ATTENDANCE: Gus Frenchie, Molly Morkie, Oliver Fluffy Mix, Sophie Frenchie, Lyla Mini Greyhound Sorta/Kinda, Lily Pomapoo/CatDog, Ivy Bedlington Terrier, Angus Cairn Terrier, Kaylee West Highland White Terrier, Lucy Jack Russell Terrier, Sasha Terrier Wannabee. Absent:  No one!  Breezy has dropped out of the program and Iko has moved to the Tuesday Pack.

DWD will be CLOSED for the week of August 22-29.  School reopens on August 29 for the Monday class.  School will also be CLOSED for Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 6.

REMINDER:  Did you pay your $30 deposit on your pup’s first day of school?  This deposit covers the first TWO missed classes for your pup, charged at $15 each.  If you did NOT pay the deposit, or if your pup has exceeded TWO missed classes after payment of the deposit, you owe $15 for each absence, regardless of the reason for the absence.  This fee holds your pup’s space in their class while they are out.  Unused deposits will be credited toward your pup’s last day of puppy school.

NOW OFFERING....Copies of up to 200 of your dog’s best images at play at DWD, including solo shots as well as group shots and action shots!!  Sign up if you’re interested and a photo album containing your pup’s shots will be put together for you to view on the big screen of my 27” iMac.  CD’s will be $100 each and will contain up to 200 photos for puppy students and as many as I have of adult students (this amounted to over 500 for a recent customer...) for you to download on your computer and use in your own calendars, cards, photo books and prints.  You get to VIEW BEFORE YOU BUY!

OUR DAY:  What a difference a day makes....at least as far as the weather is concerned!  We are very comfortable today.  You won’t believe who’s ventured into the pool today....

OLIVER is now floating around and dunking his whole face whenever the spirit moves him.

SASHA got in and splashed around and drank her fill twice already (it’s only 11 a.m.).

And....drum roll please......LYLA got into the pool early this morning when no one else was around and I watched from afar as she rolled around in it, splashed around and did some happy play bows!

Isn’t this marvelous?  I also held Lily CatDog over the pool and she paddled all four paws in the water.  Baby steps, right??  I will post pics as proof later on today on FB.

We are having a splendid day!  Everyone is getting a ton of energy out and the friendships in this class are just remarkable.  There’s truly no match that doesn’t work, and I’m amazed.  To see little Lily playing like a rock star with anyone and everyone is just so touching and amazing.

Lucy JRT is managing okay without her boyfriend, Iko, today.  She’s been playing a ton with Kaylee and Angus and Sasha.  What a busy gal she is!  Good thing she likes to dip in the pool to cool herself off!  She’s been running all over!

Speaking of running....Lyla was simply hilarious early this morning getting the whole gang to chase her ‘round the yard while she held this or that toy or ball in her mouth.  She is such a little kangaroo!  Everyone gets all excited when she starts this “game!”

I’ve been working again today with Sophie on her play-barking.  I call what she does “triangle barking” because she will go over to two dogs who are playing excitedly and she’ll bark at them until she is allowed into the play...or the teacher gets her with the squirt bottle.  She’s doing better today than last week, so we’re making progress I think!

Some play is pretty loud and growly with certain dogs...like Sasha and Ivy, both of whom like to play-growl while wrestling.  Sasha barks at times as well.  Gus and Sophie make those gurgly Frenchie noises.  It’s all pretty silly!

Oliver is elated to have Molly back with us.  Molly is her happy self, into everything and jumping into the pool all the time.  Her incision from her spay is intact, if not necessarily beautiful, poor thing!  Molly has been pouncing on and pinning a dog here and there in a rough sort of way and I’ve been on her about that a lot.  She did it to Lily when she arrived and kept trying to do it when I wasn’t looking.  Maybe it’s that she’s getting bigger now and it’s no longer puppy-like when she lands on someone and starts biting their neck.  Luckily, Molly really listens to direction verbally.  That makes a big difference!

Oliver is a bit of an alert barker, meaning he “alerts” to sounds or sights in the yard that he thinks need attention....like birds or squirrels or kids playing next door or dogs barking in the neighborhood.  Molly does this as well.  Squirt bottle followed by “no bark!” until they get the message is required.

Everyone is progressing so nicely socially and emotionally in this class.  They are just a joy to supervise and keep me laughing and entertained all day!  Of course, I’ve been just a weeee bit distracted at times today because I’ve discovered a mating pair of Cardinals who’ve nested in a lilac bush at the edge of the yard.  My husband is bringing home a step ladder so I can maybe see into the nest and photograph the babies!!!  So excited!!!

I hope you all enjoy this wonderful day of weather and get outside today/tonight!!  Beautiful, perfect summer day!  Yesterday....the pits!  Today....heaven!!