Kiyoko turned 9 months on June 19. What a fun month weโve had now that summer is here and the weather is great for all our outdoor activities.
We started off the month with the Kelowna Pet Expo at the Laurel Packing House. Our booth was at the entrance, so nobody could possibly miss us. So many dogs, coming and going! It was our chance to work on dog distraction. We greeted people coming through, answered questions, and spread the good word about PADS. We had a couple of 3-month-old puppies in attendance too, so they were definitely a people magnet! Kiyoko did very well, staying calm, ignoring other dogs and greeting people politely.
It’s outdoor concert time now that itโs summer. We went to a bash celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Shuswap Trail Alliance with 5 Alarm Funk at the South Canoe Trailhead. It was a warm day, with many adults, kids and dogs in attendance. The music was loud, so we positioned ourselves back a bit from the stage. Kiyoko was at ease and was a pro at settling beside me. And at the end of the month, we attended our first of many summer outdoor evening concerts, this time at Blind Bay. So many dogs! Once again, we worked on dog distraction, as Kiyoko always attends public events in cape.
On our last visit to school to read with the kids, we watched our class have an indoor hockey scrimmage. What a fun new activity for Kiyoko to watch, with great exposure. Lots of activity: kids running, yelling, the ball being slapped all over the court. She was a little amped up at first, but did manage to compose herself.
Mid-month, we attended the Salmon Arm Demolition Derby with the entire family, including our daughter and boyfriend from Vancouver. I really wonder what Kiyoko thought was going on? Cars driving around in a ring and purposely trying to hit one another? What fun for us to watch! Kiyoko wasnโt fazed by the cheering crowds or all the loud noises of engines revving and cars crashing into one another. We settled in a couple of different positions around the ring, trying to get a better vantage point. In the end, a successful, but noisy outing!
My nephew and girlfriend visited from Ontario mid-month for a few days. We went on a couple of hikes to Margaret Falls and to the top of Blind Bay Lookout, which was a 22 percent grade hike! Kiyoko was still FULL of energy even after reaching the top.
We also went on a hike one day near Glenema with PADS raiser Liz and her two pups: PADS released Doppler and Lucy. The three pups got along very well, running along the trails through the woods, staying close. We came across some cows and were cautious to leash up and stay clear, as there was a calf there too.
We had 3 productive PADS puppy classes this month where we worked on various cues: side, heel, dress, stand, ignoring distractions such as a bowl, ball and stuffy. The last class was outdoors in Whitman Park in Kelowna, where we practiced long-leash recalls with a tug toy as a reward. So many other dogs in the park to distract us, along with so many new smells for the pups!
Other extra activities this month were a birthday dinner at Grey Monk, momโs haircut and dentist appointments, and blanket weaving at the Guild, where Kiyoko practiced settling.
And finally, the grand finale. We have an in-ground swimming pool at home, and I had been working with Kiyoko for many days to enter the pool by the steps to pick up a ball out of the water, but she would not go any further into the pool. Then one day, while she was on the steps, I scooped her up and slowly brought her in. She started to swim on her own, got the ball, turned around and went back to the steps! I repeated this a couple more times over the next few days, and before I knew it, she was entering the pool on her own by the steps and swimming out to get the ball! Well done, Kiyoko! She was swimming! So, we took it one step further and went out on our tandem kayak at Canoe Beach. My daughter-in-law helped lift Kiyoko into the kayak while I was already onboard. On the first attempt, she jumped out of the boat but stayed on board on the second try. We pushed off and were off paddling! Kiyoko was a little nervous at first with a bit of whimpering, but she did stay still. After a while, she lay down and even put her head in my lap. My kids were also paddling near me in their canoe with their toddler and dog. We went along the shore to the next pier, about a kilometre away, turned around and came back. Upon return, once we were near shore, Kiyoko jumped out, happy to be on dry land again! I had no idea if I was going to be able to handle a two-person kayak by myself, but the conditions were calm, so it wasnโt a problem at all. It was a short paddle, but a good positive experience for both of us.
Submitted by:ย Chris Buitinga
