We're Getting Closer!

Hit the ground running today with a few hours of training with Sunny.  Tyler and I spent some time with Mike and Sunny today to start learning how to handle her, give commands and just be comfortable with each other in general.  We walked with Sunny downtown Rochester as well as inside Mayo Clinic to be exposed to different scenarios and situations.  Sunny knows what she's doing, it's Tyler and I that need to learn what to do!

Learning to trust each other

We spent time learning a few different commands, navigating elevators, escalators, stairs, and different ground surfaces.  Mike gave us some pointers on how to handle different reactions that Sunny might have in different situations.  Later this week Sunny will work with Charlie on a few different commands that will benefit Charlie, especially when he's going into meltdown mode.  Today we were able to witness and work with Sunny on the command "block" where she will stand in front of Charlie and block his way from entering traffic or keep him safe from potentially harmful situations.  We'll start bringing the boys (one by one initially) out with us during these training sessions too as well as possibly trying to go out to eat as a family (with Sunny and Mike) so we can learn how Sunny can help Charlie in that capacity (we rarely go out to eat as a family as it is extremely overwhelming for Charlie).

Walking downtown 

Tyler and I will be working intensively with Sunny the next few weeks to become more familiar with each other and we'll start incorporating the boys soon as well.  In a couple weeks we look forward to Sunny being able to come spend full days with us at home where she will learn that we are part of her pack and we can have trial runs with her at home and in public.  We're getting closer!