California Cousins

My two cousins from california came down Thursday to visit for their spring break. One is 23 and the other is 20 and we are all so close. I am so happy they are down, but that just means I probably will not get anything done until late sunday night. School is becoming so hard to keep up with now considering all the distractions of college decisions, visitors, work, and just not enough hours in the day. Work is going great, it's a lot but I like it. Rudi is doing great with her training. I am really proud of her. I am working on finishing my preview tonight so that will be a weight lifted off my shoulders. I want to enjoy my last two months of high school, but I also just want it to be over. Next week is Rudi's fourth training class. She only has two more after that, it' crazy! Another busy week ahead, but at lest it's midterms so it will be a short week. =)

Marathon Tuesday

Tuesdays are going to be my longest and busiest days ever! I have school from 7:30am to 10:45am. Then I go straight to work from 11:00am to 4:00pm. After work I rush home, change, grab Rudi and all of our training gear and drive to Sawgrass for obedient training from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Once I'm done I rush home again to drop off Rudi and drive to the Weston Library for my Broward College class from 6:30pm to 9:15pm. I am tired just talking about it. It is a crazy day. I survived my first Tuesday and it was exhausting. I am going to just have to get used to it. The frustrating, but good thing in the end was that my Broward College class was cancelled this past Tuesday. I didn't find out till I arrived, but I was definitely relieved in the end. Rudi did great in her third training class. We learned the commands drop it, take it, leave it, and down. Rudi did great in all of them, but she struggled in down. I am really going to have to practice that with her at home.

Jobs and Dogs

This week I will start my first day at Jimmy John's. I just finished training and I am very excited to be working again. I wanted to get a job before summer because trying to get one once summer comes around is impossible. I am working Monday through Friday, 11-4. I've never worked that much in my entire life. I am going to be extremely busy I hope I can handle it. I am working on my WISE preview, but it is coming along slowly. Tuesday I have Rudi's training class again so I am looking forward to that. Rudi is still doing great and progressing with her tricks and newly learned behaviors. I have been showing her off to everyone. Spring break was absolutely amazing and I am so sad it is over. The only good part is that it's the last stretch till graduation. Two more months. I am getting nervous because that means my WISE Presentation is that much closer!

Spring Break!

Spring Break 2011 is finally here and it is going to be amazing. Me and a couple of friends got a hotel on Fort Lauderdale beach and are staying for two nights. I plan on being at the beach everyday. Although it is spring break, I still have to practice with Rudi the tricks we learned in training. I try to do it once a day so she dose not forget. I have to miss our next training class because I will be away, but my instructor said it is no big deal and I can just make up the class the following week. Everyone at PetSmart is so nice and I am really glad i chose them. Rudi is already enjoying her spring break!

Rudi's First Training Class

Rudi's first training class went awesome! She is truly a natural. We learned the commands sit, loading the clicker which is what we are using to train her, and watch me. We use a clicker right before she gets a treat to condition her to know when she hears the click she will be getting a treat. In the class, there is one other family with a puppy so it is nice and intimate. My best friend Sam came with me so I wasn't alone. 

Rudi pre-training

Rudi Starts Training tomorrow so I wanted to document her progress. As of now Rudi is 8 years old and has had no previous training. She is a great dogs and follows commands like stay, no, stop, but that is it. This is Rudi the day before she starts her training class. As you'll see we have a lot of work to do. 

Training, FINALLY

Today right after school I drove straight to PetSmart in Plantation. I walked in and to the left back corner was a huge sign for TRAINING. I picked up a bunch of forms and a calendar and went to the check out line so an employee could explain everything to me. I found out that there was a beginners class starting tomorrow, Tuesday March 8th at 5:00 PM. If i choose this class it will be once a week every Tuesday at five o'clock for the next six weeks. Suzanne Hurley will be the training Instructor. Tuesday's are perfect for me so I filled out all the paperwork and paid, and now Rudi is officially enrolled in a training class. We start tomorrow and I am so excited. I have to bring her vaccination records, a 4' to 6' leather or nylon leah (I think I need to purchase a new one), a buckle collar, and a variety of small bite treats. Let the journey begin!

All Ready To GO!

Rudi was taken to get updated on all her shots today. Her appointment was when I was in school so my mom had to take her. I feel bad Rudi has to go through all these things, but it's all for a good cause. It ended up costing $120, but she needed them anyway. She has to go on March 16th for one more thing, but I can get started with training now. The vet was really excited Rudi was going to become a therapy dog. All there personal dogs are Therapy Dogs and they think Rudi will be great because of her sweet nature. I am going to the Expendables Concert tonight at Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale. It was really last minute that we decided to go, but spontaneous things are the best. Spring break is only in a week and a half I cannot wait. I have to start working on my third quarter exam. We had a team meeting yesterday and Coach Love explained it all. I am definitely going to have fun with it!

Interview Part Two

I had previously blogged about my contact with Dennis Kalodish, a Therapy Dog International Team Evaluator. For my second Interview I chose him. He basically told me the same things he informed me about the other times I've talked to him. He mailed me a lot of information about Therapy Dog Training and I received it in the mail today. It included a pamphlet on rules for testing, directions to the site, and Rudi MUST have a flat buckle collar. It was very nice of him to send me all this great information. The Evauation test is April 9th, 2011. I hope Rudi is ready by then.

Shots =(

My trip to Ohio happened to be the most amazing and unexpected trip. I went up just because my dad wanted me to see the school, but I ended up falling in LOVE with Miami of Ohio. I walked on the campus and just felt it. University of Maryland has always been my top choice, but since I visited Miami everything has changed! While I was in the airport I made a call to Rudi's vet, All Friends Animal Clinic. I needed them to mail be Rudi's vaccination records and all her papers concerning her shots. They said they'd send them right away, so hopefully they arrive soon so I can take them into PetSmart. I also asked if Rudi needed to be updated on any of her shots. She needed about three shots, so I made an appointment for her to get them (poor Rudi). Next week she will get her shots and then she'll be all ready to go!