I Love it When a Plan Comes Together

I also loved it when the George Peppard character on "A Team" would say that. Actually, he still says it, in reruns.

This morning I had a dog food delivery after staying up writing all night. I put Gabriel and Spirit in the bedroom to rest and be out of the way for when the delivery man arrived. The dog food goes into the freezer. This time I opened the garage door (I love the automatic opener; so kind to my arthritis) and had it ready for him to back the truck up to the doorway in the rain.

I had Believer with me, leash hooked to my chain belt. Love that belt. I like the look, plus it's good for my diet and my dog handling. Leaves me one hand to work with while the other handles the cane.

I was reading a book, and tucked it under my arm when he drove up. She started to stare, which I did not want to see transition into excited barking. I had Iams MiniChunks in my pocket in a plastic spice jar. I whipped them out, said her name and stepped backward, getting her eyes with the treat. I kept the treats and movements and eyes going while he got the dolly loaded and started into the kitchen where he fills the freezer.

I took her inside, reducing frequency of treats and eventually stopping them. He spoke to her after awhile, and before he left, invited her to greet and to sniff the dolly, at which point I told her "Go Say Hi," and she did, calmly.

This is exactly what I want her to do, and it's so empowering to know I can shape it. In her, and in future dogs. Thank you to Linda Newsome for teaching me this! Thank you to crazy Spirit for motivating me to learn it or else! Thank you, Gabriel for showing me how easy it is with a stable dog--you did it for just a tennis ball, you dollbaby boy!

And to Believer: wow, girl. Thanks to her obviously talented breeder Susan Quesnel in Canada and to my brilliant breeder who clearly knows how to pick 'em--Believer has what it takes. Thanks to what Linda and a lot of others taught me, including much inspiration straight from God--she knows how to use it! When a dog makes that leap beyond anything you have taught her, and somehow just makes the right things happen, that is awesome. Believer does it every day. I am striving to learn all I can from her--and from Gabriel, who still has much to teach me. And from Spirit, though I don't always enjoy the lessons from her!