Enter the month of March, and Birdie has reached 20 months old. You know that spring is just around the corner when the clocks spring forward and the Spring Solstice arrives, but first, we did one more winter hike on the icy trails up to Syphon Falls, here in the Shuswap.
Next, my husband and I flew down to Palm Springs, California for a weekβs vacation while Birdie was packed up and spent the week with PADS sitter Andrea in Vernon. While she was there, Birdie spent some time settling at Andreaβs office and at her gym, which was a first for her. She also had her eyes tested for her breeding assessment.
Once home again, Birdie had a nice scrub and shower at the pet wash at the local Pet Valu after getting stinky in a stagnant pond while on a walk. She met a couple of other dogs at the pet wash too.
We had some guests at puppy class mid-month: Heather & Evelyn from Calgary and Katie from Burnaby. Itβs always nice to reconnect with our PADS peeps from afar. Heather was showing us the importance of the βpay zoneβ. That being, when you step out in front of your dog, they should automatically move to the heel position because that is the only position in which they get paid (receive a treat). The next day we met them at Rona in Vernon for a one-on-one βwalk and talkβ inside the store. Once Birdie settled down, she demonstrated some good loose leash walking with Evelyn and me. She jumped up onto a cart with a different surface for Heather and ignored the other PADS puppy in the store with Katie. She also received a DNA Test (a swab of her mouth), which is part of her breeding assessment.
At our last puppy class this month I allowed Birdie to be with another handler for the entire class. The pups lined up against the wall in a sit, (then a down, then a stand) as the handlers dropped the leashes and walked away from their respective pups in increments. Then they worked on their perch pots. I was so proud that Birdie responded with Judy the same as she would have with me.
We also continued our bowling league three times in March. The last week Birdie was totally at ease, asleep on the floor.
And lastly, on Easter Sunday six of us with our PADS pups: Finian, Stellar, Jack aka Talbot and Birdie took the long walk from the parking lot to Cousens Bay on Kalamalka Lake in North Okanagan. The pups had so much fun and were so excited once they reached the water that it was hard to even get a picture of them!
Submitted by: Chris Buitinga
