Agility and Socializing

Shhh… don't tell Gracie but she thinks ice cubes are a treat – yippee, a no calorie treat!

This was a big weekend for Gracie. It was all about her! Saturday evening she tried her first "pre-agility" class. This class is really going to test her and we may be in over our heads. But I keep reading about how good it is for a dog's confidence and what a bonding activity it is – so we will keep trying. She never ceases to amaze us, so maybe she will be running around the arena after 5 weeks. Right now, she just cautiously steps out into the arena and suspiciously looks about. She doesn't seem to have much interest in trying to copy the show off dogs in the class.

Sunday was our first "Meet Up" activity. There were about 13 people and dogs that got together in the park for a cookout and short training session. Such nice people and dogs! Some dogs were "mutts" and some were not. We belong to this Meet Up group, http://www.meetup.com/Mile-High-Mutts/. Gracie is learning that the world has more nice people in it than she met in her first 7 years of life. These people are kind and stroke her and praise her.

 Apple - Cattle Dog / Lab Mix

  Big dogs get a lesson

 Training for the small dogs - why are they all looking away from the trainer?

 Gracie and her new friend Chloe (Sheltie mix)