18th Weekly Report Card

for

Service Dog

Musketeer Puppy!

Musketeer has been working on night alerts, alerting by jumping on the bed when handler is not responding to a side alert, waiting patiently after an alert for the handler to go through the motions of checking glucose level, alerting in a car, alerting with one paw, continued practice with proofing alerts, maintaining a down stay in areas with people constantly entering and exiting a location, maintaining a down stay for extended periods of time, heeling through public places in a controlled manner, and maintaining proper behavior and control and alerting with unknown dogs near. His training locations have included a local fire station, Basha's, Macy's, Macayo's Mexican Food and an optometrist office. 

Next week, Musketeer will be working on night alerts, alerting with one paw, alerting with children playing close, alerting in a restaurant environment, car alerts, maintaining a down stay without a specified boundary, and reinforcement of all obedience and public service skills.

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I had been told night alerts is the most challenging task for a diabetic alert service dog and takes the longest to be able to do. Musketeer is flying through this part of his training!

Basically, what D.A.D.A. (Diabetic Alert Dogs of America) is doing now is just fine tuning everything Musketeer has learned prior to his testing.

As I understand it, several senior trainers will get together with Musketeer and put him through the paces of everything he needs to know for public access and for trained tasks he needs for my disabilities. Testing takes a bit of time. If Musketeer fails at anything, more time will be needed to perfect where he messed up.

Trainers are thinking Musketeer will be ready to come home in mid-October. I had been originally told it takes six to eight months to fully train a dog. Mid-October will be five and a half months.

I don't like asking for help. It's not happy for me to ask. I'd MUCH RATHER *GIVE* help than ask for it. But, I need help to get this service dog home.
PayPal: wisconsin_marie@yahoo.com

HUGE THANK YOU

for reading about this process,

for listening to me through the

highs and lows

(blood glucose highs & lows

as well as

emotional highs & lows!),

for praying for us,

for putting up with all of my

EMOTIONS

in dealing with frustrations

and

celebrations!

THANK YOU

for being the AMAZING YOU

who cares!

I truly appreciate

YOU!
(And so does Musketeer!)