Thursday, August 06, 2015

hitting the streets....




I am having the best time teaching this Canine Community class!!! I love my students and I love the training sessions... tonight we went into Portsmouth and worked the dogs on the streets of the city.... 














We always seem to draw the attention of the crowds... I don't know if it's just the number of dogs working together or the fact that they are all so well behaved. The gals are doing so well and seem to be having such a fun time....
Working on the street is fun.. you never know "what" you are going to come across...
Or go across for that matter......
However, my fear of bridges only allowed me to go half way... and by this time, I was almost shaking in my boots.... I got this quick photo and told the gals that if they  wanted to go on, they could.. I turned around....

We practiced things like a sit before crossing the roads... moving over into tight spaces so others could pass by...
and even how to handle and remain calm when approached by another who might not act so well. Actually this little chap was rather nasty, and was a perfect opportunity for Brutus to practice a "leave it" command...

Our training sessions always seem to end with "treats"... (for the humans)... ice cream is always on the list. But again, great training opportunities... to have your dog lay quietly under a table (out of the way) and not bother with all the food and activity around them....
Though hugs and compliments from the public are always welcomed...
A beautiful summer night in the city... a great night of dog training, and I have to think this is "my life and my work"...



blessings abound.....

happy 30th....

Not that this family needs an "excuse" to get together... we just enjoying doing so.... but this afternoon there was a special reason.... (I though this was a funny photo -- the two grandpa's and the two chickens behind... sort of looks like they're even sitting the same way!!!)
I love seeing the "grands" together.... Reagan is at an age now where Abi enjoys playing with him... up until just recently she saw him as a baby and more of an annoyance that a pal.... as time goes by, their relationship will only get better....
They spent a long time happily playing in the sand box.....
But this why we were together tonite... it's Nate's birthday!!! (and a big one to boot!!!)
Both sides of the family had a great time, we had a nice cookout (great food) and yummy dessert......
Happy birthday!!!!
The little back deck was crowded.....


Our good friend Glen was visiting from Tennessee.. (he usually comes this way each year about this time)... so, we asked him to pop over too... so nice to have friends that are "there" your whole life....
Now (sadly) I don't know anything about guns, except that this is one that Nate has wanted for sometime. Kassy , Dave and Deb all pitched in and got this for him. As you can see, he was pretty surprised and pleased....
Reagan... playing peek a boo.......

I am coming to realize just how special times like these are and I truly appreciate these moments..... such a nice evening with family and friends... these truly are the times that count the most....
We were back to decking the next day... it's coming along. This is a slower process than traditional wood decking, but when it's done.. it will be all done.... much of the work is done on our hands and knees, and we can only do that for so long. But.. there are finally enough rows where I am brave enough to get up on the deck and hopefully be  more help to Ed. 




I did make it up there, and was actually of some help... we hit the halfway mark today... and I decided that it was "officially" the first night that we sat out on the deck... 

We'll finish it and one day look back and not think of how much work it really all was... but tonite, I'm just sitting here.... resting!!!