Hi, Everyone!

Well, Summerโ€™s officially over. Goodbye, favourite house guests and rolling in the sun on the deck. Hello wind, rain and towelling off by the back door. O and pumpkins! Hello, pumpkins and scary Halloween decorations! This is my second Autumn and Iโ€™m ready!

My September outings started with the airport, where I said farewell to Favourite People, and ended with the garden store, where I sniffed compost and posed with pumpkins. In between, Iโ€™ve been making my usual rounds to stores and cafes so that I can practice my polite social behaviours such as kibble-free โ€œgoing in,” โ€œdoing nothing,โ€ waiting patiently, staying close and (sigh) ignoring delicious aromas (like brownies at nose level.)

Also, I attended the official Grand Opening of our puppy class venue, the Christine Sinclair Community Centre. Well, I thought dinosaurs were extinct, but apparently not because there were about 5 huge ones (that moved!) at the Opening. Christine was there, too, but I stayed back so the kids could get photos with her. However, I did watch some basketball playing (while practicing my โ€œsettle.โ€) And I made a special trip out to Tsawwassen Mills Shopping Mall. What a perfect place for practicing PADS skills! Thereโ€™s a train with a loud whistle carrying shoppers all around, kids riding overgrown stuffed animals on wheels AND french fries with ketchup on the floor. I feel sorry for whoever dropped those because Iโ€™m guessing french fries are quite magnificent.

After so much civilization, I really appreciate the forest and bog trails near my house! Theyโ€™re rustling with nutty squirrels these days and beginning to show their Fall colours.

Thanks so much for checking in on me! In a few days, Iโ€™m going out to Burnaby Park for a small-group Trail Walking Clinic with my PADS Trainers (and a PADS baby puppy might be there, so, I may have to curb my enthusiasm.) Iโ€™ll tell you all about it next time. Until then, take good care of your french fries!

Submitted by: Mikal