I get why people drink or do drugs too much. It's so you can turn your brain off and forget for awhile. I could so easily be an alcoholic (except for the puking part). I'm not, but I can completely get it.
I KNOW that Hogan Street is said to have to worst teenage offenders in the state. I thought it sounded good, added to the dramatic quality of working there. I didn't REALLY think it was accurate. It is. Not for all the boys, but still, it is.
There is one boy there that I, in spite of my best efforts, don't like and I barely know him. He seems evil to me. He also doesn't like dogs at all, so I hold that against him too. As it turns out he is a serious sex offender and he has been brazen beyond all belief at the facility writing nasty letters, graphic, to the staff. I will never let him in the program. I feel unsettled tonight just being alone and feeling unprotected. It may be time to get the Doberman.
Another boy shot someone point blank in the face.
Another kid went after someone with a machete. Another boy...................
You never know which ones will surprise you the most when the dogs come into their lives.
But for now, I am still thinking Doberman.
Gotta go, need to quiet my thoughts.
Peace. Peace upon us all.
Cindy
Monday, July 27, 2009
IT'S ALL ABOUT ME
I was speaking with one of my gurus, Diane Kline, about what REALLY matters about Loosen the Leash. What REALLY seems to make the difference about us being there or not being there. What REALLY is the "key" to being effective in the long run. How my biggest lesson is to FINALLY get that you don't give up because every single thing isn't PERFECT.
Example number one (which by the way may be the only example I use but I am still happy to give it a number):
The boys are learning how to let their dogs out of their crates and snap the leashes on their collars without feeling like a tornado just whipped through the room with the ensuing chaos that can bring. Sounds simple, right? It is. It is as simple as every other thing we may choose to teach. You have to break the lesson into it smallest component and teach that little component. Eventually you "chain" the little components together into one accomplishment. Go.
Step one-Teach dog to stay in crate when you open the door.(I won't explain how to do that here,but that's step one and it isnt' hard.) Click and treat. Click means"that's right" Treat reinforces that the click is a really good thing.
Step Two-Teach dog that he can come out of crate. In this case by saying a word that means you don't have to stay anymore. Click, treat.
Step Three-teach dog to sick just outside of crate before he slips past you and out the door.
Brilliant. Very do-able.
Here's where LTL does the real work....in my opinion AKA "The world according to Cindy Vickers". Boy who handles Chowder..BIG dog experiences Chowder staying in his crate beautifully when he opens crate door. Chowder also sits easily and obediently when asked (in most circumstances). Chowder, however, upon hearing release word BULLDOZES his way out of the crate at which point you have to do a volleyball dive to grab anywhere you can to catch him and wrestle him back. Chowder is somewhat oblivious to this acrobatic display.
Boy is VERY FRUSTRATED and can't understand why he has to have THAT dog. Wants to quit. For the 15th time. By the way, he HAD to have THAT dog when he saw him initally. In my mind, I might be thinking, "O Good Flippin' Grief child, just quit complaining and just train the dog". Light bulb moment...if he knew how to train the dog, if he knew how to stay the course, I wouldn't need to be here.
What we do now is "move in" on boy in a tizzy. One and one (and that is critical, I believe) I explain how VERY successful he has been with 2 of the 3 parts of the training. I also remind him that I know what dogs are easy to work with and which ones are more challenging. In this one instance Chowder is more challenging, other times he is a piece of cake. I then remind him of how I am going to help him work through this ONE piece of the chain that needs work. That's dog training! He is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing! I am thrilled that he can see how the process works and how much he has accomplished. I tell him that! He is smiling. Crisis averted.
Then I punch him in the gut as I always do and tell him he needs to work on those abs.
Once again, these boys are not so different from me. I spent a lifetime moving from place to place, career to career, on and on looking for perfect. Moreso, afraid that if I couldn't be perfect, it would entrirely to clear to everyone around me that I wasn't good enough. So here at Hogan Street, I see myself many times in the boys and in their bravado hiding their fear. Almost daily there is something not working right in the program, something that needs to be better.
Never give up. Keep on keepin' on. Their is love and support all around us. All of us.
I never said that this was really about dog training. It's all about me.
