Willow and I are starting our journey....
This is a road I have taken 3 times before....... Step one:::: First obedience class beginning on Saturday for 6 weeks. I am a little nervous, being a newbie at 60 something years old....   Step two::: Second obedience class...in about 10 weeks assuming we will pass the first one... Step three:::: Patio Class....This class goes on field trips to the Boathouse to practices polite behavior with the distractions of the water, ducks, birds and great food. (Heart fell in the water at our first dinner, taught me to keep her tusch away from the edge of the concrete.....  )Step four:: Trick Class....  need I say more????Step five, six,seven...etc::::: Keep practicing and training until she is old enough to apply to be a therapy dog. All this is in addition to taking Willow out to the CWE and Kirkwood Farmers Market and getting her ready for Rally and Obedience trials with the help of Auntie Judi.....  She has to be 2 years old before she can test to be a TOUCH Dog,(therapy dog) with Support Dogs, so I have lots of time to perfect her (and my) skills as a team. I feel very old. I don't know if I can do all of this again. But. I do miss my therapy visits and my PAWS for REading visits, so I am going to do my best to succeed. My heart says Willow will make a fantastic therapy dog. I owe it to her (and myself) to at least try..... Just wanted to keep all of our forum friends in the LOOP!!!!!!!!  Thanks to all for your support and love!!!!!! Hopefully, 'we' will see many of you at SHEEPIEPALOOZA!!!!! I am looking forward to everyone meeting my little "Willie"    |
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| That's great... thanks for step by step plan... didn't realize it was 2 years but since Fred has turned one, I'm thinking we'll need a 3-year plan lol. Therapy a goal I have for Fred too but this will my first time.... currently doing obedience, rally, agility and lots of socialization in new places... I'd love to do reading with kids in library in the summer... and who knows what else. We'll have to talk more in St Louis! |
| Seriously Val, if anyone can do this, it's you!!! You were born to walk with a therapy dog!!!!! We expect full reports with photos... Vance and Jen |
You guys will do great and you aren't too old. This is what keeps you young! Enjoy your time growing and training together and you'll be a great team in no time! Cindy |
| What a great plan. I know for you and Willow It will be a piece of cake. Heart will be whispering in Willows ear. Have a fun time. |
Every successful journey begins with a great plan  Of course, Willow will be a therapy touch girl! Cannot imagine you without an active partner and Wee Willow deserves it  Good luck tomorrow at class, going to be a whole new adventure for both of you We cannot wait to meet her!  |
| Newbie? Whadaya mean, Newbie?? You have a proven track record. You will both be fine. I remember when Heart slipped and had an unscheduled bath. I'm waiting to hear what tricks Winkie has in store for you. |
| i cant wait to here willows antics throughout this !! pics please |
| Ha I never heard that story about Heart slipping off the dock! and phhhht, you and Willow will be great, nothing to worry about!  |
| You'll do great! I can't wait to meet both of you face to face at Sheepiepalooza! |
Wishing you both much fun & success on the journey! Go Willie, Go!  |
| You are not old at all!! We all stay young with our sheepie buddies !! Your experience will take you and Willow right through the process!! Have fun! We are working on it here too! |
| Nothing like training a sheepdog to put a spring in your step. Like Karen said that is what keeps us young. And of course, it is an open door policy over here. Any weekend that I am not trialing you are welcome to come over and practice with me. And Friday after work is one of biggest training days. Have fun tomorrow with your future therapy dog. |
| I'm sure you'll both do great. A whole new adventure for you and your new little girl. |
Hey, you aren't doing agility!! There's where the upright makes a fool of themselves and at 60 ish, we don't need falling, twisting, etc on already questionable joints....unless you are doing agility now and are in shape and agile. So therapy is perfect and rally! Don't forget that one. Herding........how fast can you jump back and get out of the way  You've been thru this before, you know what's coming and can psyche yourself up, Willow will cruise through when she realizes her upright is totally committed and enjoying taking a new pup thru school. |
| Too old? That means a LOT of us here are too old! Seriously, I think as we get older we appreciate what therapy dogs bring to the lives of others, especially the more senior of the seniors. As far as difficulty and the time it takes to get certified, being involved and working with animals is just helps keep us younger. I'm so happy that you have Willow. Not to replace Heart but to continue her legacy of bringing joy to others. Of course you two will be a great team. People can't help but smile when YOU enter the room and we all know how people react to Old English Sheepdogs. One step at a time, Val. You and Willow will be an amazing team!  |
| that is great. will you be taking willow into hospitals? my sadie blue sniffs out cancer |
| Remember, the journey starts out with that 1st step! I know Willow will do great. You know what you are doing, and can help her along the way. Having one experienced member in the team is always so helpful.  (note I did not say old!)In our chapter, it's our older and usually retired (oh someday that will be me too!) humans who are able to do the most visits, and by far! Those of us who work are in the minority as far as visit attendance goes. One of our members celebrated her 80th birthday last year, and another has her 75th coming up in March...so we are still "young"! |
| Willow and you will do great! |
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