Oakley Update Dec. 11, 2009 - Page 2

The only major obstacle that I might run into besides my own lack of experience in training for trials is that I'm not certain there are any clubs anywhere close to me up here in North Idaho...No one has, as yet, mentioned any clubs around here that aren't AKC obedience and such.  Vianden isn't far from me, and I'd guess she trains with a Schutzhund club somewhere?

Anyway, I know Oakley can do it, know she's got what it takes.  Just takes me learning what I need to teach her, but with all the wonderful people here to offer suggestions and advice..It makes it a lot easier.  And of course, all the encouragement is awesome, too!

Crys

So glad the pup is coming along good.You should persue the tracking.If you could find someone or a group that tracks in your area perhaps you could ask them if you could go along.With a little bit of guidance from someone who knows there stuff you could learn VERY EASILY.It does'nt matter what kind of group you find ,but definetly find someone and persue it.Have fun with your dog.

Here's a new pic I took today out in the snow, while we were feeding chickens...



This is a recall...They both come running when I say, "Oakley, come!"  Oakley's not afraid to come running at an all out gallop...She knows where everything is.  No, she didn't hit the bush sticking up there.  Went right around it, like she could see it.



A rare shot of her in motion, not going straight away, or straight toward me.  You can see that her back is not so flat and absolutely straight here...



The side of my husband's small, but dog proofed, chicken pen...Oakley's discovered she has a real interest in them..she's not trying to tear her way in, but she's keenly aware of them in a way she was not until recently.

That's it for now...except a non Oakley pic I want to put up...



The conditions were just right the other night, to produce a snowfall entirely consisting of these perfectly shaped, single snowflakes...they were huge!  About three-eighths of an inch across, but I couldn't take the pics with a flash, so had to get the light from the porch light just right, and then try not to move when I snapped...Took half an hour to get that one.

Crys

Crys
She is a beautiful little Dog, Couragous as well A lucky girl to have a devoted owner
Steve1

It's almost like she has her own seeing eye dog in that recall photo!
She is fantastic, Crys. Congrats. 

Oakley is one magnificent dog :)  I am glad she has you.
Always,
Cee

She is our Christmas angel for the year. Long live Oakley

Just whatching her in the pictures it,s hard to believe she is blind. 

Ya to what  Bob, said.  How does she know where everything is?  Does she sense it or has she run into it and learned the hard way.  I know I've said I was amazed before, well I still am!  This is my first blind dog experience ya  see.   Did you think she'd do as well getting around as she does Crys?

She is also very nicely put together.  Are you on a farm? 

Great pics, thanks for the update!

I wish we were on a farm, Red Sable, but no, we're just on an acre next to the inlaws.  I figured she'd get around okay, but I didn't expect her to be so well adjusted...That's the difference between a nervy Poodle and a GSD...She's just more confident.  She is blind, when she looks directly at you, you can see the eyes wander...And there's no dilation of the pupils in light, so you know it, but she's just as active as any other dog.

As for whether she has run into things to learn where they are or not..Yes and No.  Some things she has plowed into, but most things are large enough that she senses where they are and alters course before she actually hits them.  Fences, wires, anything thin is more of a challenge, the bigger it is the easier it is to sense.  But she learns where things are very well, and nothing seems to bother her.  She passes something that's new, where it's never been, and she'll check all the way around it, as if mapping it, then she knows her way around it.

That's just how she is.

Crys