Cindy
Example number one (which by the way may be the only example I use but I am still happy to give it a number):
The boys are learning how to let their dogs out of their crates and snap the leashes on their collars without feeling like a tornado just whipped through the room with the ensuing chaos that can bring. Sounds simple, right? It is. It is as simple as every other thing we may choose to teach. You have to break the lesson into it smallest component and teach that little component. Eventually you "chain" the little components together into one accomplishment. Go.
Step one-Teach dog to stay in crate when you open the door.(I won't explain how to do that here,but that's step one and it isnt' hard.) Click and treat. Click means"that's right" Treat reinforces that the click is a really good thing.
Step Two-Teach dog that he can come out of crate. In this case by saying a word that means you don't have to stay anymore. Click, treat.
Step Three-teach dog to sick just outside of crate before he slips past you and out the door.
Brilliant. Very do-able.
Here's where LTL does the real work....in my opinion AKA "The world according to Cindy Vickers". Boy who handles Chowder..BIG dog experiences Chowder staying in his crate beautifully when he opens crate door. Chowder also sits easily and obediently when asked (in most circumstances). Chowder, however, upon hearing release word BULLDOZES his way out of the crate at which point you have to do a volleyball dive to grab anywhere you can to catch him and wrestle him back. Chowder is somewhat oblivious to this acrobatic display.
Boy is VERY FRUSTRATED and can't understand why he has to have THAT dog. Wants to quit. For the 15th time. By the way, he HAD to have THAT dog when he saw him initally. In my mind, I might be thinking, "O Good Flippin' Grief child, just quit complaining and just train the dog". Light bulb moment...if he knew how to train the dog, if he knew how to stay the course, I wouldn't need to be here.
What we do now is "move in" on boy in a tizzy. One and one (and that is critical, I believe) I explain how VERY successful he has been with 2 of the 3 parts of the training. I also remind him that I know what dogs are easy to work with and which ones are more challenging. In this one instance Chowder is more challenging, other times he is a piece of cake. I then remind him of how I am going to help him work through this ONE piece of the chain that needs work. That's dog training! He is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing! I am thrilled that he can see how the process works and how much he has accomplished. I tell him that! He is smiling. Crisis averted.
Then I punch him in the gut as I always do and tell him he needs to work on those abs.
Once again, these boys are not so different from me. I spent a lifetime moving from place to place, career to career, on and on looking for perfect. Moreso, afraid that if I couldn't be perfect, it would entrirely to clear to everyone around me that I wasn't good enough. So here at Hogan Street, I see myself many times in the boys and in their bravado hiding their fear. Almost daily there is something not working right in the program, something that needs to be better.
Never give up. Keep on keepin' on. Their is love and support all around us. All of us.
I never said that this was really about dog training. It's all about me.
Cindy
Sunday, July 19, 2009
WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO?
This blog is making me nuts. I signed in the way I always have so far, and everything looked different than it normally does and then I didn't know what to do. I have no issues with humility. Regularly I am humbled by anything electronic or computer-like. Last night a volunteer said I must have a REALLY good memory. No way-it's 6 1/2 steps past horrible. He said, "Well you must have a really high IQ". It's not too bad, if I do say so myself, but it doesn't help with this. Idiot savant perhaps. He also said that I need to use spellcheck on my blogs. I'm not going to. So there. (Wink to you Joe B.)
Anyway, things have been so crazy lately and I have been sooooooooo mad that on Wednesday I thought my hair might blow off my head from it. One of boys in our program got transferred to another facility. An administrator decided he would be a good influence at another detention facilty (the only other maximum security in the region) so he enticed him to go with promises of paid work and some other perks. I understand the logic of the decision, but why would you take a kid who has been assigned a dog???? We are largely trying to teach responsibility and compassion. The kids are experiencing and practicing taking care on a living being. YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE!!!!!
What are we supposed to do with the dog-just ignor it, give it to someone else, put it in the street? It is time consuming to find the right kids and dogs. We are 2 weeks into the program. We have to start over and that impacts the schedule for the year. It sets an example for exactly the OPPOSITE of what we are trying to teach. I was 100 steps past pissed. I wrote emails and ranted and raved. Guess how much good it did?
You are correct.
