Training Date at the Vet

While at the vet this morning, picking up some new thyroid meds for Lily, Beth, my favorite vet tech gave me 5 minutes and I taught her how to play the "Tight Leashes Don't Go Anywhere" game with Lily.

Lily's Lazy Leash is grand........everywhere but at the vet when being returned to me.  We taught the tech at the Eye Clinic for Animals how to play the game with Lily and Lily remembers whenever we go there, now, that the location understands the rule.  Funny how she relates the rule with the location and not the people.

So it was high time to teach her that Kensington Vet knows about loose leashes, too.  First Beth had to learn about "J" leashes, because she had a death grip on Lily.  I wonder if that's part of the lose/lose situations at all vets.  They expect the dogs to pull so they hold short leashes and apply the Opposition Reflex before the dog even moves.  Oh well.

First, Beth and Lily stood on one side of the doorway and I on the other.  J leash. And as long as the leash remained in a J, we just passed the leash back and forth.  No one moving.

Then, they remained standing and I moved a step away and returned and we exchanged leashes and Lily got a good wiggle and giggle before beginning again.

After a few, it was Lily's turn.  I remained stationary and they moved.  I only asked for five minutes so in the five minutes, I remained just on my side of the doorway and Lily and Beth got about three steps out of sight and were able to walk to me on a "Training Levels quality" loose leash.

I just love teaching Lily with non-trainers in real life situations.  This one was surely a success.

Feeling Fit

A friend has loaned me a scooter (as in wheelchair).  She "scooted" it over from her house last night and showed me the ropes.

This morning, Lily and I suited up at 545 and headed out to give it a try.  I have a great hands-free leash that I have used off and on for years, but have now found what it must have been designed for!  A bungee in the leash itself and a sturdy waist connection for me.

Today is garbage day in our part of town and the large containers line the alley.  Lily and I made four circuits up and down the alley, which is going to the perfect place for us to "scoot".  And our location even has a built in incline!  All Coronado streets are divided by alleys.  In fact, there are many "alley houses" - back houses that face the alley - so, should we wish, we have opportunities to explore as well as opportunities to exercise Miss Pink.

The scooter is a much better alternative than an electric bike for me and it moves Lily along at a nice pace.  And the scooter itself has such a small footprint that it is very maneuverable.

And it won't be a big deal.  Roll out of bed.  Throw on some clothes. And scoot out the gate.

Now I'll have to take the car and measure out some alley distances in terms of miles and half-miles instead of blocks (4X alley = 1 block).

Thank you, again, Rosemary!

More Mini-Course 5

Level II  Course 5  Stations 1 - 5

We set up the course with Stations 1 - 9, but only 1 - 5 were within the range of the Flip.  Even at 930AM the temperature was climbing.  If I were to do this mini-course to music, it would have to be called Hot and Humid!

I would like a sherpa to set the course up and take it down for me, repack the sign boxes and then load it all back into the car, please.  Not just in this heat - but all the time.