In less than a week I will be heading off to the Northeast Regional
Training Center of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). I am
looking forward to the two weeks of intensive training with a CCI dog
selected for me.
That's right, I won't have a say as to which dog becomes my new assistance dog. The trainers make that determination based on my needs and personality as well as the needs and personality of the dog. There will be ten other students training with me, all hoping to graduate as a skilled handler of the CCI dog that will come home with them.
Canine Companions for Independence was founded in 1975. It is now the largest assistance dog organization in the world. Their motto is, "providing exceptional dogs for exceptional people." The first center was established in Santa Rosa, California. Now there is a center in the southwest, southeast, northeast, northwest, and north central regions of the US. The first dog/handler team graduated in 1976. By 2008, 3,000 dog/handler teams had successfully completed the training and graduated from the program.
I applied for participation in CCI over four years ago. Last year I was invited to spend a day at the Northeast Center. I guess they were assessing me as a potential student. Next, a few weeks ago I received a call inviting me to be a student during the first two weeks of November. They said they had a couple of dogs that might make good matches for me. They also said I needed to bring someone with me. I did not have to ask my friend, Sandy more than once. She is an animal lover and was very interested to learn more about dog training. I told her we would share a dorm room and that we would be like college roommates.
Candidates for the program include individuals with autism, spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis or deafness. The dogs appear to be Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers. Tasks they can perform include picking things up and placing them on the handler's lap, getting things out of the way of the handler's wheelchair, opening and closing doors or drawers, turning lights on and off, opening the refrigerator, taking out the desired product, bringing it to the handler, and closing the refrigerator. In addition they help individuals by making people comfortable around disabilities. The dog takes the focus off the wheelchair or other walking aid and off the physical disability of the handler.
A very important aspect of CCI is the volunteer puppy raiser. They give the future assistance dogs a good start in life. They then give up the puppy when it is ready to begin its training. Not all puppies make it to the training period and are released from the program. The puppy raiser or individuals on a wait list for a released CCI dog can then adopt them. This is very similar to what happens with dogs raised to be Seeing Eye dogs. My dog Vida was a released dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Speaking of Vida, do not be concerned that she will feel displaced by this new dog. On the contrary, Vida will be instrumental in helping the new dog fit into our pack. Her calmness will serve as a positive example and her actions will help the new dog learn our routines. Vida will be retired but will still get her daily walks and plenty of love.
Canine Companions for Independence was founded in 1975. It is now the largest assistance dog organization in the world. Their motto is, "providing exceptional dogs for exceptional people." The first center was established in Santa Rosa, California. Now there is a center in the southwest, southeast, northeast, northwest, and north central regions of the US. The first dog/handler team graduated in 1976. By 2008, 3,000 dog/handler teams had successfully completed the training and graduated from the program.
I applied for participation in CCI over four years ago. Last year I was invited to spend a day at the Northeast Center. I guess they were assessing me as a potential student. Next, a few weeks ago I received a call inviting me to be a student during the first two weeks of November. They said they had a couple of dogs that might make good matches for me. They also said I needed to bring someone with me. I did not have to ask my friend, Sandy more than once. She is an animal lover and was very interested to learn more about dog training. I told her we would share a dorm room and that we would be like college roommates.
Candidates for the program include individuals with autism, spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis or deafness. The dogs appear to be Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers. Tasks they can perform include picking things up and placing them on the handler's lap, getting things out of the way of the handler's wheelchair, opening and closing doors or drawers, turning lights on and off, opening the refrigerator, taking out the desired product, bringing it to the handler, and closing the refrigerator. In addition they help individuals by making people comfortable around disabilities. The dog takes the focus off the wheelchair or other walking aid and off the physical disability of the handler.
A very important aspect of CCI is the volunteer puppy raiser. They give the future assistance dogs a good start in life. They then give up the puppy when it is ready to begin its training. Not all puppies make it to the training period and are released from the program. The puppy raiser or individuals on a wait list for a released CCI dog can then adopt them. This is very similar to what happens with dogs raised to be Seeing Eye dogs. My dog Vida was a released dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Speaking of Vida, do not be concerned that she will feel displaced by this new dog. On the contrary, Vida will be instrumental in helping the new dog fit into our pack. Her calmness will serve as a positive example and her actions will help the new dog learn our routines. Vida will be retired but will still get her daily walks and plenty of love.
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