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Chicken Camp! A video from the past...

12/26/2014

Two wonderful students tracked down a video from the past for me - my Level 2 OCBA training final test! This was in Hot Springs, AR, in the late 1990s. "Chicken Camp" was an incredible experience each time I went (all 3 levels), and I learned so much from Bob Bailey and Marian Breland Bailey (the person wearing the bobbing chicken on her head in the bottom of this video).

I trained "Sugar" (the white hen) to do a complex chain behaviour: to walk to the end of the table, knock off the blue bowling pin, and then the yellow bowling pin, then walk up the A-frame, down the other side, and roll a dowel, before getting her click. And I couldn't move an inch - I had to stay fixed in trainer position! But she did it - amazing what just one week of training can accomplish - and what fun!

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Thunder on the Mend

12/3/2014

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Thunder, on a better day!

As those who follow us on Facebook know, one of the Service Dogs in Training, Thunder, had an freak accident last week. He was playing in the fenced-in yard with his trainer, slipped on ice, and broke his lower jaw on both sides!

Stephanie immediately took him to Truro Vet Clinic where they assessed and stabilized him, and recommended that he have surgery with a specialist in Halifax.

On his way to the vet.

With Stephanie after surgery.

After surgery, in his cone.

Surgery went well, and he is expected to make a full recovery. He normally goes to school with Stephanie every day (a student at Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus), so his training to remain lying down and quiet during class will be coming in handy to help him with his recovery.

Thunder had a check-up with the surgeon three days after the operation, and he is healing well and getting lots of rest.

Many, many thanks to all of those who contributed to the GoFundMe fund for Thunder's surgery - your generosity is unparalleled.

Looking good at his 3 day check-up.

The quotation for Thunder's surgery and follow-up was approximately $2500; Paws for Thought will also be generously helping with the costs. Money remaining in the GoFundMe account after Thunder's bills are paid will be put into an emergency fund to be used for the Service Dogs in Training in the future.

We'll keep you up to date on Thunder's progress. He is a smart, sweet boy, and will be an excellent partner for a veteran with PTSD when his training is complete.

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Heather A. Logan is an animal behaviour consultant located in Nova Scotia, Canada. She specializes in multi-species operant conditioning behaviour analysis (OCBA), teaching, behaviour consultation, training service dogs and giving seminars and workshops. Above all, she enjoys spending time with and observing the natural behaviour of her animals.

Chicken Camp! A video from the past...

Thunder on the Mend

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