Filed under: school
I know I’m not technically “in college” but it still feels nice to be back in the swing of college. Well, OK, by “college” I mean:
1. This class is taught by a friend of mine whom has never taught the class before and is seriously wingin’ it.
2. My Mom drops me off and picks me up.
3. Mackenzie and/or the instructor’s dogs are in class every week
Other than that, I have my little messenger bag, my notebook and pens, a syllabus, a binder, and I get to dress up like a college student. It almost makes me want to go to graduate school. Except then I would have to take the GRE.
That’s right. I’m actually going to a class tonight. Like a real college class.
The woman in charge of our therapy dog group (WAGS) is teaching a class at UTPA about Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) through the Department of Rehabilitation. Since it’s too late to actually register (for Pan Am + the actual class), I will just be like an unofficial TA, helping with passing out papers, handling dogs, etc.
Sometime throughout the course Mackenzie will hopefully be able to come with me and do some tricks and show off. Maybe we’ll even be guest speakers. In an upper-level college course. Mackenzie sure does lead a charmed life.
It’s been a while since I’ve updated. I’m not going to say it’s been because I’ve been so busy or anything that exciting has happened to me. Instead, the main reason I haven’t written in here is because of exactly the opposite. Nothing all that exciting has happened to me lately.
You guys know I hate to brag (ha!), but something has been happening at work lately and I just felt the need to share it because it makes me all warm and fuzzy. At least once a week someone comments on my skin and/or complexion. Usually people are just telling me about their dog or asking me a specific question when they say something (like the woman today) who said, “I’m sorry Jen, but I just have to stop and ask you something. May I touch your face? I’m sure you hear this all the time, but you’ve just got the prettiest skin I’ve ever seen!” And then for hours I beam with pride. Thanks Dr. Bronner’s (the vegan soap I wash my face with) !
Mackenzie got sick about a week ago and is just now making firmer stools. Apparently Dad “dropped” a piece of bbq sausage and she reacted violently to it (explosive diarrhea). I took her to the vet and they put her on a really bland Low Fat diet. From her highest weight of 11.8 lbs at the beginning of last year (during The Mange), she is currently down 2 lbs! I weighed her yesterday and she was 9.8 lbs. She hasn’t been 9.8 lbs since she was like 10 months old. I don’t know if I’m going to maintain her weight at that or let her get back up to 10.2 lbs which is where I really like how she looks.
I’m thinking of starting a training blog for Mackenzie so I can track her training progress, but for now I think I’m just going to write it in here. The biggest progress we’ve made recently is in her reactions to other dogs. As she has aged she has gotten very reactive towards other dogs. She was at the point where nearly ever dog who came up to sniff her would get at least a snarl if not a full-on lunge + snap. Now, however, it seems she has made tremendous progress. Just yesterday Asher, a 2yo beagle who is in a 2nd level obedience class with me, and his owners were walking around the store. In true beagle fashion, Asher rooo-rooos ALL the time. I brought Mackenzie out to help train another dog, a Jack Russell with whom I was working with at the time, and Mackenzie ran up to Asher and KISSED HIM ON THE NOSE.
For a dog who was as recently as a few months ago labeled as dog-reactive/dog-aggressive this is HUUUUUUGE. I could have cried from pride. Later that same evening when he wouldn’t back off, she did put her hackles up, but we walked away and everything was fine. No snarl, nothing. I was so proud.
She has gotten to the point that she actually enjoys greeting other dogs and allowing other dogs to greet her. She has become friends with this gigantic Doberman who comes in all the time and she fell in love with a big blue brindle pit bull who was the sweetest chillest guy ever even while Mackenzie play-nudged him in the bum.
Other than that, tomorrow is hopefully going to be a very exciting day. Jessica, my instant BFF that I met at the STC Mutt show is going to come visit me and bring me some dog presents. Then when I get out of work we are going to go get coffee or something. Maybe I’ll do my 2007 year in review sometime later.