Then I found out that we did not get our grant from the Dept. Of Public Safety. I think my next blog will be about the St. Louis Board of Alderman. That is what made me madder than anything that could happen at Hogan Street. There is a reason they are referred to as "The Carnival". Another day.
This saga continues. Today I find out that one of the boys in the program is stealing other kids clothes. Now this is a huge dilemma. Why? You tell me why, before I explain.
1. He steals presumably because he has so little.
2. I think the core belief of most of these kids is that they have no ability to ever make enough money legally to live comfortably with the skills they have or will have. They are probably right. More stealing. Gangs provide money.
3. One of our tenets is to work through problems, not expect that there will be no problems and then work to improve.
4. Boys are supposed to understand that having a dog is a prividege that they earn.
5. This kid is really good with the dog and he is a good listener, but I would set the example for the other boys that we condone stealing or that you don't have to earn the dog.
6. Which does most harm, most good-letting him keep the dog or taking it away.
I re read this and can see that I didn't really give a GOOD explanation of the dilemma, but I have 0 time right now. Gotta fly through this.
Dog is taken away tomorrow. My numbers are going to hell fast and I want to help this kid.
I am holding on the the premise that enabling is not helping. He will have a chance to come back, if he improves his behavior.
What would you do???
Gotta go. Have to go for the "late shift" at Hogan Street.
Thoughts create things. Think good thoughts.
I am thinking that anyone reading this is surrounded with love, safety and happy surprises.
Cindy
Anyway, things have been so crazy lately and I have been sooooooooo mad that on Wednesday I thought my hair might blow off my head from it. One of boys in our program got transferred to another facility. An administrator decided he would be a good influence at another detention facilty (the only other maximum security in the region) so he enticed him to go with promises of paid work and some other perks. I understand the logic of the decision, but why would you take a kid who has been assigned a dog???? We are largely trying to teach responsibility and compassion. The kids are experiencing and practicing taking care on a living being. YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE!!!!!
What are we supposed to do with the dog-just ignor it, give it to someone else, put it in the street? It is time consuming to find the right kids and dogs. We are 2 weeks into the program. We have to start over and that impacts the schedule for the year. It sets an example for exactly the OPPOSITE of what we are trying to teach. I was 100 steps past pissed. I wrote emails and ranted and raved. Guess how much good it did?
You are correct.
Then I found out that we did not get our grant from the Dept. Of Public Safety. I think my next blog will be about the St. Louis Board of Alderman. That is what made me madder than anything that could happen at Hogan Street. There is a reason they are referred to as "The Carnival". Another day.
This saga continues. Today I find out that one of the boys in the program is stealing other kids clothes. Now this is a huge dilemma. Why? You tell me why, before I explain.
1. He steals presumably because he has so little.
2. I think the core belief of most of these kids is that they have no ability to ever make enough money legally to live comfortably with the skills they have or will have. They are probably right. More stealing. Gangs provide money.
3. One of our tenets is to work through problems, not expect that there will be no problems and then work to improve.
4. Boys are supposed to understand that having a dog is a prividege that they earn.
5. This kid is really good with the dog and he is a good listener, but I would set the example for the other boys that we condone stealing or that you don't have to earn the dog.
6. Which does most harm, most good-letting him keep the dog or taking it away.
I re read this and can see that I didn't really give a GOOD explanation of the dilemma, but I have 0 time right now. Gotta fly through this.
Dog is taken away tomorrow. My numbers are going to hell fast and I want to help this kid.
I am holding on the the premise that enabling is not helping. He will have a chance to come back, if he improves his behavior.
What would you do???
Gotta go. Have to go for the "late shift" at Hogan Street.
Thoughts create things. Think good thoughts.
I am thinking that anyone reading this is surrounded with love, safety and happy surprises.
Cindy
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
DO NOT QUIT
This was my mantra on the nights before we knew if we would be funded and I would not be able to sleep. Do not quit. Do not quit. Do not quit.
If I have ever been sure that what I am doing is God driven, this is the closest to being sure that I have experienced.
I alternate between loving this program and thinking it is brilliant, to thinking it can never really work.
