Comet, the CCI puppy-in-training, is doing the “up” command at Arrow Feed Store during
a recent errand with “foster parent” Chris Bredenkamp.“From this command, Comet will
learn to give things to the merchant and to take things from the merchant and give to his
handler/owner,” says Chris.Comet is still a little short, but he was doing his best to take a
brochure from feed store owner Patty Shafer.
Comet has lived with Henry and Chris Bredenkamp for just over two months and in that time has grown and learned.
The Bredenkamps are “foster parents” for Comet who is in training to be a Canine Companion for Independence (CCI) dog.
He came to the Bredenkamps as a two-month-old puppy with no formal training.The couple will spend a year training Comet in obedience and the tasks needed for him to become a certified CCI dog.
CCI was founded in 1975 for the purpose of training dogs to assist people with physical disabilities.In 1980, the program expanded to include hearing dogs trained to alert the deaf or hearing-impaired to sounds they cannot hear, as well as social dogs for children with developmental disabilities.
The assistance these dogs give their owners/partners is as varied as the disabilities the partners have.Dogs such as Comet are trained to turn on lights, bring the telephone to the partner, retrieve dropped items, pull a wheelchair or alert a partner to an alarm. “We’re taking Comet everywhere,” says Chris.“Kroger was one of the first businesses to welcome Comet with open arms and we presented them with a CCI appreciation certificate.They’ve hung it in their employee’s breakroom to help familiarize them to Comet.
In addition to “buying groceries” and going on various errands, Comet also gets to go out to eat.But when he does, he’s there in a “working” capacity, which means he is not to eat or run around, but be in an idle position, waiting instruction from his partner.
On a recent trip to a local restaurant, the Bredenkamps sat at a wall booth with Comet under the table. “The table next to us had a glass of water and ice spill and it shot over to Comet on the floor,” explains Chris.“Comet ignored it as well as the mop afterwards!He also ignored the well-meaning folks to the other side of us who tried to feed him.We’re having great progress!”
Comet will begin obedience classes in September in Fort Worth and will also be
accompanying Henry to his job at Bell Textron.Chris is seeking permission to take comet
to her job at Lockheed.
August 8, 2000
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