Rubin~it appears that Rubin is doing better after his visit to the NEADS kennel for evaluation~he had a difficult reaction to being in the kennel, Rubin is used to being with people most of the time and prefers people to other dogs so a kennel environment was challenging for him. He did alert bark a few times the week he got back, but appears to have settled in again. No change in his work, he's great. The NEADS trainers thought he was a nice dog, a little noise sensitive, a little fearful (cats, new environment) but otherwise a good service dog candidate. We are working on confidence building exercises, as well as a few new special commands for the client that he may be matched to.
Merlin~His task work is good, seems to really like the work, obedience is good, no issues except for a very quiet bark when the teenagers enter the WPRs home...he loves them, they're fun. He did have an overexcited reaction to puppies when he was younger~wanted to play and then had explosive loose stool~but he appears to be over it now. That may have been the food he was on. He is an itchy dog that we've tried several different foods on, but the BN Salmon appears to be the only thing he can eat without having a "blowout". Treats are either his own food, single protien fish only dog foods, dehydrated fish, and dehydrated sweet potatoes. Merlin is still a little immature, still easily distracted and needs to be reminded of basics (auto sit, stays, etc.) on occasion. Handler is working in the wheelchair alot this month, TURN command is still difficult.
Duke~is still barking upon hearing a door knock, but the exercises that we're doing appear to be working~we're setting him up with strangers to knock on WPR's front door, then feed Duke a high value treat if he doesn't bark at them. Handler is doing the same, it appears to be working. He has low growled at a female teenager who was staring at him, but has not repeated it. Handler is working on harness with Canny collar, same setup as Kris Law. Duke is an extremely confident dog, able to attend and work in any situation that he's been placed in so far.
He had a pulled muscle two weeks ago, but appears to be completely healed.
Major is coming along well, likes to work and is a happy little puppy. His WPR noticed pink on the bottom of his eye last week, so will check this week. No health issues, no fears, no obed issues.
