Promise Now

Promise has grown into the Princess of the Yard, co-shared with her bud, Sherpa, the Mastiff.  As Promise takes over the management and training of good dog manners, Sherpa sleeps more. Only with Promise's permission, can other dogs approach her Sherpa.  Too funny. Meanwhile, Margot and Mike have worked with her to the point that she has achieved her AKC Companion Dog Excellent title and she is on her way to achieving her Utility Dog title.

Promise the service dog (in training)

After Promise's severe stage fright at Thursday night class we decided it was time to get her out in the world and over this nonsense.  Today we went down the street to get her used to working in strange places and in front of new people.  Here's a few photos of our adventure.

Hopped right into the ambulance without even thinking about it!
The paramedics were very impressed.

Sit Stays

Out of sight stay

Not so out of sight stay

Mike

Promise looking for the breed ring

Sherpa dog in training

Anyone who has seen Promise and Sherpa together knows there is something special between the two of them. After training she runs to Sherpa to celebrate. When she is learning something new she looks over to Sherpa to make sure she's doing it right (and I've had to physically restrain Sherpa from showing her HOW to do it right when Promise is having problems). She's starting to watch the yard with Sherpa instead of always being part of the pack that is playing. Today she has taken another step toward her goal of mimicking all things Sherpa...  The dog/blanket burrito.

Sherpa-burrito

Promise-burrito

Her form needs some work but she's still young so give it time.

Mike

Promise's progress on the retrieve

Here's a quick video we took this week of Promise retrieving. Since she finished her first season she really has changed her attitude about training!

Mike

Promise and Sherpa at the train station

Promise, Sherpa, and I went down to get some pictures at the train station in Laurel today.  We even got lucky enough to have a train go by while we were there (you can see how brave they both are...). 

  

Mike

Sherpa shows Promise how to handle the hose properly