Spring & Summer 2010

Daisy's ADVENTURES!

Daisy passed the CGC exam in January 2010. We have continued advanced obedience classes weekly. We have been graciously included in a local service dog organization's field trips, where we have practiced her obedience skills in real life situations. In February she visited Bethany Manor, a nursing home for retired nuns. She made a BIG impression! So many of the Sisters said "I remember dogs like these..." She visited The Abundant Table, a place where anyone in need can go for a hot meal. She interacted with the guests and brought a lot of joy to those eating there that night. In June she went to Sturbridge Villiage, where she met people in costume, saw sheep/goats/chickens/draft horses and was bigger than a six week old calf! While there she went into a blacksmith shop (hot and NOISY!), a pottery shop, many antique houses, saw muskets being fired and went on a 20 minute boat ride. Over the summer she went to the beach a number of times (before the heat of the day), and walked around downtown Newport. We took some really fun group classes at Hopkinton State Park, where we practiced all of our basic obedience work on the boat ramp! She even did retrieves in the water, with lots of people, boats and dogs walking by. That amount of distraction was challenging to the whole class. The most fun class field trip was to Martha's Vineyard. We had to take a bus from the parking lot to the ferry. She walked on the bus as if we did it daily (it was her first time EVER and she walked on without hesitation, then laid quietly in the aisle!). Nothing phased her; the metal stairs on the ferry, the gangway, the loud ferry horn ~ all novel experiences. We also went to a restaurnt/bar with her training class and listened to live music (guitar & electric fiddle). She did a great UNDER the table while we ate and slept through the music... We have done field trips to the Bass Pro Shop, Patriot Place, and the Wrentham Outlet Mall. We even challenged ourselves to walking the stemware aisle at Williams Sonoma, where she did a great heel with no tail wagging. We have started rally-o this week, to sharpen our obedience in a fun atmosphere. She continues to amaze us with her zest for life and happy attitude. My daughter with autism describes her as her best friend. She is an integral member of our family; the most remarkable dog and friend ever.