‘Ho boy!! Blue has stacked up her Out & About experiences in January, and the easiest way to report is point form. So here goes:
-1 coffee shop outdoor settle w/dogs on lead going by
-1 White Spot settle
-3 fancy restaurant settles (2 waiters almost tripped over her, she was so still & quiet)
-1 counselling session (snoring happened :0)
-1 very long funeral & reception
-1 hospital support
-2 unique families get-togethers (autistic children involved)
-3 schoolyard grandkids drop offs & pickups that included 1/2 hr of playtime
-3 very young puppy engagement sessions where she had to settle & not play
-1 osteopath appointment
-4 Canucks games
-2 sittings with mom through the grandkids’ Fight Club session
-2 White Rock outings; 1 introduction to seagulls & 1 playing on the beach
-1 Home Depot surfaces practice
-1 Home Depot Walk & Talk
-Introduction to mom’s kayak & a canine life jacket.
-Many visits to Home Sense, PetSmart, Stupid Store, Save On practising ‘don’t sniff the floor’, ‘don’t try to lick anything off the floor’, ‘don’t greet every person we pass’ just pay attention to mom & hope for a kibble. Maybe. :0)
Blue is becoming quite comfortable in her own skin with a streak of cheeky and a lot of easy settling for 97% of the time. During the day, she continues to generally stay within eye view, but no longer needs to be pressed up against my ankles. She will occasionally choose to nap in a bed in another room. Her self-confidence continues to grow.
Her current challenges are dog distraction, alert barking for the doorbell, over-exuberant greeting of visitors and a bit of scavenging. All are a WIP with a training plan in place.
Blue is a chill girl and a pleasure to take almost anywhere.
Submitted by: Heather DeVries
