CCI Graduation

Sorry for the delay our new life has been busy, but as promised here are some pictures of Irving's and I's graduation on 2/11/11.

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Before Graduation, I met Irving's wonderful puppy raisers thank you both for a job well done!

A bitter sweet moment Irving's puppy raisers handing him our to me.

 Still on stage with my boy, waiting for other classmates to get their dogs!

  We did it!  Irving and I are a CCI graduate service dog team

We Did It!

Oh my God where do I start CCI is amazing!

Okay well here is my guy, Irving III

What an amazing two weeks I had at team training.  The friends I made, the experiences I had and the instructors were all wonderful how will I ever thank CCI for the life changing gift they have given me. The first two days of class I rotated four dogs. They were all wonderful!

Feb 2nd was pre match day, this is where we get matched with a dog and if everything goes well we will go home with it.  I admit that when I was placed with Irving I was a bit shocked I thought I would have been placed with another dog, but I was truly over joyed and the trainers sure know how to make the right match.

The moment we met, for good I found out Saturday that Irving was my final match pure joy and love.

From per match day forward Irving and I worked together and bonded.  We did lots of command practice of over 40 comes. Some of with are:

Give & Get

Tug - we worked hard but we got it.

Went on many field trips - to practice in public (first time in the truck)

More team training experiences and graduation pictures coming in the next post

1st Day - Team Training

Update from first day of team training!

Everything here is so amazing! Aside from that on to a bit about the dogs. I cannot tell you dog names or post pictures until after graduation. Today and tomorrow there are six of us rotating through ten dogs. I worked with four days today, all Lab and Golden Retriever crosses, two yellow females, black male and black female.

Yes I have my favorite but I cannot get attached. More dogs tomorrow not sure if we will be rotate the same ten dogs or if they will bring in a entire different group.

Today is the Day!!!!

Well today is the day I have have been waiting for since August of 2009! We are leaving for Santa Rosa in a few hours, to begin training with my service dog! EKKK.

Tomorrow the training officially starts and I will work with different dogs Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I will find out which dog will most likely be mine I will work with him or her for the rest of the training. If all goes well I will graduate and come home with my new best furry buddy in just two weeks!

My life is about to be forever changed and I cannot wait for this experience I will do my best to keep you all updated and post pictures!

Countdown: 2 weeks until Team Training

I cannot believe how fast time has passed.  It seemed like it was just December 1st when I got the call, and now we leave for Santa Rosa in just two weeks WOW! I received my training manual and have being going over the information, there is a bunch to learn but it's so neat.


Guess what it is official I received my conformation and dorm room assignment yesterday,  So much to do in so little time to get ready for the start of this new life long adventure. We leave Jan 30th and training starts the 31st.  Be sure to check back as I will try to update daily while we are attending team training!