March 30, 2003
Pausing on the trail at High Park
10:00 p.m.
Don't let the photo fool you - that was from the other day, when we were at High Park. The weather has taken a turn for the worse - cold temperatures and cloudy days and occasional flurries. Even when it's sunny it's no picnic. Cold sidewalks make down-stays particularly challenging. Talk about a distraction! (how would you like to press *your* belly against some cold pavement?)
So today we worked on loose-leash walking and then some sit-stays. Dusty did SO well on the sit stays! She was amazing! I was working on this in the park. It's really neat to put her in a sit-stay, walk all the way down the path - maybe 30 metres or so - and then call her back. She takes off like a racehorse, ears flapping, paws barely touch the ground. Then she scrambles to a stop, sits and waits expectantly for her treat. Good dog!
We've also been working on 'downs' a lot inside. To be honest, Dusty's down-stay is not that good. She has a tendency to get up into a sit after my back is turned. I think doing some downstays in the apartment will be our project for tomorrow.
It's way better than going outside. Minus 8 windchill, yikes!