Aridawn's Michael Jordan

Indirectly, Michael is the product of my return to college.  In my last year as an undergraduate, I did work-study in an office where the director also bred Chesapeake Bay retrievers..  She encouraged me to look seriously at getting a Service Dog, and, when I decided to  self-train, offered me one of her Chessies. For a number of reasons, I turned her down and chose instead to work with Annie. But when it was time to think about Annie retiring, I remembered her offer and thus Aridawn’s Michael Jordan came to me

He stayed with some Pets and People trainers for awhile and went from a rambunctious pup to a more well-mannered young man.  He went to grad school with me for a bit, giving Annie a rest.  While I knew she needed to retire, I wasn’t quite ready to trust him as my full-time Service Dog.  So, when I started work at the University of South Alabama, Annie accompanied me.

I hadn’t been working six weeks before it was obviously time for the switch.  So, reluctantly, I started using Michael full-time.  I was pleasantly surprised at what a quick study he is.  For instance, one of my “dreads” was going down stairs – Annie had learned my slow descent and took each stair with me.  I dreaded having to start all over with Michael.  I needn’t have bothered – two trips down a set of stairs with me and he had learned the technique.  Learning to “go potty” on command wasn’t quite that fast, but almost.  I amuse myself some days by thinking of things for him to learn. 

For instance, pulling. Until a cyber-friend showed a picture of his big dog pulling a cart, it never occurred to me to use my horse-sized dog like a horse!  I bought him a pulling harness and he took to it like a pro...(well, there was that time when I hooked the wagon up too close and he was convinced it was chasing him!).   He’s also traveled by boat & airplane; they’re always convinced he won’t fit under an airplane seat and are amazed when he does!  (Well, my seat and the seat in front of me...)