You can't keep a good pup down

As I haven't yet replaced the extendible lead that is half torn through, we've been walking with a six-foot lead. With the long lead, Willow could run and leap through the tall grass that lines part of the path. She is a very exuberant young lass and loves to play.

Even so, I thought that was finished for now until I replaced the long lead but Willow proved me wrong. She can leap three times into the grass, pivot and take three leaps out again. That was quite enough to delight her so she kept it up for that whole section of our walk, only pausing to have the occasional go at my shoelaces. I guess Cyndi Lauper was right, girls just wanna have fun.

Speaking of fun, Willow entertained a young girl heading to the playground with her grandparents. Willow sat, danced, downed, gave five and rolled over much to the delight of the little one.

 

We enjoy our training sessions. Once upon a long time ago I used to show dogs and compete in conformation and obedience. I got tired of it, but never tired of training my dogs. Willow will, I'm sure, end up with a large repertoire of learned commands. as long as she enjoys learning, we'll just keep on doing it. When she's a bit older I'll start doing tracking and other nose work. The great thing about teaching tracking is the reversal of roles where your dog takes the lead and you trust in them to lead you right. I loved how that altered the usual dynamic that makes for a deeper relationship. I find it somewhat more challenging to teach a small dog like a Sheltie as all my guys have been large. I've tripped over Willow more than once.