June 29, 2007

WOW! I am so jazzed! I met Rudy, a working CCI dog, this week. He graduated in August, 2006 with Jeremy, who is 24, and uses a wheelchair.

Rudy goes everywhere with Jeremy, including Rockies games, college, church, the mall, and restaurants. He sleeps on Jeremy's bed (I am SO jealous), and sits next to Jeremy on the couch in the evening when they watch TV (again, JEALOUS!)

I've been watching the reporters here, and what they do looks pretty easy. I decided to interview Rudy.

PARKER: How did you get matched with Jeremy? What was that experience like?

RUDY: I met Jeremy and his parents in Team Training, which happened after six months of Advanced Training. I was a little nervous, but they seemed so nice that I really wanted to go live with them. I knew I'd love Jeremy, so I wanted them to succeed. My new family had a hard time in TT -– they had to learn everything I know, and how give my commands with authority! They all worked together on the tests, and we passed!

PARKER: What's it like at Jeremy's house?

RUDY: Jeremy lives with his mom and dad, and they help him do all kinds of fun things with me. We have lots of visits from Jeremy's sisters and their husbands, and Jeremy's aunt and his cousin. They bring their pet dogs over to visit, so we play together when I’m not working with Jeremy.

PARKER: Do you like Colorado?

RUDY: I was raised in southern California, so I had a lot to learn -- about SNOW! I like it a lot.

PARKER: What's your average day like?

RUDY: Jeremy loves to sleep late, so his dad lets me out before he leaves at 6 a.m., and then rouses Jeremy to feed me breakfast. Then we go back to sleep for awhile. We may go to college, or to the mall, and then come home and lay on the sofa together to watch TV. Sometimes Jeremy's parents will take me for a walk in the evening, and I really like that.

PARKER: How do you and Jeremy work together as a team?

RUDY: It took me several months to figure out that Jeremy is a boss, too. His parents finally told me, “Watch Jeremy,” and I realized that he was giving me commands. So now I come when I’m called, I sit, and then I “visit” – put my head on Jeremy’s lap for him to pet me. I love that!

PARKER: Where's your favorite place to go with Jeremy?

RUDY: Since I spent so much time in training, I’m used to the educational experience. So I’d say my favorite place is going with Jeremy to Arapahoe Community College. The other students envy me! I absorb so much information while I snooze, and I don't have to take tests or write papers.

PARKER: What classes are you and Jeremy taking at college?

RUDY: We’ve just finished up a series on Humanities and next semester, I’ve heard we’re taking "The History of Rock and Roll." I’ll be grooving! I hope I can sit still in class.

PARKER: What's the best part of being a service dog?

RUDY: Jeremy loves showing me off, so when we’re out in public, people ask him if they can pet me and he grants permission. Little kids love to pet and hug me. I never get tired of being loved!

PARKER: People are always interested in us. What's the best way for them to ask so that we can get petted? Are there times when Jeremy doesn't want people to pet you?

RUDY: Most people are very respectful and ask “Can I pet your dog?” Sometimes when they don’t ask it’s a little distracting to me, and I get confused as to whether I’m supposed to respond to them. So I look at Jeremy, and he’ll tell me to sit so I can be petted. And then he gives permission. As long as we’re not trying to maneuver through doors and stuff, it’s usually okay for me to be petted.

PARKER: What advice do you have for me?

RUDY: Just work really hard and mind your puppy raisers and then later, your trainer at CCI College (Advanced Training.) Most dogs have really boring lives of just sleeping, running and eating. Our lives are really interesting when we go out with our people to their jobs, schools, and fun places. Plus, we're loved and needed, and that’s the best of all!

After the interview, Rudy and I took off our capes and relaxed. Check out the slideshow I put together.

Chow for now!

Parker

Questions or comments for Parker? Send them to call7forhelp@thedenverchannel.com.

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence, or perhaps you'd like to be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to www.cci.org for details.