On Sunday we had human stuff planned, my son's birthday luncheon. Ember was content to have some extra down time, as was Carl. We went to Red Robin, and let me say, it gave echoes of son's growing up years. Growing boys can really pack away the food. I had a grain-burger, and it was very good. They offer broccoli as a side, and it was cooked to perfection. We shared a stack of onion rings, and a stack of donuts for dessert. A very pleasant outing.
Tuesday it was back to "normal", Ember to day care, me to the trainer.
Wednesday, Ember got her groom on. No bandana this time, just a clean-smelling, soft-furred dog.
We had "adventures" getting to our grooming appointment, though. A one-car accident happened at the nearest intersection to the vet/groomer/daycare/boarding place. Pair that with major road construction on one of the streets that meets there, beginning one block away, resulting in "no left turn" for a couple of miles... well, let us say, with free choice drivers, we were a few minutes late. The news reported the driver was injured but survived. He did not have a valid driver's license, and experienced a medical episode, leading to the crash.
While Ember was at the groomer I swept, dust-mopped, and mopped the tile floors. Always gives a great sense of accomplishment!
Thursday, normal day care and trainer again. I just kind of collapsed in a heap after the trainer. Worn out.
Friday... well, it was a rainy day. Ember contentedly napped and so did I. We played mental games. There is one that Susan Garrett refers to as "Vito's game", where you don't talk to your dog, you engage their minds to determine the pattern they have to travel to get you to dispense treats. It's quite educational for the human, too, as you watch the dog think it out. This is only the second time I've played this game with her.
Thinking back over the months Ember has been with me, I see what the roadblocks were in training (at least some of them) and how layers of training in Recallers (Susan's online course) make the next game work. I know more about what Ember likes and doesn't like now, what will be most rewarding to her (and thus a better training reward). Learning to not rush things, but go at the pace where she's ready, is the biggest lesson for me.
That said, she really doesn't like wet grass to do her business. All the accidents we have had in the past month have been related to "it's too hot outside, Mom" or "I don't want to get my feet wet, Mom!" I've had a few successes in getting her to go out with me and do her business, but also some stray failures. And she's a year and a half old, this next week!
Life is good. Keep on Sparking!
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