Learning All the Time

Yesterday, I went out to lunch and to a store with my vest on. Everything seems so serious with that vest on, so I have to pay attention. At the store, people walked by, in and out of the door, some looking at me and smiling. If I had a tail I would have wagged. If I could, I would have jumped up and squealed a little bit, wagged my rear-end (hey without a tail, a girl has to use what she has) and charmed my cute little self right into a whoop-de-doo. But NO, I had to lie on my towel and watch. Well, that's okay, really. I was relaxed. Then there was this noisy thing with wheels my person kept rolling around in front of me. What the heck? It blocked my view and had no purpose I could think of, just to make noise. Then I had to walk with my person behind the darned thing. I couldn't see through it, so I walked to the side which seemed okay first. Then my person started turning this way and that way. I couldn't tell which way we were going without stepping behind the thing and walking beside my person. So much better even though I couldn't really see much. The wheely thing was moving away from me, not toward me so it didn't bother me to follow it. My person did the good girl what a good girl rub on my head, so I must have done it right.

Easy Peasy

I got on the bus today. No big deal except the floor vibrated. My person seemed surprised and gave me all kinds of loving for following her up the stairs. I do that all the time. They were just grainy black steps in a different place. Hey, I'm always up for adventure. What's next?

CGC Test, YAY

Today, I passed my CGC test. We have been studying and working. I was doing everything great. Then, when we went into the ring, my person got really nervous. What the heck? I looked at her and thought, are you sure you want me to sit? You look like a wreck, don't you want me to lead you out of here? If not, snap out of it already. Well, she persisted, so I did what she said. Sheesh. We didn't practice with all of that nervousness going on. I did well anyway...just because I'm a good citizen.

The Boss is Back in Town

Whoooo boy. I've been getting away with some stuff, you know, just playing, but still... Yesterday The Boss was back at agility. OH, I was happy to see her. She's the only person Mom lets me squeal and get my total silly on with. Well, what the heck, she's always telling us what to do, I should be allowed some over-the-top silly with her.

Yesterday I was going through the course with Mom, getting all excited, barking grabbing my leash, who wouldn't? It's a blast. Then Tne Boss called a halt to it. I had to return to my mom after EVERYTHING I did. Sheesh. I couldn't get on a roll without "Front!" or "Drop!" I tried to ignore it a time or two, but it just wasn't worth it. I had to go back and wait forever to get to the next thing. Finally, I got it that if I looked at Mom before I tore off for the next thing, she'd point and say it "tunnel" or "dog walk" or "teeter". I just had to wait for her and man is she slow. I had to sloooowwwww way down, darn it. But The Boss says as soon as I pay attention after everything, then I can speed up again. The best part is, I get to go off-leash.

There is still a part with poles that we don't do. Mom says I have to wait one more month, but that one doesn't make sense to me anyway, so fuggetaboutit. "Tunnel" "tube" "teeter" "dog walk," I love those oh and "table, drop" that's fun too. This is my favorite play time. I could go a lot faster if they let me. Maybe if I'm REALLY good, Mom will let me run all the way through without that "drop" "focus" or "front" "finish" stuff.

First City Trip

Wow, so many different smells and noises. We walked on wood like my deck. It was pretty hot so we went into some stores and walked around...more smells. Mom wasn't moving fast enough, I just wanted to go, go, go and every time I got myself going, she'd turn around. What's the point of that? Why go back that way? Been there done that, let's turn around again, ok?

I went on my first elevator ride, too. It had a yellow floor that made a noise while my tummy went fwoop. We walked out the same door in a different place. Very weird. I liked the place we sat while Mom ate. I could look out over the street. At one point, there was a dog barking and barking and barking right below us. Rude, I thought. Then a motorcycle started up and drove off with the dog barking. Thank goodness they left, maybe I could snooze.

After a ride down the elevator, a drink of water and potty break, we went over to the train station...lots of benches lined up, shiny floors and just a few people. Mom took me out by the train, but the pavement was too hot to walk all the way to it. Instead, we practiced getting on a bus. I didn't mind getting on, just didn't want to go sit down, thank you very much. Mom says we'll need to go for a bus ride soon. Maybe it won't be so bad, but I was happy to get my paws back on terra firma.

There was a pigeon in the train station. I wanted to follow it around, get a good sniff, but Mom made me "drop!" "freeze!" It's hard to concentrate on where a pigeon is headed when you have to stay in one place. Sheesh.

When I got back in the car, Mom took off my work clothes, ruffled my ears, gave me a kiss and told me I was the BEST dog, whatever that means.

They Tested Me Today

I'd say this was unfair, but actually, I felt good about how I handled it. Today my person took me to a restaurant and when we walked in, there was The Boss. She completely ignored me. I had my work clothes on, so figured she wasn't in to my wiggle butt-talking dance. She always likes my wiggle-butt talking dance, but not today. She didn't even look at me. Okay, well, whatever. They had lunch, talked about me, making my mat smaller, moving it around halfway through the meal. When my person moved me between them, at least I got a toe sniff of The Boss. I'm hanging out, half-snoozing and somebody dribbles crumbs all around in front of my face. I know that one...HA! I didn't bite. They'll have to find another sucker on that trick.

Once we got outside, my person took my work clothes off and I got to totally do my wiggle-butt pretzel dance and tell The Boss all about it. My person doesn't let me do that dance with ANYONE but The Boss so I when i can, I let 'er rip.

