A Newsletter for our Staff and Clients
What's Happening @ Our Training Center!
2007 Titles and Brags | 2008 Titles and Brags | Gage's Story | Massage | New Classes | CGC Tests | Home
2008 Brags and New Titles
Pam Deleppo is now an AKC confirmation judge
for Junior Showmanship, Japanese Chins, and
Shih Tzu!!!!
Jen & Bodie
Wendy & Yogi
Karen & Rave
Open-C.D.X. – Companion Dog Excellent
Chris & Gauge
U.D.- Utility Dog
Terry & Cali
Betsey & Sasha
OTCH-Obedience Trial Champion
Teri & Tory
Rally Novice
Wendy & Yogi
Wendy & Casey
Karen & Rave
Lorena & Dale
Marilou & Megan
Rally Advanced
Barbara & Fin-lee
H.I.T. - High in Trial
Chris & Gauge
Sue & Shaker
Earl & Ferek
Canine Good Citizen
Fran & Ruby
Pearl & Blaise
Liz & Groucho
Susan & Gaelic Myth
Chris & Gracie
Lorena & Jazmin
Amy & Bender
Marilou & Meghan
Marjorie & Becky
Sue & Golly
Kim & Gunner
Denice & Bogie
T. D. I. - Therapy Dog International
Fran & Ruby
Pearl & Blaise
Chris & Gracie
Marjorie & Becky
Emily & Bella
The K-9 Connection is pleased to offer
K9 Massage Therapy by Zendog K9Massage
Terri Derosiers, CMT, ABT
Call (401) 737-2870 to make an appointment
Benefits of Canine Massage
Sports Massage
- Pre Event-invigorates and loosens the dog both physically and mentally.
- Post Event-relaxes tightened and overused muscles, decreases soreness and reduces recovery time.
Relaxation/Behavioral Problems
- Helps relieve mental stress, reduces anxiety that can be the cause of some behavioral problems.
Puppies
- Helps get them accumstomed to human touch and enforces important socialization.
- Acclimates muscles during growth spurts.
Rehabilitation
- Post surgery maintains muscle function during recovery for faster healing.
Aging
- Relieves stiffness and sore joints for a more comfortable living.
Overall Well Being
- Helps physically, emotionally and mentally for a better quality of life. (Back to top)
Message for Clients and Staff of K-9Connection
Many of you will be entering Agility Trials as well as Obedience and Rally Trials in the summer and fall months ahead. Please make sure that you let Karen know your Brags so we can keep a tally of our new titles and accomplishments for 2008. Don't forget!
We also need some new feature stories from either Staff or Clients so if you have a story that others might enjoy hearing about, let us know.
CGC Testing - New Dates will be posted soon
Call (401) 737-2870 or e-mail Karen @ [email protected]
for more information
Gage's Story (cont'd) & Farewell & Good Luck Party
If you read Gage's story below you will know that he will be heading off to "College" on Saturday, May 19th. On Thursday, May 10th @ the 7:00 p.m. class we had a "Farewell and Good Luck Party" for Gage. Gage's classmates brought him gifts of toys and treats. There was also a delicious Heath Bar Crunch cake for his human buddies. Everyone in the class will miss Gage and Gil a lot. Gil and Emily will keep us up to date on Gage's progress. Kudos to Gil and Emily for fostering these puppies and providing such a good foundation for these special dogs who will become future assistance dogs. I'm sure it is both heartbreaking and rewarding.
Click on picture for slide show of Gage's Party
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Gage - March 2007 |
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Hello, everyone. My name is Gage and I am an assistance dog-in-training for CCI (Canine Companions for Independence). First, I’ll give you a few details about myself….
I am a 16 month old male, Golden/Lab mix bred and born in CA. They say I have a slightly crooked tail. I love people. I live in Westerly, RI with my puppy raisers Emily and Gil Scott. They take me to classes at the K-9 Connection in Warwick, RI. My instructor says I'm doing well here but I can't say the same for my puppy raisers. They are always making boo-boos.
For anyone not familiar with CCI, I am including some general information. CCI* is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. They breed Labradors, Retrievers, and Golden/Lab mixes (in California, the national headquarters). When we puppies are 8 weeks old, we are distributed throughout the five regional centers across the nation where we are then placed in the home of a puppy-raiser.
It is the responsibility of the puppy-raiser to provide food, veterinary care, socialization, basic obedience skills and lots of love during the time that the pups are with them (from age 8 weeks to 15-18 months). Turning us dogs in for advanced training to the regional office in Farmingdale, NY is the next step.
Advanced Training, or ‘College,’ as we call it, lasts from 6-9 months. We learn to respond to around 40 commands such as turning on/off lights, opening/closing doors and retrieving dropped items. Upon successful completion of this training, we are matched with an adult or child with a disability. We learn techniques designed to meet specific needs. There are four different types of team placements:** service teams, hearing teams, facility teams and skilled companion teams.
You have just received some basic information about the program, but I would like you to hear a few words from my puppy raisers, too. They are sure to say good things about me, even though I sometimes misbehave.
A note from Emily and Gil:
Gage entered our lives in November, 2006, and except for the typical minor puppy antics, e.g., shredding pillows, digging holes and destroying toys, he has been an absolute delight. He interacts well, learns quickly and is sooo lovable. The time we have had him has just passed too quickly. Gage will leave us shortly, in May. To be honest, as the time nears, we ponder the most frequently asked question, “How can you give him up?” Our deepest hope is that the next time we’d see him, Gage will be graduating. During the ceremony we would “turn over the leash” to the new graduate amid great tears of sadness, joy and a wonderful sense of fulfillment.Please wish me well when I go to college!
Love,
GageNote: If you would like more information on Canine Companions for Independence, please visit the website at www.caninecompanions.org. Puppy raisers are always needed; please consider this challenging and rewarding opportunity. There is no charge for these dogs to the CCI graduates (those who eventually use the dog for assistance).
*CCI, founded in 1975, is the largest non-profit of its type and the first to receive full accreditation by Assistance Dogs International.
**See website for info on types of assistance teams. March 27, 2007