One of the dogs is too young and too timid for the program. I adore him, but we need sturdier pups for this kind of work. Of course, Chowder is huge and full of himself and he presents an entirely different challenge because we can't just leave him alone with all of the other dogs because he might get too bossy (code for start a fight). Before anyone's wheels start turning, let me say that we DO temperament test the dogs and we eo ask alot of questions about these dogs before we accept them into the progrm. The shelters tell us what they know, but sometimes they don't have much information and not enough training/behavior experience to give much help. That's okay, we can handle the dogs and the boys learn what to do. It becomes apparent early that these kids are not accustomed to paying attention to anything other than the current distraction. The dogs really help them to pay closer attention and focus, but until they learn enough handle their dogs in multiple situations, Ouniel and I are BUSY.
The boys DO NOT tell the truth about how they feel about dogs. They all say they like dogs and are not afraid of them. Mostly they really are afraid of dogs. You can really tell when they pull their hands away from the dog's mouth when giving treats. Also some of the boys just can't allow themselves to really cuddle with the dog or bring them close to their bodies. What also just AMAZES me is how pristine the boys are about "doggie smells". Granted 5-6 dogs playing together, peeing in crates is less than ideal and can create a smelly environment, but if you like dogs, usually it doesn't "undo you". As a bit of a neatness freak, I understand, but I am not at all afraid of getting dirty and I have a hard time relating to not wanting a dog close to me. This is key. The boys who really like dogs and can tolerate their messes as well as enjoy their company. If the dog is a "status" dog (pit or Rottie or perceived as tough, they will always do exceedingly well in the program. Still finding kids that love dogs is harder to find that you might think. So many of these kids are conditioned to be uncomfortable with animals.
There are exceptions. Usually 1 or 2 boys in each group will be very good, some excel. Enter Darrius. His desire to work with the dogs is exceptional. His attention to detail is exceptional. He is a willing learner, he has good instincts and timing. He listens. He takes initiative. He is honest in his evaluation of himself and can say if he is not doing well in a particular area. He asks questions and wants to know how to make his training and his dog better. He is relentless in that he never gives up. The boys with lower self esteem do not seem to be able to self critique and cave easily.
Darrius is a natural and we are thinking about hiring him as our first student brought into the Loosen the Leash family. I don't know yet how far he will go because he may have other plans for his life but this I know-if he wants to be with us, we want him. I hope we grow so big that he is managing a facility, creating innovative ways to reach at risk kids and speaking all over the country/world telling his story, selling books and paying it forward.
I am back in blog mode. Been working 16 hours days and couldn't/wouldn't look at my computer unless forced.
All must party on the day we officially are able to hire Darrius. I will most definitely make an announcement!
Please send the best thoughts for his success.
Envision all the dogs being housebroken!!!
Cindy
If I have ever been sure that what I am doing is God driven, this is the closest to being sure that I have experienced.
I alternate between loving this program and thinking it is brilliant, to thinking it can never really work.
One of the dogs is too young and too timid for the program. I adore him, but we need sturdier pups for this kind of work. Of course, Chowder is huge and full of himself and he presents an entirely different challenge because we can't just leave him alone with all of the other dogs because he might get too bossy (code for start a fight). Before anyone's wheels start turning, let me say that we DO temperament test the dogs and we eo ask alot of questions about these dogs before we accept them into the progrm. The shelters tell us what they know, but sometimes they don't have much information and not enough training/behavior experience to give much help. That's okay, we can handle the dogs and the boys learn what to do. It becomes apparent early that these kids are not accustomed to paying attention to anything other than the current distraction. The dogs really help them to pay closer attention and focus, but until they learn enough handle their dogs in multiple situations, Ouniel and I are BUSY.
The boys DO NOT tell the truth about how they feel about dogs. They all say they like dogs and are not afraid of them. Mostly they really are afraid of dogs. You can really tell when they pull their hands away from the dog's mouth when giving treats. Also some of the boys just can't allow themselves to really cuddle with the dog or bring them close to their bodies. What also just AMAZES me is how pristine the boys are about "doggie smells". Granted 5-6 dogs playing together, peeing in crates is less than ideal and can create a smelly environment, but if you like dogs, usually it doesn't "undo you". As a bit of a neatness freak, I understand, but I am not at all afraid of getting dirty and I have a hard time relating to not wanting a dog close to me. This is key. The boys who really like dogs and can tolerate their messes as well as enjoy their company. If the dog is a "status" dog (pit or Rottie or perceived as tough, they will always do exceedingly well in the program. Still finding kids that love dogs is harder to find that you might think. So many of these kids are conditioned to be uncomfortable with animals.
