OMG puppy training class!

In an hour we will be in our first puppy class! Unbelievably Simona et al are bringing Luna to the same class! I'm working at keeping my mindset positive. This is going to fun. This is a process-enjoy the ride :) I am not a bad person if Coda has socializing issues...

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WOW I am so surprised and delighted with how Coda and I did at our puppy class. Although there was barking at people before we got to the class, once we made it to the class Coda did really well! Antonella was really great and was really patient and gentle introducing shelf to Coda and once he had made friends with her he was more confident and didn't really have any further problems... He held back sometimes, a little nervous, but he was interested in all of the other dogs-a red lab, 2 springer spaniels, a havanese and Simona's Australian shepherd. Although he didn't manage to do the exercises (watch me, sit, down), the socializing was wonderful and by the end of the class he was off leash letting children pet him and going up to other dogs and being interested.

This was the first time that I really felt that Coda is the dog I was hoping for. Able to socialize and interact comfortably. I can see dog parks and and play dates and vacations in our future! It's very exciting...

Of course it wouldn't have been a trip to Petsmart without buying stuff... A harness, a seatbelt attachment, a name tag, scrubbing brushes for the kongs, a new collar (maybe a little big), a variety of treats and bones, an interactive toy for kibble feeding, a loofah dog toy. Skip said it was predictable!

What a cutie!

Coda is definitely growing... But he still looks just like a teddy bear. He sometimes gets so excited in the garden that he runs around in circles at high speed! His most favored outdoor activities are jumping into a bush, the hiding spot for the ever-present cats, and collecting sticks! He is a real character :)

Quite a day!

Sunday was our first trip to a pet store with Coda!

Skip agreed to come with me, which meant that Coda got to ride on my lap in the car, which he likes much better than being in the kennel. He was very aware of all that we were driving past and was most curious about the light rail train which we had to stop for in Timonium.
When we got inside Petsmart we did an initial swing through the fish and feline departments to allow Coda to get settled and then we hit the dog section. We picked out a water bottle for him to drink from while in his pen, went past the training area for a brochure, looked at nail clippers, which Coda was very grateful that Skip wouldn't let me buy, ran through the checkout and we were outside again. No barking or growling :)
We took a walk to the other end of the strip mall so Skip could pop into the grocery store. Along the way Skip and I got into a "discussion" and while I was focusing on talking I noticed a pulling on the leash but keep walking until it came to an abrupt stop. I turned to find Coda squatting on the pavement trailing 8 poops as I had pulled him as he tried to go to the toilet.... my attempts to clean it up only resulted in a long trail of poop spread along the concrete... Not pretty!
So Coda and I sat outside on a bench while Skip went into the store. We were sat at some distance and he was very curious at all the sights and sounds of the cars and people and trolleys but despite my best efforts I wasn't able to get him to turn around for a photo...
It was all quite an experience and Coda came home and slept soundly for a couple of hours!