Jewelry Show

Sanity and I got to go the the Jewelry Show today. In retrospect I realized this was actually the first time Sanity had been asked to handle such a large, noisy, crowded venue. She was really quite good.

She stayed as close to my scooter as was needed, was very sensible and laid down to rest each time I turned it off. I think that was a signal to her that we would be in one spot for a while. She wormed her way through the crowds likes a seal slides through the water. Managed to work the right side of the scooter almost as comfortably as the left side. Best of all, she carefully listened to my directions and/or instructions and then did what I ask of her.

Here are a few pictures of the day.

One of the things that always gets me is the number of people who seem to feel it is just fine to touch, pet, stroke, talk to, offer food to any dog they come across that is working. What on earth are they thinking? More than likely they aren't thinking at all. The uninvited hand in the last picture is a good example. My friend Linda was standing there with the camera taking pictures while I tried the silly, but fun chokers on Sanity.

This guy was with a woman who was having some sort of fit about not just Sanity, but dirty dogs in general. He just all of a sudden jams his hand in Sanity's face. You have no idea just how fast my hand was there to block contact. What the camera caught was his hand approaching and my hand already moving into the block position. He then proceed to tell me I sure had a nice Greyhound. DUH! Gee, thanks mister.

She was also called a Whippet. Then there was the woman who complimented me on my lovely chocolate Lab. She said her sister's daughter's husband's cousin had a chocolate Lab that looked just like her and how kind the dog was. Someone else told another woman "he is a Greyhound". And then there was the couple who stopped me and wanted to talk about my beautiful Afghan Hound.

When faced with this sort of thing I have pretty much given up and just smile, nod and thank people for the compliments and do my very best to pretend I don't hear or see the others. The friend I was with said it was very interesting to listen to what people were saying since they had no idea she was with me.
She also said it was sort of scary to realize just how few people had any idea what a well mannered dog even looked like. As for the breed business I did get complimented on my self-control.

Training-playing-cooling off

I so clearly remember how much I would have loved to have been able to spend my summers the way these two are doing on the day these pictures were taken. Sadly, one was withdrawn from the program only days after these pictures were taken. A father didn't approve and a daughter left with a broken heart.

I only offer two positions to teens who want to learn about dogs and I do have a waiting list, so the spot was gobbled up within hours. I'm happy for the girl who got a spot after all, but my heart breaks for the one who now faces a bleak summer.

Day of the Turtle

Most of these pictures just show two old squirel hunting companions who have been reduced to turtle watching by old age and infirmities. Wrap and Molly find that where the squirels are concerned, most days the best they do is to walk over to the tree where a squirrel was last spotted, stand under it and give a bark or two.

The arrival of a turtle for a day was something of a bright spot for both of them. Sanity hung around the edges trying to figure out just what the interest was in the moving rock.

Boise, ID

Here we are, one the road again or should I say in the sky again?



I guess if I continue uploading pictures I'll finally figure out just how to do it so they are in the right order. For now you will just be seeing a few out of order.


Here we are demonstrating what an active sit/stay should look like.

Here is a nice shot of how close order drill work can help speed up the learning process while doing a left about turn.






Demonstrating the down with an unwilling helper at the beginning.

You really must sit straight.

Now comes the warning growl.

"I do believe you made a mistake, didn't you?"

We are now in agreement and the down is a success.