There are exceptions. Usually 1 or 2 boys in each group will be very good, some excel. Enter Darrius. His desire to work with the dogs is exceptional. His attention to detail is exceptional. He is a willing learner, he has good instincts and timing. He listens. He takes initiative. He is honest in his evaluation of himself and can say if he is not doing well in a particular area. He asks questions and wants to know how to make his training and his dog better. He is relentless in that he never gives up. The boys with lower self esteem do not seem to be able to self critique and cave easily.
Darrius is a natural and we are thinking about hiring him as our first student brought into the Loosen the Leash family. I don't know yet how far he will go because he may have other plans for his life but this I know-if he wants to be with us, we want him. I hope we grow so big that he is managing a facility, creating innovative ways to reach at risk kids and speaking all over the country/world telling his story, selling books and paying it forward.
I am back in blog mode. Been working 16 hours days and couldn't/wouldn't look at my computer unless forced.
All must party on the day we officially are able to hire Darrius. I will most definitely make an announcement!
Please send the best thoughts for his success.
Envision all the dogs being housebroken!!!
Cindy
Sunday, July 5, 2009
STUFFING
Piles of papers everywhere!! I have run out of paper in my printer 3 times today from printing curriculum, dog schedules, and hand outs on dog training/behavior "stuff". Preparation for the first day with the new dogs and the new boys in the most awesome Loosen the Leash program (LTL). Round 4. I will post pictures on the website of this group of dogs-hopefully by next week.
The boys are divided int 3 groups at Hogan St. and the groups stay together for all things. They each have a dormitory for sleeping, meeting, "treatment" and place to spend most of the evening.They go the classroom together, eat together and learn to take responsibility for themselves and the other members of the group. Two boys from each group are getting a dog TOMORROW. When I told them who had been chosen to get the dogs, they were SSOOOO HAPPY but it about killed me to tell some of them, they were not getting a dog. So what did I do? I promised them they could be in the next session. Couldn't help myself. Maybe I'm not cut out for this??!! That's a joke. I am too tired to be writing.....obviously!!
Now I am in mega crunch mode. I have to go to bed, but instead I was just eating potato chips and discussing with my son his bizarre interest in the Real Housewives of New Jersey. I have to teach yoga in the morning which is a good thing. Maybe it will help me focus for the rest of the day and compensate somewhat for lack of sleep. This is starting to have a stream on consciousness feel, or a 70's flashback, Timothy Leary moment (never never did LSD, just kidding).
I will write about how I match the dogs to the boys tomorrow and give you the low down on Day One.
Peace. Om Shanti. Dogs rule.
Cindy
The boys are divided int 3 groups at Hogan St. and the groups stay together for all things. They each have a dormitory for sleeping, meeting, "treatment" and place to spend most of the evening.They go the classroom together, eat together and learn to take responsibility for themselves and the other members of the group. Two boys from each group are getting a dog TOMORROW. When I told them who had been chosen to get the dogs, they were SSOOOO HAPPY but it about killed me to tell some of them, they were not getting a dog. So what did I do? I promised them they could be in the next session. Couldn't help myself. Maybe I'm not cut out for this??!! That's a joke. I am too tired to be writing.....obviously!!
Now I am in mega crunch mode. I have to go to bed, but instead I was just eating potato chips and discussing with my son his bizarre interest in the Real Housewives of New Jersey. I have to teach yoga in the morning which is a good thing. Maybe it will help me focus for the rest of the day and compensate somewhat for lack of sleep. This is starting to have a stream on consciousness feel, or a 70's flashback, Timothy Leary moment (never never did LSD, just kidding).
I will write about how I match the dogs to the boys tomorrow and give you the low down on Day One.
Peace. Om Shanti. Dogs rule.
Cindy
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Just Rip My Heart Out For Pete's Sake
Back to boy in corner from first post. I interviewed him today to be considered as one selected to have a dog in the Loosen the Leash program. Here are the requirements to get accepted.
1. Write an "essay" minimum one page of why you would like to have a dog to train. THIS is the first mind boggling affront to the reader of those essays. More of that later.
