K9 Eagle
Eagle joined the Idaho Disaster Dogs team in December 2023. She is a chocolate lab and is in training to be a recovery dog. The Eagles Lodge of Coeur d’Alene is her sponsor. Their generous support has paid for her, her initial training program and the treats and toys that will be used to teach her.
Morgan Zajicek is Eagle’s handler. She is a firefighter with the City of Coeur d’Alene. In the last few months, Eagle has settled into a routine at home and at work. Eagle goes to fire station when Morgan when she is on shift, and Eagle has her own “work” to do.
She is three weeks into a ten-week training program which is focusing on obedience commands, such as Sit, Down, and Heel. While at the fire station, Eagle gets to practice with these commands. She is listening well inside and outside, and even with distractions in the apparatus bay. Her attention is getting longer and she is able to stay in position for a few seconds waiting to be released. As she continues to practice, one of the standards she is going to need to meet and be able to perform is a “Down stay” for 5 minutes. Eagle will be commanded to lay down and Morgan will go out of sight around a corner. Eagle should stay laying down for 5 minutes without moving or getting up until she is released. Everything we teach the pups has an intentional purpose. This is one of the most useful commands for a dog to know when on deployment.
Eagle has also been introduced to scent work. Right now, she is just getting familiar with the odor and being rewarded for focusing her attention on it. The indication behavior she is learning is to sit and stare at the container. Right now, the container with the source is visible to her, and eventually, the container will be hidden and she is going to have to rely on her nose to find it.
When she is not working, Eagle loves to play tug. Tug is definitely her favorite game and she loves her rope with a ball on one end.
Welcome K9 Eagle, we are excited to watch you grow and learn! Thank you Coeur d’Alene Eagles for your sponsorship.
