Cutting the umbilical cord, and tying on a new one.

It is quite fully spring in Georgia.  Everything is in bloom.  About 30 miles north of Atlanta,  Alpharetta began as a bedroom community for Atlanta, but has become a community and thriving business center of it's own.  I can't get over the attention to detail here: the architecture, the cleanliness.  Everything is landscaped, even the medians on the roadways.  The Hilton, that has been gracious enough to house our eleven recipients, their families and their companion dogs is adorned with a flowering park in it's back yard.  Nice way to break us into the frequent walks we all must provide our new pawed friends.  And so, the umbilical cord to our beautiful digs (I like to say the best part of this two week experience has not been the gifting of a smart responsive dog but instead has been the gift of a bathroom cleaned daily), our new friends and most of all our trainers is to be cut tomorrow night at graduation.  When we return to our homes, each recipient is to be- quite literally- umbilically corded to their dog for two additional weeks.  It has been the experience of these very experienced trainers that it is the bond between human and dog that makes the whole desire to work emerge for the dogs.  Cesare has done well with this even schlepping Walden into the bathroom with each visit.  (Did I mention that it is cleaned daily?)

We spent a good deal of time seeing what our pup can really do the last couple of days.  Walden can open doors, turn on light switches and get help for Ces.  Still not recognizing Cesare's seizures, we are confident that will happen with time.

Below is Jennifer Arnold and one recipient Scott with his horse, I mean dog, Sam.  Another love bond for sure.

We spent lots of time with the puppies in training yesterday and today.  These little fluff balls start their training at just a few weeks old and in 18 months will thrill a dozen or so of the 1000 recipients on the Canine Assistants' waiting list.  From birth to placement, the cost is estimated to be about $22,500 per dog.  We are very fortunate indeed. 

Puppy Puddle

Priceless...