2. Have a DESIRE to have a dog, be in the program and willingness to commit to the work.
3. Show some improvement in behavior since entry to facility.
4. Have at least 3 months left to incarceration
We have 2 rules at Loosen the Leash. If you bread those rules, you get kicked out.
First rule: if you need to be restrained while you are a part of the program, you are out as of that moment.
Second rule: If you purposely abuse or harm any of the dogs or attempt to harm, you are out and there is no option to ever return.
That's it. We don't need other rules.
Back to the boy. He WANTS to be in the program. Do you know why? He wants a chance to practice being in a relationship where the parties in the relationship are treated well. He has no experience in being treated kindly by a family member. Instead he has been badly beaten and had food withheld or it simply wasn't available. In fact, he is not incarcerated because of his one and only crime of robbing someone for money (no assault, no gun) but he is there because he needed to be taken out of his family situation and there was no place else to go. At least now, he has safety, treatment and food.
Problem: He is very doubtful that he can manage to not be restrained, because his anger/pain are so intense. He has gone from daily restraints to 3 weeks without one until the "mother visit".
The question is: Should I take him into the program?
Saturday is decision day........and I haven't even begun to discuss the dogs or the other kids!
Safety and Sweetness and Big Laughs to anyone reading this post!
Cindy
1. Write an "essay" minimum one page of why you would like to have a dog to train. THIS is the first mind boggling affront to the reader of those essays. More of that later.
2. Have a DESIRE to have a dog, be in the program and willingness to commit to the work.
3. Show some improvement in behavior since entry to facility.
4. Have at least 3 months left to incarceration
We have 2 rules at Loosen the Leash. If you bread those rules, you get kicked out.
First rule: if you need to be restrained while you are a part of the program, you are out as of that moment.
Second rule: If you purposely abuse or harm any of the dogs or attempt to harm, you are out and there is no option to ever return.
That's it. We don't need other rules.
Back to the boy. He WANTS to be in the program. Do you know why? He wants a chance to practice being in a relationship where the parties in the relationship are treated well. He has no experience in being treated kindly by a family member. Instead he has been badly beaten and had food withheld or it simply wasn't available. In fact, he is not incarcerated because of his one and only crime of robbing someone for money (no assault, no gun) but he is there because he needed to be taken out of his family situation and there was no place else to go. At least now, he has safety, treatment and food.
Problem: He is very doubtful that he can manage to not be restrained, because his anger/pain are so intense. He has gone from daily restraints to 3 weeks without one until the "mother visit".
The question is: Should I take him into the program?
Saturday is decision day........and I haven't even begun to discuss the dogs or the other kids!
Safety and Sweetness and Big Laughs to anyone reading this post!
Cindy
Thursday, July 2, 2009
2 pages of boring
Don't bother reading this one if you are hoping for a tug at the heartstrings or some spicy news.
Not happening. That's tomorrow. Today was a list of things to do that was 2 pages..notebook paper kind of 2 pages. I called, faxed left messages and emailed the Secretary of State, IRS, rescue groups and shelters, and more. The phone rang ALOT and many people have "issues" with their dogs...today. There are piles of papers everywhere and I hate clutter.
I did learn quite a bit about dog food, thanks to Michelle at Prism who supplies Four Muddy Paws. She explained the calorie differences in many foods. Too many calories, too soon can cause some dogs to get diarreha. Also, (and I knew this one) so many allergic reactions can be alleviated with a switch to good simple food and eliminating all the processed confusion in cheap treats (not to be confused with cheap trix). Educate yourself about the food you feed your dog and the food you eat too! Okay, off my soap box.
Still fretting over how the dogs will get in and out of Hogan Street and if the staff will help or sabotage. and am truly buried with work. Not really complaining, just feeling a little nervous. Nobody cares or believes how much work there is to do that has nothing directly to do with teaching kids and dogs. I certainly didn't have any idea of the mountain of things to do when I started this.
I am ever amazed about how I would rather be at a maximum security facility with these kids and some super cool teachers and administrators than almost anywhere else.
I will bring a dog with me tomorrow. A BIG dog. Let's see what happens. The boys will find out who is going to get a dog and who isn't..
