Zeller, Speak!

27 Nov Zeller, Speak!

Greetings Friends,

I’m back from a brief medical leave, and I thank you all for the prayers, love and well wishes sent my way.

It is, indeed, good to be loved.

While I was away, something very special happened…another CCI dog joined us at our Castleton Day Services location!! Her name is Oreo and her handler, Dorine Saladin (commonly known as DG), is a Team Leader at the Castleton location.

The Regional Headquarters for Canine Companions for Independence is in Dublin, Ohio. That is where DG went to be matched with Oreo and learn all about how to work with her. They were in training together for eight hours a day for four days and then they graduated on Friday, November 9th.

The training CCI provides is so important because it is the foundation for how we interact with those New Hope serves. It isn’t just sit, shake, etc. We know about 40 different commands when we graduate as a Facility dog. Personally, I have two favorites! One is “PUSH”! I just love to shut drawers, doors, or push a box down the hall! The other is “VISIT”, and that is when I lay my head into the lap of someone. Then, I just let them pet me and it’s great!

Oreo will have learned 40 commands too, and I am anxious to find out which are her favorites. I hear she loves it at Castleton and that those we serve are happy to have her there!