For being still a young puppy, Millie sleeps well at night in her crate. I am grateful -- I needed a good rest last night and I got it.
Like the two big dogs, she is joyous at wake-up time. So much so, that I have to carry her as I take her from the crate. She's likely to pee otherwise. From a night of restraint, and from the excitement of being up with me.
We are in for some weird weather. Weird weather is never great. You get a blast of something unseasonable, lovely, and then you pay for it with storms. Today we get all of it: the flood of warm air, the winds, the scattered strong storms.
But let's start with the good: the Millie walk is so pleasant! She is more comfortable with leash walks now, and I am thrilled to be free of the winter accoutrements. No more ice boots, gloves, caps, thick jackets.
Inside, the girl is bouncy -- it's the best description I can come up with for this light and spirited imp!
If you do not like to play with a pup, she is not the girl for you. Toy retrieval is her current favorite, with those daring leaps on and off the couch, onto the ottoman, back and forth like a flying fur ball!
I want to spend more time on training, but she can be a tough one to work with. Treats are only mildly interesting to her, or not interesting at all. She learns quickly though. Totally reliable with her sits. Still struggling with the lie down. Will start in on the stays this afternoon.
Breakfast. She rests at my feet.
We have a morning that combines play, walks, potty accidents, grooming, and Sunday tasks. I take plants outside to the porch. Millie has no interest in going out there with me. She has a cautious approach to life -- not one to bound out and take on the world.
My job is to convince her that we're all a friendly species! With any luck, she'll never know the hard truth on that one.
I take her to Tati's. Not for the coffee, not for the foods there, but for the experience, for the people. I'm keeping to the goal of never sheltering her in the house for long hours of just "me and her."
And for this reason too, I signed her up for weekly classes of puppy agility. Honestly, it was the only class that was suitable for her age, and that had the first class start this month. But it's also a good one for the both of us. She's. a bouncy girl that has the sprint and leap of an overexcited rabbit. And it's good for me too. I know very little about agility training and I honestly don't think I could sit through a string of beginner obedience classes. I can do all that stuff at home. I've been through it too often, most recently with Henry.
The classes are today, in the early afternoon, over at Happy Dogz (so clear at the other side of town). I'm curious about agility, but even more so -- I'm curious about Millie's reaction to being in a room with lots of people and dogs. Will she be cautious? Will she make friends? It's a very defined environment and it doesn't really predict your pup's adjustment in the real world, but it gives some hints. Henry liked it because of the attending dogs. What is Millie's take on it?
I have to say, her behavior, her attitude -- they were solid gold. She wasn't the most gregarious one. Jemma, another mini goldendoodle just her age but much bigger, took the prize there. She was not the shyest either. Lilly the bernedoodle won that one. And lest you think it was all doodles -- well no, these were the only two. But I liked having counterparts to her. To see the variations. To understand the personality range.
I think the trainers weren't sure she'd have great enthusiasm for trying new things, given that she has been with me such a short time, but she outperformed herself (and others too!). Fantastic on the balance board.
(two hind legs remain on board? I can do it!)
Great on the ramp. And absolutely fabulous through the tunnel.
("fun place to rest, too!")
From class, I drive over to the farmette. For the walk across farmette lands. And to pick some daffodils for the kitchen counter. And to see Ed. And to get wet in the sudden cloudburst!
And then home. No Sunday dinner tonight as at least one member of that household is sick. My energetic pup is all pomp and play.
Truly, it does not feel like she's been here only a week. More like always. And I mean that in the best of ways.
with so much love...
