Going into public!

Last night was a little different night, Joe had a really stuffy nose and was pretty low key, it was amazing how May just kind of read that and was very low key with him.  Put her head on his lap spontaneously several times and just cuddled.

Joe was pretty tired and wasn't sure he wanted to go to school today, but decided at the last minute he'd better go.

 

Wow! Another full day of learning.  Although some of the morning was a review it was new to the fact that we used the training collar (more like a chain) rather than the gentle leader. We did lots of heel, sit, down, distraction work.  Our new task today was preparing to go into public.  May got to do the demonstration with Trainer Jessa.  Jessa pretended to be walking through the mall and Trainer Jeremy walked past with a shopping bag full of Puperoni, May's favorite treat, May was awesome, she just kept walking.

And of course she does get rewarded for doing exactly what is expected of her!  Way to go May, you rocked it.  Lunch break, we did get her outside to run before our next task.

So, off to the Mall we go, in the sleet and snow and slush, they sent us off prepared, paper towels and bags just in case of an accident and told us to meet at Door "D" for Dog, which goes right into the food court, ok game on May.  We walked on heel straight through the food court to our meeting place, May was incredible.  May is very high energy if I have already said that, so she tends to rush her pace in a heel, so I did lots of working on correcting that in the mall, so she stays right on my left side and keeps pace with me.  She was awesome and even only needed one correction when a person in the Mall came up and started petting her. She loves people and wiggles all over the place when someone approaches her but she always stays in her command, although from a sit, because of the slippery floor she often slides to a "down" position and they said that is ok.  So we walked through a store right by the down coats which can send a hunting dog crazy and May did a "down" perfectly and let me move around the clothing as she stayed in her command. Then we took her on the glass elevator, she got a little nervous and kind of crawled into a down, we rewarded her through the ride and she was great.  We then tried the stairs on a heel and she was great, stayed right by my side the entire time, she rushed just a bit when we got to the top to get her treat, so we tried it again stopping half way and giving a treat and stopping one step to the top giving a treat, and then no treat at the top and she was perfect.  And then back through the food court to head back to the hotel. She didn't leave a heel and walked by ever thing and everyone and didn't even sniff at the food. 

Back at the hotel, Joe and May a little snuggle time, I think they are both wore out today. Public appearances I think are pretty exhausting for May to stay on task but she is great.

 We have discovered May does not like to be hot, as soon as we left the Mall, I tried to get her to go potty and all she did was roll her nose in the snow.  We got back to the hotel and she did the same thing, so no problem with our Minnesota snow, she loves it!  We do go to class on Saturday and Sunday, so watch for more details, no break for us, but we are finding out there is so much to learn.

We did ask Jeremy the lead trainer about using her "bark" command for matches and lighters and he said absolutely, they just couldn't do that because of liability.  So he said when we get home just to have her smell matches and a lighter, and give her the command, practice it several times, take a break do it again, and repeat over several days spreading out time in between tries and she should have it in 2-3 weeks.

I also want to add that we are staying at Homewood Suites in Fairborn, just 15 minutes from 4 Paws, and they are amazing.  We have a suite keeper who leaves us notes everyday, and every so often folds towels and Joe's blanket into animal shapes, hearts, etc. he loves that.  They have hot breakfast every morning, and dinner on Mon-Thurs night which is so nice not to have to come back and think about cooking, and they love it when we bring May down to eat with us, although she just tucks herself under the table and watches!  We pack a lunch to take with us to school at 4 Paws, our room has a nice kitchen area with refrigerator and microwave and cooktop too.  There is a Walmart and a Miejer's very close by to stock up on lunch fix'ins.   So being Friday and kind of yucky weather, of course this would be nothing in Minnesota, but they closed schools and other activities here, so it's quiet, but I think we will order in pizza for tonight, and let Joe and May enjoy their snuggle time!