be happy for this moment.

Rambunctious, rumbustious, delinquent dogs become angelic when sitting.
Dr. Ian Dunbar

On Wednesday night Nick and I packed Winnie in the car and headed to her very first day of school. Training school, that is. The trainer and class were recommended by Winnie's foster mom from the rescue so we signed up to whip her into shape.

Okay, not really whip. More like bribe with handfuls of treats and "good girl, good girl, good girl!"

After sort of worrying that she would just be the weird kid in class howling at the wall I was relieved to be in a room with a bunch of dogs just like her! No one was terribly naughty, they all just needed to learn some manners.

So we worked on "watch" and "leave it" as well as some leash habits that prevent pulling. The trainer was great offering concise directions and using dogs as examples so you could see how the command should be done.

She did wonderful, far better than I ever imagined. What can I say, she's the smartest dog ever.

We have to practice and do homework through the next week and then we go back each Wednesday night for five more weeks. Looking forward to a Beagle who waits her turn at the back door and doesn't grab peanut butter toast from my hand.

After our class (I'm still wearing my snazzy treat apron). Winnie wants down to chase the squirrels in the parking lot. We have some work to do.