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August 18,
2006
The following is written by Rachel Osborn.
Well, as most of you know, Willie B has been bouncing
back and forth for a few weeks with Tracy Kinney (Big Bertha
Frogstomper's Mom) and a couple weeks home with us for the last few
months. He has been getting lots of great extensive obedience
training, much while wearing the great yellow "Guide Dog in Training"
vest that Aunt Justine Freeman made for him.
Well we got his "Guide Dog" harness last week, and when we went to
Tracy's this past Saturday he starting going out with me everywhere I
go, wearing his harness. He came back home with us Sunday and we've
been going at least one place every day, giving him loads of
experience and working on fine tuning of the training in harness. He
is really doing great! No, he isn't to the point Tanker was before he
passed, but we all have to remember, he is only 8.5 months old too.
Willie is a fast learner for sure, and he wants to please.
Wayne drove us to where I have Physical Therapy on my leg twice a
week, pulled up and just let us get out of the car. He left and went
to run some other errands while we went in for my therapy. Willie B
had gone to therapy with me Monday, with Wayne along, so wasn't his
first time there, but first time without following Daddy. He did
GREAT! He remembered that first we stopped at the counter (I have to
pick up my chart before going to the therapy section). He remembered
how to get to the door for going to therapy and the first left turn,
and when we got to the cross hall he stopped and looked both ways and
turned immediately to the right, which was correct. When we got to
the counter where we wait for the P.T Asst to take me through my
exercise things with the bike, leg press and so on, he stopped.
As we went to each station he did a down/stay great except for the
first stop at the bike, and when I started peddling he did stand up,
but I only had to remind him to down/stay and he did. After all the
exercises when the R.P.T. put the ultrasound goo on my leg he stood
then, just to see what she was doing to Mama, but again, only once did
I have to tell him to down/stay.
Just before she finished the ultrasound, Wayne walked in. I was
laying on my right side, facing away from Willie B, and the direction
of Wayne coming in. Wayne said something to let the P.T. and me know
he was there, and when he did Willie got up and went to look for
Wayne. Wayne said he had his eyes closed when he walked past him, and
by the time he stood Wayne had got to the side of the table I was
facing. Wayne asked Willie where he was going and he immediately
turned and went to Wayne. He'd heard his Dad's voice and was going to
find him.
Very Good Boy, that Willie B!
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