk over new textures and go to places with new smells.

Our first stop was Rite Aid, and even though he has visited numerous Rite Aids before, he was distraught over how crowded it was in this store. We then continued to visit Central Market. He did not do too badly at the market, but I did not want to keep him there too long because he was having a lot of difficulty keeping focused with all the food smells. I wanted him to leave successful! We practiced stopping at crosswalks and when there was a lot of traffic sounds, I made sure to give him treats to help calm him and associate the sounds with a positive vibe. I was even able to get him to sit and pose on a sewer grate! \

Unfortunately, for young Thornwald, the experience was overwhelming.  Most of our time was spent walking, but when we made it to the Library, he freaked out and started to jump on me and bite my legs. I took him out of the Library and he calmed down. I am not sure what element about the trip freaked him out, but for now, I will be slowly introducing him to the different smells and sounds of the city. Hopefully, we will be able to visit a city for more than an hour before he gets stressed.

Dog Park Shenanigans!

Dog parks are great resources for any community. I love being able to watch Thornwald happily frolic around and get his needed lab exercise. 

A lot of dog parks only have places for the dogs to run, but Lancaster was lucky enough to receive a half-million dollar dog park when a local resident won a contest from Beneful. 

Every dog has their own personality and it is fun to watch the dogs interact and learn how to play with different dogs. 

I'm not a big fan of small puppies in the large section of dog parks, even if they are large breeds. Unless the dog has been heavily socialized, your cute puppy is going to be frightened and many dogs won't understand how to play with such a youngster. 

Luckily, our local dog park has enough fun stuff to do that it is hard for them to get bored.