A few days away . . .

Well, hopefully the computer issues have been sorted.  Meanwhile, even though there were no regular posts, you may notice that I did manage to send out a few Tweets.  One of the things Cura and I did during the computer blackout was to go on our first Road Trip without family.  Heather and I took Cura and Corey (her Service Dog) and went away for a few days. 

Cura has gotten to be an old hand when it comes to travelling in the car.  Here she is gazing out the window -- watching the scenary go by.  But she is also just as comfortable taking a nap!

She absolutely LOVES her seatbelt because it allows her so much movement and she can get comfortable for those longer rides.  The seat extension cushion helps, too, giving her an addition 12-15 inches of space to lay on. 

Corey settled in very nicely.  Here she is making herself comfortable when we were on our way to dinner one night.  (Yes, that IS Cura's tail hanging down on the right).  The girls were great the entire trip.  They immediately settled in the back seat, side by side. 

We stayed with Heather's Mom for a few days and there were three beautiful dogs in the house.  Introductions went quite well and the entire visit was virtually uneventful -- at least when it came to interaction between the dogs.  In fact, Cura showed a very interesting development -- there were a couple of times that there was a bit of fussiness between the dogs and Cura's reaction was to go to Corey's aid.  This was an interesting development because Cura is generally quite aloof when it comes to other dogs.  Clearly, there was something about the trip and our attitudes that told Cura and Corey that the four of us were a pack -- so when Cura thought Corey needed help, she was willing to step up and support her.  Of course, neither Heather or I allowed the dogs to take the protective role -- that was our job!  But still, it was encouraging to see Cura make some ties with other dogs.

There was a funny result of the trip . . . we discovered a new hybrid Service Dog called Curey (or Cora), depending on the situation.  Within 24 hours of beginning our trip, both Heather and I were both having trouble with the girls' names -- frequently combining Cura and Corey when addressing either of the girls.  The funny thing was, usually they both responded regardless.

The trip was full of interesting experiences and devolopments -- some of which I need to ponder further before sharing (if I ever do share).  But, it was an amazing experience and I had a ton of fun.  Who knows, maybe in the not too distant future, I will plan a trip with only Cura and I!

FYI

Cura and I would like to welcome our newer followers.  We hope that you enjoy our journey as much as we are. 

This is just a short little post to let everyone know that the computer must go in for a checkup so regularly scheduled posts will be suspended for a time.  Hopefully, it will be a SHORT time!  I believe that it is something quite simple, but probably involves messing about with the registry -- something I avoid at all costs!  I have attempted all the fixes I am comfortable with and now it is time to pass the problem on to the professionals.  Wish me luck!

I hope to be back online soon!

Another Milestone!

Well, Cura and I are officially Alumni of A Fresh Perspective Dog Training's Service Dog program!  WhoooHooo!  It was a wonderful evening.  We were fortunate enough to have several people come and help us to celebrate our success.  So many people have come together to create our Service Dog Team and all of them were thrilled that Cura and I were graduating.

We received a framed diploma and Rick and Heather had Service Dog patches made -- I can't WAIT to switch them out on Cura's gear.  The wording of the diploma is great -- with any form of the word 'certified' conspicuously absent!  Yay!  (where do you think I get my healthy distain for the whole 'certified Service Dog' myth?)

One of the talented Service Dog Teams in the program presented us with a beautiful painting -- I have no idea how she managed it (the idea -- not the actual painting), but the imagery was perfect and the colors she used were amazing.  She is so talented and it was an honor to be gifted with one of her creations. 

We received many wonderful gifts and, thanks to the generosity of many of the guests, Cura and I were able to present Paws and Stripes with a small donation to help their cause!  (I posted about this great new organization a little over a month ago -- if you are interested in learning more about it, check out the website).  The founders are involved in the same Service Dog program as Cura and I so it was a pleasure to be able to donate to a good cause and help a few friends at the same time.

Well, that is the quick and dirty version of graduation . . . I think it will take some time to figure out exactly how I feel about no longer being in training.  I imagine it will gradually start to sink in as the weeks pass.  Don't worry, I will keep sharing our journey -- after all, it is still ongoing even though we are not 'in training' any longer.  Cura and I will still be going to classes -- to keep us from getting lazy -- and I will keep teaching Cura new skills -- to keep her mind working.  Plus, there will be the everyday experiences of being a partnership and moving through the world.

Stay tuned for our adventures!