Lila's walks are anything but boring!!!  We generally spread our selves all around the area & visit different parks - one that contains elks ( she does nothing but stare @ them ) , one that has a huge lake w/ plenty of geese, ducks & other birds ( again simply looks @ them ) & her favorite one -  has a " dog " park feel.  It is here where she is most challenged,  due to her canine species running freely minus leashes!  She one day hopes to join this group - but @ the moment is still too " excited " to see them!!!

I have had her watch from a distance on both a sit & a down.........& ......been closer to the action where I have had to zap her to remind her to contain herself :)  All in all - she's progressing nicely & I am using less wattage for the most part w/ the e collar.

Some of the surprises we have run into were - a lady running w/ a buggy - personally I thought she was going a tad quick w/ a baby BUT when she slowed down - a Bichon leaped out & headed ( you guessed it ) rite for Lila!!!!!   I just stood there & mama came over & chastised her " baby " & scooped her up......only to put her back in the buggy & continue their stroll (?).

Another time I pulled up in the parking lot & a gentleman was walking his lab rite past my car - gad zooks - I thought she was going to leap out of the back seat - thank goodness for those child friendly height windows!  Needless to say , the zapper got a work out that moment.

Probably one of my favorite times was when I decided to photograph Lila on a small bridge.  She was pre-occupied & not listening to me.......ergo.........I " helped " her lay down.  After a few moments, I began  taking pictures & my camera malfunctioned.  I noticed she was intently looking past me & when I turned around  - I saw an elderly woman w/ her aged companion.  I said hello & she commented how beautiful Lila was & how nice it was that I was SO patient w/ her.   ( I was thankful she missed the beginning of this lil venture ).   She then shared her name & her dogs & offered to take our photo.  Very nice gesture - but all I could imagine is Simba - 15y/o lab mix who does NOT like to play - being w/ in 2 feet of Lila!!!  I politely declined & thanked her.......making sure we went the opposite direction of them.  All I could picture in my mind was Simba trying to protect his owner & Lila taking issue w/ it!!

                                           Lila on a lovely sit stay - finally !!!!

Zippity Zap !

Our next trip to Alex's house was truly choked full of surprises...... as only Alex can provide.  Once out of the car - a huge Rottie mix came charging across the street  to size up Lila.  I'm happy  to share that she more or less froze in place, having not been the charger, but then the excitement of another dog THAT close set in !!   The owner of said canine called out to him  & he proudly trotted back across the street. 

Again - I looked @ Alex who was walking towards us  ( box in hand ) & asked the magic question - " did you plan THIS one -  to which he replied the standard - " nope, I'm not that good ".   

What the box contained was an e-collar aka  "zap "  -   I thought I would cry right there on the spot .   Had he given up?????     Was there NO hope left?    Would she make a better search & rescue dog rather than a pet???     I asked all these questions  calmly - believe it or not - & his answer to all 3 was a resounding NO......much to my joy :)


He simply felt that her " excitement " was not lessening as much as he had hoped for  in the  amount of time w/ her in training. Why should I blow out my shoulder & arm trying to contain her, when a simple push of a button would work just as effectively???

 He then had a member of his staff bring out dog after dog & demonstrated when to use the device.  The idea is to use it as soon as  she begins to really focus on the fellow canine & before getting ready to  " explode " -  therefore calming her down so she can simply watch the goings on & not spin out of control.  He worked the hand control as I walked her thru pooch after pooch - the first few tries he did have to increase the voltage from 30 to 60.  But,  she caught on very quickly &  when his son walked out w/ 3 dogs @ a time ,  I was VERY proud of her for not wanting to join  them.  Don't get me wrong - she was VERY interested - but there was no lunging, barking or dragging me....she just watched intently :)

Lila's walking aids - choke, prong, lead, & zap - she has more accessories than me!

                                            Ready for our next walk/ adventure :))

Lila Seems to be in the Lead......

When it came time to have my next lesson - I brought Lila to his dog training class location.  Her nose was in high alert even before we reached Alex who was standing in the front of the room!!  He asked how things were progressing & from the look on my face - the truth was evident.  He then asked me to walk her around & make her heel........while I was attempting this relatively simple feat - we all loudly heard a small canine barking it's head off!!!   Lila was SO excited @ this point - I could hardly contain her!!  A gentleman dropped his pooch - Peanut - off for boarding......& she was not happy.  Once again, I asked Alex - did you plan this?   He looked @ me & repeated, " Annie, again , I am not that good ".

Now, Lila was up  up  up - so Alex took over.  He went back & forth trying to get her to heel & sit when he stopped & then  lay down  - none of which was happening :( 

He worked her for ( I kid you not )  a 1/2 hour before she did it automatically .....reminding her the whole time that " he had ALL day girlfriend" :)   He had done this training w/ her during her boot camp days - so he KNEW she knew it - she just didn't feel like doing it @ this particular moment.

When she finally was on a down - he put her on a STAY & she looked SO dejected - the funny man had WON again  ....so she just  stayed put. :)

As we all walked out together -   Alex looked @ me & said,  Annie , I have a plan - be @  my house next Tuesday . . . oh boy, what could he be thinking?????

  

                                                      The Lil lady in question .......

Walk w/ Confidence.......or Not

Silly me - I assumed that 4 days in dogie boot camp that Lila would be transformed into  Rin Tin Tin & I would be dead wrong!  On our first walk back to Clear Water Park ......there was not a dog to be found :(    She healed better   BUT  still was not completely paying attention to me.  The  location we visited the next day I thought was also going to be a bust - but - God once more proved he has a great sense of humor :)

We were walking along a long stretch of houses when I noticed 2 humans trying very hard to hang on to their 2 huge dogs - one was an American Bull & the other a yellow lab!! Unbeknown-iced to them - another man was also coming along walking his lil dog & young daughter.  This was all too much for Lila to handle & she went into HYPER " want to meet you" mode!!  I was afraid for the unsuspecting gentleman & his family & a'm happy to share the huge canines were ushered away ( rather loudly) & his pup was unscathed....whew!!

  Now at this point I remembered that Alex had said if/when Lila gets too pushy @ other dogs - turn the opposite direction & continue walking/ heeling.    As I did this - BAM - there was a lady walking her Wheaten Terrier......  for the first time....... w/ a halti collar.  Her pooch was not  the least bit happy & was jumping up & down like a bronco trying to get out of the device.  Lila was in her glory - not knowing which way to go b/c both directions held promise to a good time!!!

 I simply surrendered &  held my ground in a driveway that was close by.  I was hoping the home owners were sitting down w/ a cup of coffee watching all this take place on a lovely Sunday morning......... as they called their neighbors & not the police or animal control  :)

The young lady asked ME what to do........should I pass........go backward.....or what????
I suggested, rather calmly if I do say so myself, that she proceed forward,  but first make sure the halti was back on her dog - yes- he had gotten the nose piece out :(   

I made Lila sit & stay, however, NOT w/o some vocal protests as our newest visitors walked (?) on by.  I was exhausted to say the least - Lila on the other hand -  was ready & willing to continue on our trek home & possibly run into some more new canine buddies.    

Oh,  Alex??????