Yuka Dawson, Instructor at MercyFirst

Good bye puppies!

4 of the Blueberry's puppies spent three weeks at MercyFirst.
The fluffy puppies bring a lot on the table.
The students learned first hand how to "teach" new skills.
The puppies came to us not knowing their names, or who people are!
The students were responsible for not only teaching basic commands, but also to teach the puppies to trust people and to love people.

In a very short time, puppies taught so much to the students.... the students were patience, consistent, focused, and positive...

Thank you puppies!!

From Aurelie Douay, Instructor at Green Chimneys School

This week we welcomed a new service dog pup, Callie, to the ECAD program at Green Chimneys school. Callie is just two months old and comes to us from FL. Callie, the youngest of our pups in training, has learned a few commnads this week such as sit, down and shake! She also met her new "brothers and sisters" already in training and rode for the first time in the truck from CT to NY. Lots of new people and places for Callie and soooo many things to learn! She is already part of ECAD's family.

From Aurelie Douay, Instructor at Green Chimneys School

School started for our new students at Green Chimneys! Our new pups started school last week and met their trainers. The student trainers had a hard time choosing between these cute little fluff balls and the grown dogs. Anna said "I think I'm ready to train a bigger size dog" while walking on a heel with Hero. Louis decided to find the dog who resembled his last service dog in training. "Pumpkin looks like Compass Junior...he is so laid back!" Pups and trainers had a very busy week. They are learning patience. Flour, our 2 month old yellow lab would say "it's hard to wait in the crate...so sometimes I try calling to my boy!" Or jumping on the box..."Iam almost there" would say Sprinkle, one of our new Golden pups...trying to reach the top of the box with her two back legs.

Yes, it will take almost two years for our ECAD pups to make it as a service dog...but its already a good start!

From Yuka Dawson, Instructor at Mercy First

After the last graudation on Nov. 4th, MercyFirst welcomed 4 of Blueberry's fluff balls: Carmel, Brandy, Nut Meg, and Crisco.
They are the best sleepers ever! The first night away from their brothers and sisters, every single one of them slept 7 hours without having accidents.
All of them are very calm puppies!

Mercy First boys are having the best time. The advantage of having puppies is that the boys can experience "teaching" a simple task and experience an immediate success. Each student is paired with another trainer and the pair is assigned to a pup and an intermediate dog.

I am expecting my students to grow tremendously as trainers after working with an advanced dog for the first 2 months, then moving down to intermediate dogs and puppies.

It's a joy to watch my students' eyes light up with small successes they have with the puppies.

Photo: Bilal with Crisco

From Chris Conforti, Instructor at Childrens Village

Sierra thinks: I am lucky because I get to stay with David. Most of the other dogs are new to class here. I first met David when he first came to dog training in September. I knew more than David so I had to train him. Now he knows more than me so he is teaching me. I am trying to learn turning on a light and I need more practice picking stuff up. I still like to challenge David - I love to see him frustrated. In the end I let David win because he is a good teacher and leader. David, I know with your help I'll make a good Service Dog. Thanks!

From Aurelie Douay, Instructor at Green Chimneys School

All the dogs are ready to explore the world! (or the farm...its a good start)
Their students look a little bit nervous and excited at the same time for this new experience.

Rosies's pups (Compass, Fern, Lilly, Jansmine, Iris), our black labs Dixie and Missy followed by our Great Dane, Yoda are READY TO GO!

But what are our pups thinking while we are heading to the farm?

Lily looks very excited: "Where are we going, where are we going?"
"What is this smell...?" while Compass is looking back and forth between the farm and his trainer.

"Hey! Look over there. What is that? Can't really be a pup...too big for that... it looks a bit like Yoda" wonders Jasmine. "I'm not really sure that I like it! My boy siad it was a HORSE mmmmmm but should I be scared?"

Oh no, my boy said that I don't have to be worried about it. "Now it is just me and my boy. We are both together, cuddling up, watching this huge thing moving around!" "Hey, I think I like it, and my boy too! He is smiling at me and petting me! I think I really love that!" Jasmine now settles her heard in her trainer's lap.

"Hey Dixie come have a look!" Fern says. Dixie gets closer the fence. "Yeah! But you know what? I see it but I prefer to be next my girl!"

Yoda and his trainer are now looking at the horse. Yoda wonders if he'll get that tall.

That was a fun day! Children and pups are tired after all the stimulation. Time for puppy nap time. Dreaming about the farm and we'll be back soon.

Yuka Dawson, Instructor from MercyFirst

Reptiles on the Move!
A few varieties of reptiles visited the campus of MercyFirst!

My afternoon group was the lucky one and got to meet the reptiles.
Of course, the students brought their dogs along.

As the reptiles were handed over, the dogs just sat and stayed under the chair.
Good thing, none of them (both dogs and students) freaked out because of the reptiles!

It was an odd, but a fun experience to touch different kinds of reptiles.

Whatever the animal it is, they are all soothing and put a smile on everyone's faces!