Day Nine: We're Flying!
This morning, we headed a couple of towns over to work in a park area and to meet up with one of the trainers who has been out on maternity leave. She happens to have been Troy's primary trainer, so I was really glad that she got to see us work together. Sweet and loyal Troy was struggling with a conflict of interest. He really wanted to work for me, but he really wanted to work for Emily, too. Eventually, he did amend his list of equations to include Meghan+Troy+Emily to be an allowable situation for him to work for me. Then he really took off and showed her how well we are doing together.
This town is hard to work in, because the curbs are completely blended. There are brick sidewalks, and there is just a small strip of cement to mark the entrance into the street. The streets are also brick. It is all about trust and letting the dog work. Troy nailed the crossings! We stopped at the same pizza place we went to when I was here with Dayton. It was actually a very similar trip...including the fact that Emily was on maternity leave last time. Both times, her boys were about six weeks old...how about that? Both times, my boys also completely destroyed the route and did an awesome job! Troy is growing less dog distracted as he gains more respect for me.
After the trip to and from the pizza place, Bob took us to an area with really narrow sidewalks. There was no grass or any kind of boulevard between the street and sidewalk, so it was a lot like my street at home. There were tons of really tight clearances. Troy slowed, inched through and was incredibly careful with me. I am so so pleased with his drive, focus and care while working!
After that short route, we took the dogs to the vet for their exit checkup. Troy is 71.1 pounds according to their scale. I in no way think he has gained 6 pounds. I think it is just that all scales are a little different. He is a great weight right now, and I will take him in and have him weighted at the clinic by my house when I get home.
After the visit, it was time to come back to campus for the evening. I have been trying to catch up on work and spending tons of time figuring out how to best speak Troy.
This town is hard to work in, because the curbs are completely blended. There are brick sidewalks, and there is just a small strip of cement to mark the entrance into the street. The streets are also brick. It is all about trust and letting the dog work. Troy nailed the crossings! We stopped at the same pizza place we went to when I was here with Dayton. It was actually a very similar trip...including the fact that Emily was on maternity leave last time. Both times, her boys were about six weeks old...how about that? Both times, my boys also completely destroyed the route and did an awesome job! Troy is growing less dog distracted as he gains more respect for me.
After the trip to and from the pizza place, Bob took us to an area with really narrow sidewalks. There was no grass or any kind of boulevard between the street and sidewalk, so it was a lot like my street at home. There were tons of really tight clearances. Troy slowed, inched through and was incredibly careful with me. I am so so pleased with his drive, focus and care while working!
After that short route, we took the dogs to the vet for their exit checkup. Troy is 71.1 pounds according to their scale. I in no way think he has gained 6 pounds. I think it is just that all scales are a little different. He is a great weight right now, and I will take him in and have him weighted at the clinic by my house when I get home.
After the visit, it was time to come back to campus for the evening. I have been trying to catch up on work and spending tons of time figuring out how to best speak Troy.