Here is the professional picture of us with Darcy at graduation. Added on December 5, 2007
Skyler wants to know where Darcy went. Why didn't you bring her back? Darcy was turned in to CCI on Saturday November 17, 2007. She will hopefully last the six months of training and at the end be ready for team training where she will be placed with a person with a handicap, other than blindness, who will use her as a service dog. Any time during the next six possibly nine months she can be released, meaning she is not suitable for being a service dog. We don't call these dogs failures, but Change of Career, COC dogs for they still are great dogs who often do other kinds of work, like Skyler who is a great Therapy Dog. Only about 1/3 of the dogs turned in for Advance Training make it. They are released for a variety of reasons from health issues to behavior issues.
We will eventually receive a professional picture of us with Darcy but for now this will work.
I had to get her on the swing which we always sit on when we first get our puppy, so here she is all grown up.
Darcy looks a little bored here in these pictures, as most of the day was sitting around waiting, but when she finally was able to play with her friends at the dog park she had a great time. She discovered the agility tunnel and just loved it. She wouldn't stop running through it. In the past she was afraid to go in and avoided it at all costs. When we finally had to turn her over to the trainer she went happily wagging her tail and did not even look back. We know she will have a good time there. Each dog shares a kennel with another dog. She is with Anjou a petite Golden who was in her class while I was raising her. We will receive Advanced Training reports once a month starting sometime in January. For now we just wait and pray.
We went golfing with Rob and Briana last Saturday. What do you think about that swing? A pro in the making, wouldn't you agree? Maybe with a little practice and instruction with Rob her swing will improve.
