Hi Everyone!
Well, for me, March was all about seeing old friends and making new ones, visiting my usual haunts and seeking new adventures!
At last, I met up with my Favourite Person Susan at Maynard’s Farm and had a visit with Don Quixote the Rescue Donkey! He spent time at a shelter in Squamish, but now lives a beautiful life on the Farm with his Favourite Person Rick, where he is a companion horse to Manchego the Andalusian from Spain. Don Quixote is shy and cautious, so, I tried my best to be calm. While there, I also saw pup Feisty, closed Jen’s cabinets with my nose and had a romp in the yard with spaniel Tessa.
O! My Best Friend from California made a surprise visit! He wasn’t sure when we’d see each other again, so, he made a special trip. He’s a doctor with a magic touch, and we always practice body-handling together. He’s magnificent!
And boy was I lucky! Super Sitter Fiona made time for me in her busy schedule, so, I got to spend a couple of days with her, Anne & Leslie. Fiona knows me well & helps me build experience. On this visit, I practiced sharing living space, car rides & attention with Advanced PADS Orion. Also, we went on a group walkabout to Park Royal Mall with 6 other PADS dogs (including my sister Tope.) On the last morning, Fiona arranged a special off-leash trail walk to give my Raisers and me a chance to meet my Dad PADS Cleat and his caretaker Jane. It was a dream come true!
On Good Friday, we met Fiona and Anne, AGAIN, for another off-leash adventure – this time with VIP Boomer and his Favourite Person! We hiked for 2 hours through the beautiful North Shore forest and, because Boomer is especially steady and kind, I felt especially free & confident. After our hike, Boomer helped me practice being shut up in the hatchback with another dog by my side. Neither of us minded a bit. All of Fiona’s efforts to introduce me to other PADS dogs really paid off! Thank you, Fiona!
In between times, I’ve been out and about, making my usual rounds, proofing skills, building patience & making memories with my Raiser Family. My heel/side work by chairs is getting pretty tight and I’m not surprised by my non-verbal cue for “roll” anymore. But my favourite, these days, is carrying my little blue bag when we go to the shops.
Thank you so much for checking up on me! I have no idea what April has in store… but it’s sure to be magnificent! So, until we meet again, make new friends and keep the old!
Submitted by: Mikal
