Team Training started on Saturday, October 19th, at NSD where all 7 families were introduced to both each other and our trainers. Sunday was our first busy day. We met and worked with all 7 dogs (Nestle, Jasmine, Jelly Bean, Juno, Ivy, Izzy and Harris) multiple times as the NSD trainers taught us the commends, one by one, these dogs have been using for the past 6 months. It was challenging to remember to use the correct tone, sequence of command-corrections-praise, but mostly which dog we were working with, as we'd have to quickly scroll through the rolladex of names before spitting out the right one. After an exhausting day of learning how to work with a NSD dog and being watched by the team of four trainers, we were taken back to our hotel rooms to wait for the dog that would instantly join our family and forever change our lives.
The moment there was a knock on our door, my heart skipped a beat. This was the moment we had been waiting two years for. Was this actually happening? Opening the door, we were greeted by four smiling faces and the beautiful miss Ivy. I realized in that moment, these trainers (Cathy, Jillian, Vicki and Tamara) had been waiting for this moment for two years as well. And all the hard work we had all put into this moment suddenly became worth it.
Ivy, of course, is perfect. I cannot believe how amazing she is (and that the NSD decided to give US the BEST dog!). Ivy is sweet natured, VERY focused and quiet. Our first night with Ivy was great as she slept through the night on her doggie bed - the doggie bed we have had Cayleb sleeping on for over a month.
We have now completed two full days of working with Ivy, with the direction given to us by the NSD trainers, and volunteer Catrina, Keeping Ivy's focus while passing distractions, learning to walk with her down the stairs at a safe pace, perfecting our various vocal tones for commands and praise and loading Ivy in and out of the NSD van are just of the few things we have slowly becoming more confident at.
(Ivy, practising 'leave it' with a pile of food)
So here we are at day 5 of training with Cayleb's dog, imagining how much life is going to change the moment we bring this wonderful dog home. We already cannot imagine life without her big brown eyes looking at us for direction and approval.
Today will prove to be an emotional day as we prepare to meet the puppy trainers that so generously opened their homes and hearts to our dog, knowing that at 18mths they would have to give her back - knowing she will change a child's life, but still be missing in their hearts. Today we won't have the words to thank the people who raised our Ivy, who gave their time, hard work and love, all for a child they have never met. Today, we will let them know our lives are changed because of them. Today, and everyday, I will cry because of what Ivy means for Cayleb and our family and because of the kindness of people who made this possible simply because. Today is day 5.
