As I mentioned earlier, Rolo has started his training for service work and his CGC title. The more I think about Rolo, the more excited I get about him. In less than 10 training sessions he has learned how to sit, down, stay, come and accept grooming while sitting. For such a young dog, it is just amazing. He has progressed so well that I am even starting some service dog training with him.
The biggest challenge that any training regime for a service dog is to keep it light and keep it fun. For him I am working in stages. His first stage is to come if I fall. I know that it may sound incredibly silly but it can be absolutely life saving both for him and for me. Say in this scenario that I trip and fall on a simple walk along a busy road. If I drop the leash I don't want him darting out into traffic, I want him by my side to help me if I need it. This is where the right breed choice will help. Hamiltonstovare are naturally more sensitive to their owners. I have never not heard of a Hamilton that did not have almost a sixth sense about them. So Rolo naturally has this nearly down. If I simulate a fall, he is there at my side without any hesitation.
The next issue is pressing on him. He is a trained show dog but he is a young dog. So he knows how to stand still but his patience for staying still isn't very high. Right now, I am taking things very slow with him regarding pressing on him and using him to help me off the ground. He has good days and he has bad days. On his good days, he will let me press up on him with very little fidgeting. On his bad days, he fidgets, looks and generally acts confused. On days like this, I really have to take it very slow and break it down. Once I do that, he is fine.
I am trying to figure out when a good first trip out for him would be. I don't want to stress him out by going to a place with food so maybe just a simple walk around the mall might be more his speed.
More to come with him and I will keep everybody updated.
Also, please stay tuned as the Hamiltonstovare Club of America will be holding another fundraiser very soon. The HCA needs help in raising funds to promote this amazing breed as well as training future Hamiltonstovare service dogs.
The biggest challenge that any training regime for a service dog is to keep it light and keep it fun. For him I am working in stages. His first stage is to come if I fall. I know that it may sound incredibly silly but it can be absolutely life saving both for him and for me. Say in this scenario that I trip and fall on a simple walk along a busy road. If I drop the leash I don't want him darting out into traffic, I want him by my side to help me if I need it. This is where the right breed choice will help. Hamiltonstovare are naturally more sensitive to their owners. I have never not heard of a Hamilton that did not have almost a sixth sense about them. So Rolo naturally has this nearly down. If I simulate a fall, he is there at my side without any hesitation.
The next issue is pressing on him. He is a trained show dog but he is a young dog. So he knows how to stand still but his patience for staying still isn't very high. Right now, I am taking things very slow with him regarding pressing on him and using him to help me off the ground. He has good days and he has bad days. On his good days, he will let me press up on him with very little fidgeting. On his bad days, he fidgets, looks and generally acts confused. On days like this, I really have to take it very slow and break it down. Once I do that, he is fine.
I am trying to figure out when a good first trip out for him would be. I don't want to stress him out by going to a place with food so maybe just a simple walk around the mall might be more his speed.
More to come with him and I will keep everybody updated.
Also, please stay tuned as the Hamiltonstovare Club of America will be holding another fundraiser very soon. The HCA needs help in raising funds to promote this amazing breed as well as training future Hamiltonstovare service dogs.
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