Rocco the Service Dog Rolls on as Middleburg Academy’s Pet Project
M i d d l e b u r g
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ML
Courtesy of Middleburg Academy
Tanner Zyontz works with younger students teaching social skills to Rocco.
By Tanner Zyontz For Middleburg Life
R
occo became Middleburg Academy’s second mascot on Day One of his arrival. If the school’s Dragon emblem signifies fire and spirit, then Rocco, the Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) puppy students helped raise, stood for calm and comfort. During the 18 months he spent at the school, it wasn’t at all uncommon to walk into the library
and find Rocco stretched out on the floor with a student right alongside him. He was so good at providing stress relief that students would seek out Rocco throughout the day to give him a pat, chat with him, or just invite him to hang out under the desk or table as they studied. He is a natural therapy dog and this will serve him well as he moves further toward his career as a canine service companion. To students, Rocco was as much a part of the community as their peers. More than just a service dog, he was a friend.
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example, meant two paws on the wall—step one in learning how to turn on a light switch. As a member of the Puppy Club, I also worked with Rocco everyday after school, practicing the commands and teaching him patience. Eventually, a bond grew between us to the point that I would walk into the room and he would light up and come right to me. During these six months of his advanced training, Rocco will learn additional commands including “speak,” which is to bark on command; “get,” which is to retrieve and hand over an item and “pull” which allows the dog to open a refrigerator door, a dryer door or pull a wheelchair. “Rocco was so happy and relaxed when he got to the training facility,” Banse said. “The Puppy Club did a good job of exposing him to lots of different environments and people.” Students, faculty and staff Courtesy of Middleburg Academy had a chance to say goodbye Corey Hudson, CEO of Canine Companions for Independence, at a “Farewell Rocco” assemDebra Doherty, executive director for the Northeast Region and bly in mid-May, complete faculty member Jane Banse (seated), with Rocco. with a slideshow and cake. The school also welcomed the It was Librarian/Media Specialist Jane Banse’s return of Corey Hudson, the idea to create a Middleburg Academy “Puppy Santa Rosa, California-based CEO of CCI, and Club” that would take on the pleasure, challenge Debra Doherty, executive director of the northeast and responsibility of bringing-up a service dog in region. his or her early, formative stages. “I was so impressed when I came to Middleburg On May 16, Rocco departed Middleburg for Academy last fall,” Hudson said. “That visit so his advance training program in Medford, New renewed my faith in young people that I wanted York. Banse provided a personal send-off on the to come back.” school’s behalf, lovingly delivering him to the CCI Other schools also have service puppies, Hudson East Coast Regional Center for his next level of added, but Middleburg Academy’s program was skill development. special in the extent that it involved students in a From his arrival on campus as a nine-week- dog’s care and training according to the rigorous old puppy to his final farewell at age 20 months, program guidelines. The Puppy Club model made Rocco was the centerpiece of weekly Puppy Club a strong impression on the CCI organization’s meetings. Five to 10 students would work on his leadership. commands, socialization and grooming. From Rocco learned so much from his stay and I’m trips to Common Grounds, the shops in Middle- confident that he will be successful in his future. burg, and even a visit to Hill’s Lower School, Rocco If he continues to progress in the program, Banse met new people and encountered new situations and I will attend his fall graduation and have the almost every day. honor of handing over his leash to the “forever” The amount of training the students gave person he will serve. n Rocco is unmatched. During his second year, Rocco was taught 30 different commands, covTanner Zyontz lives in Middleburg and will be a ering all the basics according to the thick CCI junior at Middleburg Academy in the fall. Puppy Raiser Manual. The command “up,” for
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