My Dog is a Failure

I took my Golden Charlie to a therapy dog training session on Sunday. In my area of the country, therapy dogs might lay quietly while students read to them, or make visiting to nursing homes or hospitals. Charlie is friendly and handsome. He is also only 2 1/2 years old, which is still a very hyper young age in dog years.

The first hour of the session was the assessment, to see if the dog would pass; the second hour was a class on how to improve the areas on which the dog failed.

Charlie did not pass the assessment. He was a super boy on all but two things: he would not heel well, and he jumped up.

I am the one who walks Charlie, so I know he doesn't heel. He pulls, drags, tugs, yanks, and hauls, but he doesn't heel. And this is with a pinch collar on! FAIL ONE.

In several different instances, Charlie jumped. He jumped on a man in a wheelchair, on a man who came over to pat him, and on a group of people who surrounded him. To be fair, in the first two instances the person was patting his lap/chest and egging Charlie on. That is just too tempting to a Golden, but he must learn not to jump. In the last instance, myself and four others encircled Charlie to see if he freaked. He didn't; he just jumped up to say hi. FAIL TWO.

So, I know what I need to practice with him. I am proud of how well Charlie worked and how hard he focused. I hope someday he and I can contribute to the wonderful group that is Therapy Dogs of Vermont.

Maine

I am headed to Maine this weekend to visit my mom's dad. He is turning 80 in March, and is the only grandfather I've ever know. I love him. But he doesn't talk.

I don't mean not at ALL...I just mean he is very taciturn and is usually happy to sit back and observe. I know how much my visiting means to him, so I go, and he is a sweet, kind man. But it is odd to travel 4 hours one way over a weekend to hang out with a guy who will probably speak less than 4 sentences.

Grandpa has always been this way, and I think I could learn a thing or two from him. Still, it's in my nature to be chatty and his to be quiet, so I think sometimes we both feel at a loss. I know that his lack of need or desire to speak is what made him able to be married to my grandmother all those year, that's for sure. Maybe there would be more peace in my household if I kept my mouth shut once in awhile.

Here's to a weekend that will prove this phrase: do not speak unless you can improve the silence.