Then we went over to the hotel. Hoo boy, back into that little room that makes my tummy go fwoop. I didn't want to go in this time. The Boss said, "just put the treat in front of her nose to get her moving forward." Yum! my favorite. I followed right in, then fwoop and the treat is in my mouth--maybe this isn't so bad. Up, down, in, out, about turns, settle in the back, okay, okay, I get it. I only got 3 treats out of the whole thing, but hey, it was worth it, totally. Because that little room really isn't any big deal. Then we walked up and down the hallway, The Boss coaching to get me closer to my person's leg. Well, okay. Whatever. She never misses a thing.

Tomorrow is play day, though. Agility! WAHOO!

Vacation - sort of

Okay, this is the first time I've left home for overnight and now it's been a whole week. EVERYTHING is different. I don't have a yard, so it's walking and hanging out inside the house, that's all. There's a grassy area where bunnies and birds hide in the bushes all over the place. And I'm supposed to chase a ball? That seems silly. Why chase a ball when you can go after something that moves?

Mom has to tell the lady she's visiting how to "be consistent." Consistent, shamistent, I just want to waggle and talk and get excited. Mom says no can do. Sheesh. We went to Cosco on Friday. We are going to Walmart today. Mom hates those places, but the nice lady loves them. Mom says she should train me there, but so far, she just gets spaced out and I like to look at the people. Mom is trying to figure out a way to get me to do something when she gets that way, but is embarrassed to do that, especially with the nice lady thinking she has to explain everything to everyone. She tells everyone I'm a "service dog" when I'm not even wearing my work clothes.

Mom says we have to start doing this "task training" thing, but still hasn't figured out how to do it without putting herself in places she doesn't like. Also, I get so distracted when other people give us attention. Mom says we'll figure it out, but I can tell she wants more from me and I don't exactly know what it is.

She says we start driving again tomorrow and that we'll be driving in a storm. Yuck. Oh well, one day at a time.

Off leash in class

Mom says I'm "da bomb". Yesterday, I went through most of my class off leash. No big deal to me. At first I was draggy, Mom was depressed I think. The Boss said "happy, happy" to Mom and she remembered we were having fun, started saying "yay! good heel, very nice, good job." She had her shirt around her waist, dangling right in front of me, so I got happy and gave it a pull or two. Mom laughed. I trotted. The only time I went a way from Mom is when The Boss said, "yay Rethy!" She was proud and happy. Then she said, "Oops," Mom said "Heel" and I remembered what I was supposed to do. At the end of class, Mom seemed surprised and said, "she's doing so well" to the boss. Sheesh, I know that. I have this stuff down.

Today is my birthday. I'm one year old, whatever that means. We're going for a walk in a few minutes, then I get to chase my ball. Life is good!

Another Job for Me

I like to work, it's in my nature, so why not take on another job? The Boss is so impressed with how I'm doing that she's asked Mom to assist with training. You know what THAT means! I get to be Demo Dog. I have to act like I'm doing this stuff at a more basic level even though Mom now uses mostly hand signals. After my Demo Dog act, I'll watch Mom help The Boss in getting the other people to do that with their dogs. I think being an example is pretty hot stuff. Mom is stoked about assisting The Boss with training other dogs. She says she's so proud of me. When I see her work with other dogs, I'm proud of her, too.

Today, I did the whole agility course several times off leash. The Boss told Mom that since I'm having so much fun with it and tend to grab at my leash, that Mom should use a "tug", take me off leash and have me grab the tug every once in awhile. I get excited and run and bark and grab because, well, it's just a blast. At first I got to grab the tug after only 2 or 3 pieces of equipment. After the second time through, though, I only got to grab it after the "table" countdown. It's much more fun without a leash and with something to growl at and shake when I'm done.

Tag

I've been tagged by my friend Jolanda and I guess what I do is say 14 things about me, then tag someone else. My mom doesn't usually do things like this, so she said we'll play along, but not put 14 things (she needs to get going today, has been putting off taking her shower).

1. I love to play agility. It's like the best thing ever.

2. Just to get her going, I push a toy into my sister Belle's face and if that doesn't do it, I start backing into her. Sometimes she isn't interested. She's old, so I let her lie down when she doesn't want to play.

3. I'm going lots of places--restaurants and coffee houses. I know I'm not supposed to sniff or lick the floor, but if Mom isn't paying attention, I try to stretch my nose out for just a little sniff. Mom usually catches me.

4. We go play ball every day. It's raining today and I don't want to go outside, so we'll see. When we play, I can't think of anything else, well, except to "focus" when Mom asks me to, but that's because I don't want to miss where she's throwing my ball.

5. I follow Mom around the house which is really small anyway. I go where ever she is. She seems to like that. When she comes out of the bathroom I'm lying in the doorway and she rubs my tummy.

6. I play catch with myself. Three of my toys work great. I rotate them so I don't get bored. Sometimes they go under things and I have to flatten myself out like a soldier and crawl in to get them. Even then I can't always reach them, so Mom gets them for me.

7. There's a bird in my house that talks just like my mom. Whew is that weird.

8. Sometimes I watch TV, especially if there are dogs on it. I can only watch a couple of minutes though, then it's boring.

9. Mom takes me to training classes all the time. I lie on my mat and watch while she takes pictures and video. Sometimes I get to demonstrate how to do things. The Boss (my trainer) always tells people I'm a service dog in training because she is proud of how well I'm doing.

10. Everybody says I'm "so smart" whatever that means. I love to play and to work so I do what Mom asks me to do...she loves that.

Mom says she has to get going. I'm going to tag someone...don't know who yet.