Much love to anyone who reads this,
Cindy
Not happening. That's tomorrow. Today was a list of things to do that was 2 pages..notebook paper kind of 2 pages. I called, faxed left messages and emailed the Secretary of State, IRS, rescue groups and shelters, and more. The phone rang ALOT and many people have "issues" with their dogs...today. There are piles of papers everywhere and I hate clutter.
I did learn quite a bit about dog food, thanks to Michelle at Prism who supplies Four Muddy Paws. She explained the calorie differences in many foods. Too many calories, too soon can cause some dogs to get diarreha. Also, (and I knew this one) so many allergic reactions can be alleviated with a switch to good simple food and eliminating all the processed confusion in cheap treats (not to be confused with cheap trix). Educate yourself about the food you feed your dog and the food you eat too! Okay, off my soap box.
Still fretting over how the dogs will get in and out of Hogan Street and if the staff will help or sabotage. and am truly buried with work. Not really complaining, just feeling a little nervous. Nobody cares or believes how much work there is to do that has nothing directly to do with teaching kids and dogs. I certainly didn't have any idea of the mountain of things to do when I started this.
I am ever amazed about how I would rather be at a maximum security facility with these kids and some super cool teachers and administrators than almost anywhere else.
I will bring a dog with me tomorrow. A BIG dog. Let's see what happens. The boys will find out who is going to get a dog and who isn't..
Much love to anyone who reads this,
Cindy
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Implode and Explode Simultaneously
Okay, that's just how I'm feeling, very similar to being on the verge on a nervous breakdown. However, since I am a yoga chick, I can remind myself that all is happening the way it is supposed to, love is all around me, blah, blah.
I did not go to "the facility" today. Instead, I rearranged the office, worried a little, had meetings, and now have to get volunteers to do things they probably don't want to do. Oh, first I need the volunteers. This is where the break down begins.
I have chosen 6 REALLY different and interesting dogs. Lots of sizzle and sweetness. Look for there pics and descriptions in a few weeks on the web. For certain, I can say the same about the boys-varying levels of sweetness vs sizzle. Now I need to make charts of what has to happen of every minute of every day with the kids and dogs and staff and then worry some more about the logistics of getting 6 dogs in and out of a MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY enough to potty, exercise, get fresh air. This may be the hardest part of my job.
Ab Fab note: A few days ago, one of the boys from the last session called to say he had "several" opportunities to rob a store and was being encouraged to do so by his "buddies". He called me to tell me he didn't do it. Purge/Seek encouragement. He also randomly ran into a woman walking 3 dogs in the park. She was having a time of it, managing them and one in particular was growling and acting aggressively. My former LTL student gave her a "mini lesson", gave her a new way to walk the dogs and showed her what to do with the aggressive one. She, then, responded to her dog in a new way when it started barking and the dog came and sat right next to her. She was thrilled, he was thrilled. Now he's making a plan to move away from that old negative environment and come closer to his Loosen the Leash family....and we will welcome him!!!
I did not go to "the facility" today. Instead, I rearranged the office, worried a little, had meetings, and now have to get volunteers to do things they probably don't want to do. Oh, first I need the volunteers. This is where the break down begins.
I have chosen 6 REALLY different and interesting dogs. Lots of sizzle and sweetness. Look for there pics and descriptions in a few weeks on the web. For certain, I can say the same about the boys-varying levels of sweetness vs sizzle. Now I need to make charts of what has to happen of every minute of every day with the kids and dogs and staff and then worry some more about the logistics of getting 6 dogs in and out of a MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY enough to potty, exercise, get fresh air. This may be the hardest part of my job.
Ab Fab note: A few days ago, one of the boys from the last session called to say he had "several" opportunities to rob a store and was being encouraged to do so by his "buddies". He called me to tell me he didn't do it. Purge/Seek encouragement. He also randomly ran into a woman walking 3 dogs in the park. She was having a time of it, managing them and one in particular was growling and acting aggressively. My former LTL student gave her a "mini lesson", gave her a new way to walk the dogs and showed her what to do with the aggressive one. She, then, responded to her dog in a new way when it started barking and the dog came and sat right next to her. She was thrilled, he was thrilled. Now he's making a plan to move away from that old negative environment and come closer to his Loosen the Leash family....and we will welcome him!!!
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