Digging for treasure

Ember: This is where I left it, Mom!  I swear!

Too bad, little one... you can't count on treasure to remain buried! 

Accomplishments of Saturday:

• Buried mom's gardening glove, could not find it again.  (Because Mom had already retrieved it!)
• Took the black tennis ball under the deck where Mom can't get to it, and refused to go get it for her.  (Mom retaliated by finding an orange tennis ball).
• Walked on leash across the street to "sort-of play" with the two little boys she met the other evening.  The bigger boy got a basketball out to try to play with her, but that was scary, and she fled from it.  He went and got a tennis ball and that went over much better.
• Got spooked by motorcycles... twice.
• Slept soundly in the living room outside the crate, while mom drowsily watched a recorded episode of Grey's Anatomy.
• Made it evident that she does not like the hot weather.  Had an accident upon returning inside after being out lounging in the heat.  Had to go into her "safe space" while Mom cleaned up.  But not before mom tried to get her to "finish the job" outside.  Ember declined to do so.  Mom is thinking that this is the second or third time "caught in the act" and not producing when moved outside.  Perhaps she's only releasing enough to be able to continue to "hold it", without getting that it's OK to go ahead and empty the tank out in the yard even if you've been told "uh-oh!" inside.

I'm so glad to have something as mundane as puppy house training to focus on, considering the news cycle we're in!

Sunday morning puppy pre-school - week #2

The Sunday class is smaller, only 4 puppies in class today.  I was glad because it did mean a little bit of extra trainer attention to each pup.  As we feared might happen, Ember and Paisley were the first two to arrive and were immediately fascinated with one another.  Paisley seems to have a more assertive personality than does Ember.

Ember does not appear to be bothered by this... look at that happy little face while her sister growls and "dominates".  Ember waited it out and then retaliated... but as they say "nobody was hurt".

It wore her out as much as last week's session with seven puppies total.  Ember was introduced to the wobbly board, and did well with it, causing the trainer to suggest she be asked to "sit" on the obstacle.  She did great.

She wasn't quite as intuitive about the tunnel, but she did go through it.

Oh, and I learned the term "puppy pushups"... that's a sit, down, sit, in that order, with the treat only at the end of the third command.

I caught that the bigger fluffy puppy is named Benji, but I didn't catch the name of the "chow" looking one.  But here's the whole group together, playing pretty nicely in the second bit of "puppy play time".

That's Benji's daddy on the stool, Paisley is followed by Ember, and the Chow is on the outside (such a cute curved tail and fluffy bum)!

While we were at Puppy Class, The Prisoner had the house to himself.  When we got home, Ember did her business outside before completely zonking under the couch.  I'm just letting her sleep!

And we are signed up for next Sunday to do it all over again.

Life is good.

Spark on!