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January 18, 2008

Lilly and I skipped class this week, but I did take her into town last Saturday to run errands with me. Her prize for being such a trooper was a nice walk down, even though it was pretty chilly. Tom was also out running around and happened to drive by us while we were on our walk. He whipped into the lot where we always park and waited on a bench to surprise Lilly. And, boy, was she surprised!

He’d honked at me as he drove past, so I knew what he was planning, but I did not tell Lilly. We just continued on our walk as usual. She ran the brick wall like a dog walk. She practiced contacts on a short divider.

Then, as we approached one set of benches, I asked her … Is that daddy? And, she wigged out! I mean pure, unadulterated JOY!

Had there not been a couple walking the other way, who did NOT look like dog people, I would have dropped her leash and let her sprint to him. BUT, since there were, we both ran like crazy to get to him.

She LEAPED into his lap and proceeded to squeak and kiss, wiggle and jump, slobber and wag all over him. We were cracking up, and it apparently caused quite a scene because many people in the nearby parking lot stopped to watch, to laugh, to point at this silly girl who was SO SURPRISED to see her daddy.

It was very funny.

Then, on Sunday, we went shopping with Tom to a mountaineering store that’s dog friendly. Other than some banging back in the ski repair area that upset her, Lilly did pretty well in the store. She’s not quite as focused when we’re out with Tom because she’s trying so hard to keep both of us in her sights. If there’s one flaw in our training, it’s that I always did it alone, so throwing Tom into the mix, throws some things off.

But, she poked the staff. She did tricks for them. She laid down at my feet, chin on the ground, while Tom talked to the guys about ice axes and such.

We didn’t stay long, maybe 20 minutes, but Lilly was ready to leave. She can take the lighting, the racks of things hanging pretty well. But, she’s always happy to get outside where she feels less pinned in. I can only assume part of it comes from living in such a wide-open space at home.

There’s more snow predicted for later today and another swath coming on Sunday, so we might not be able to go to class this weekend, which would be a drag. It’s at one of the new parks on our rotation that Lilly really likes. She does well there, so I’m hoping we can go, but we’ll see.

Have a great weekend.

 

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

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