I began my training at Fidos For Freedom on April 1, 2006.

April Fool’s Day did not apply to me as it has been one of the best things I’ve ever challenged myself to do! Having never owned nor trained with an assistance dog, I had a great deal to learn. I never count one moment at FFF a waste of time! Every dog I’ve worked with has taught me something new. I’m also not at all opposed to taking advantage of the expertise of the trainers at Fidos. They are a wealth of information about dogs and becoming a team.

http://www.fidosforfreedom.org/

January 31, 2007, I was matched with Chloe, a Vizsla and American Foxhound mix. She will be my hearing dog!

Chloe and I have been working together for many months, and it was around Halloween that I really felt like she and I worked well together. I think we’ll make a great team, and I can only hope I mean as much to her as she does to me!

I’m blessed that her trainer is the Director of training at Fidos, and Pat’s dedication and expertise really show in Chloe’s training. Now the real work begins! Another minimum of 60 hours of training, 3 sleepover visits, passing the ADI (Assistance Dogs International) written and public access tests, and a 30 day bonding period are ahead of me! I can’t wait. I’ve never been shy of hard work!

No longer “me”. It’s “we”. How great does that sound?

Denise Portis

©2007 Hearing Loss Diary