Celebrating the Alamo

I got to go along on the car trip to San Antonio. It was delightful to sit in the middle seat and have Cate & Mary Ellen make a fuss over me. I LOVED it and it made the long ride more enjoyable.

We saw a LOT of things and I wondered if Austin's motto of"Keep Austin Weird" shouldn't be applied to San Antonio. This lady and her hat were quite colorful.

Of course, I could not go into many of the places in San Antonio, but I still found them very accommodating and I was on my really best behavior so there would not be a problem. I knew I could not enter the Alamo or the grounds, so MFM and I walked across the street to the Visitor's  Center to get information. They welcomed me in there and we learned about what was available in town. MFM bought tickets to ride all day long on the trolley and bus. They could take us all over town and to the missions. We parked near the Alamo so we would not have a long way to walk and would be able to easily find our car at the end of the day. It had the added advantage of being accessible if we forgot anything and we had snacks and drinks in the car.

The celebration of the 175th anniversary of the Alamo was in full swing, so there were several opportunities available. We arrived just as the Navy was demonstrating some uses of canine warriors. They were amazing! I got the best seat in the house to watch them - under the chair of a sailor. Those dogs would respond immediately to the handler's commands. They were precise and orderly just like their handlers and all they got in return was was a pat on the head. They deserved some REAL treats. I wonder if MFM was taking note.



This dog attacked on command....





....then took the arm protector right off the guy.



Another attack!



Now this guy understands "Down!" "Stay!"



"Sit" and pay attention.



I have seen how the "pros" do it,  so I have a lot to live up to. My advanced classes start on April 30th. I have an idea MFM will be expecting a lot from me.





Training

My Saturday morning trainings are really quite fun. I get to see a lot of dogs and some are friends from the dog park. There are only eight in my class, but there are three classes, so there is a lot of coming and going before and after class. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to play with each other even though our humans get to talk and laugh with one another.

Some people call our classes "Dog Training" but it is as much the training of our humans as it is of us. MFM and I work quite well together because I am so smart. I pay attention most of the time but have to admit I am easily distracted. I also get tired from constantly trying to figure out what I am supposed to do. There are so many smells and so much activity, that I really want to just be left alone to explore it all.

In spite of everything, I have learned a lot. I can sit, stay,  lie down on all fours, come when called (well, most of the time), and try to sit and behave when another dog or person walks by. I answer to my name and am learning that I cannot play during class, although I do occasionally find a nice stick to carry around and chew on. At home I can also fetch and wait. I sit and wait to be invited to enter the car or house and even wait to be invited to eat although it is right there in front of me. I think I am a pretty good fellow and making MFM happy is, usually, foremost in my mind. Now she is teaching me to shake hands.

My last class was a REAL challenge. I am now learning to walk right beside MFM and learn to turn when she turns. I would rather sniff and smell. I had learned how to work in the sniff 'n smell on our long morning walks. I would run ahead of MFM for the length of the leash, stop for a sniff 'n smell, then just before she got past me far enough to pull on the leash, I would run ahead again. It worked well for me! I enjoyed the fragrances and sometimes had time to pick something up to taste - an acorn, a clod of dirt, a stick, or (my favorite) a leaf. Now, that is very limited and I have to keep up when she is training us. Now, I have to "heel" or, as she puts it, "knee" since she thinks we might need to be even firmer on the training later. The good thing about it all is that I get TREATS!

No class this week but we learn something new next week. I can hardly wait.....

A Vocation?

Yep! I was right. There was a bath in the offing.

Friday evening, after a good run with my friends at the dog park, I was lured into the back room for a bath. It wasn't as bad as last time since MFM has learned to give me treats during the stages of my bath. In fact, I went in, put my feet up on the side of the empty tub and looked in today. It didn't look so scary without the water.

After getting all cleaned up, we headed out Saturday morning to a meeting. MFM thinks it would be kool to spend some time as a therapy or reading dog. I don't know if I could sit still for two hours as a reading dog, but I wouldn't mind being petted and played with by any number of folk.

There were about 20 people at the informational meeting and most of them had their dogs with them. The people were not as friendly as the ones at the dog park and the people would not let all us dogs play together. What fun is that? They were an interesting group. When one dog began barking, most of the others chimed in. It was quite a chorus. I, of course, was quiet.

We should start our training in a couple of weeks. I can hardly wait.

A Colorado Rocky Mountain High

WHEW! Just returned at 2:30 a.m. from our week-long trip to Colorado Springs. It was a long drive up and back but I have to admit I slept most of the way. I got up occasionally to check out the window. Wonder if I could find my way back if I got lost? I got to ride in the front seat so I could watch MFM when I was awake. I think she was glad for my company since she kept reaching over and scratching my head. We stopped several times so I could eat, drink, and take care of business - oh, those wonderful smells!

ABW met us at her local dog park on the base at Ft Carson. It was dry and dusty, shirt-sleeve weather. ABW was accompanied by Abs and their dog, Sammy. Sammy is a male cockapoo as well. He is twice my size, cream-colored with a touch of apricot, and very furry. I especially enjoyed being able to get out and stretch my legs, but ABW's idea of meeting in a neutral place prior to going to their house, worked perfectly. Sammy and I had an opportunity to get to know each other while running and playing.

By the time Sammy and I got to his house, we were fast friends.



 ABW's photo of us on Gunner's quilt

Sammy shared everything with me, but not always willingly. We played chase in his fenced yard and kept MFM busy trying to keep me out of Sammy's food and Sammy out of mine. ABW gave each of us a trachea to chew on, but we both wanted the same one and took turns chewing on it until it was gone. Then we fought over the other one. They kept saying we were just like little children. Hmmmm, wonder why they thought that.

Three of our visiting days involved snow, ice , and very cold weather. I wanted to go outside, but when MFM opened the door, I just couldn't make myself do it. MFM didn't take "no" for an answer. Eventually, I quite liked trotting around in the snow and ice and when I went back inside the house, MFM would wrap me in a towel and hug me until I stopped shivering.

I am learning a lot -

"Stay out of the kitchen!"

"Leave it!"

 "Fetch!"

"Good boy!"

And the inevitable - "Ehych!!"

I had fun but I am happy to be home. Unfortunately, I see a bath in my future......