Long Day...

Today I think was the most uneventful day I've had here—admittedly, a nice break. After this morning's exciting discovery of our new favorite game, Prada and I worked the High School route again; this time with a modification due to construction. That modification entailed a step off the sidewalk into the street and under a make-shift tunnel to protect pedestrians from the traffic. They're a bit more conscious of such measures here in Morristown than in other cities I've traveled during construction season, and I really appreciate it.

Basically, to work a detour like this the dog will take you to the curbside right at the edge of the construction zone. You can use your foot to find the edge of the curb, then give the command 'forward' and stop after one pace. You're in the street now (but in this case protected by an extension of the outer tunnel wall). Command the dog right or left, whichever way that will point you back the way you were previously traveling, and then suggest that same turn off and on until the dog finds the way back up to the sidewalk. Prada performed like a pro!  Part of that had to do with her wearing the gentle leader, though, I think.  I got tired of her puppy antics in harness the last couple of days and had her wear the leader while we worked. The only drawback to this practice is that every time we stop Prada tries to rub the thing off on me.  She really doesn't like it.  It's not uncomfortable, she just doesn't like it.

This afternoon we ran the Dean's Road route sans the gentle leader and I really don't think I needed it, either.  She had mellowed down and started behaving like a dog instead of a pup, which is exactly what I want her to do.  I have a feeling I'll be carrying that gentle leader around everywhere with me just in case she gets squirrely on me again.  It really works.

The Dean's Road route is the longest one we do here at the school, roughly two miles around a residential area with freakishly long blocks and curved street corners that tend to throw the dogs off a bit.  A couple of the street corners were so well-blended with the sidewalk that the dogs ran them straight into the street and got the big pfui to back up and rework them.

I also started teaching her about how tall I am by having her rework sections where I'd hit my head on low-hanging branches. After the first couple she got the idea and cleared them beautifully. How is this done? When she ran me into an overhanging branch I stopped and gave her a pfui, then brought her back and sat her in front of it, showing her the branch with my hand and praising her. This tells her that she's a good girl if she goes around it. Then we back up and I command 'hup-up!" and we go forward again. She will either go left or right to avoid the branch and gets lots and lots of praise! "GOOD GIRL, PRADA! You did it! Good girl!" -standing belly-rub, pets head and plays with ears vigorously-
(This skill has atrophied a little, I know, because like most humans I have the “duck” instinct.  The most notable instance was a headache I received from a leaning Banyan tree in Honolulu this year (2013).  We're working on rebuilding it, though.)

During that route the sun came out and due to our faster pace and the heat Prada and I came straight back to our room and crashed. Nap time! She just finished inhaling her food like a lab and I suspect that after I take her out, as I'm going to in a minute, it will be playtime again.  (she has the recharge period of a two-year-old.  Crash for thirty minutes, then go for another hour at high speed!)