Lets Go for a Ride
Ace Hardware and The Post Office
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| Bailey at Ace Hardware |
Step One: Vest & Gentle Leader
Step Two: Potty Break.. No embarassing mishaps needed here, Thank you!
before going into Ace Hardware...
She was so excited about the smell of the new grass she began rolling all over and almost pulled me down with her... AGHHH!
Step Three: Shopping
Once she figured out where we were headed she was right on task... Into the store we went.
Umm. By the way, a hardware store is
much louder than Petco...
(Her only other in-store adventure place
because she did not have a vest until now).
She naturally stayed next to the edge and tight against the isle. If I stopped - She stopped. And by the second isle she wanted nothing to do with smelling anything and only wanted to focus on where I was headed.
Scott bought the items we needed and
Bailey and I met him at the door...
Short - Sweet- Task Complete!
Yea Success!!! Not really a celebration of success for Bailey but more so a feeling of gratitude that I was not hounded for bringing a puppy into the store.
I am not sure what I expected really, but there are places it is socially acceptable for dogs to go and many places they are not.
I have heard and read many stories about challenges with service dogs and store personal so I have to admit I was nervous. I did not want to have to explain why she was with us. I was hoping and praying that she would behave herself... I mean she is a puppy and her real training is just now starting.
Other service dogs are started earlier in most situations but our story is different.
Bailey found us before we found a trainer.
We did not do a lot of the social training with her as a baby that she would have received in a
Puppy Raisers Home...
So for Bailey and Me this simple trip
was a great Success!
Both Bailey and I felt pleased as we got in the car. Scott reminded me that today is a "Good Day" for her and that I need to remember there will be "not-so-good-days" as well.
I had only planned on taking her to Ace but because she did so well when we arrived at the Post Office, I offered to go in and get Scott's mail.
Bailey was more than ready and excited to accommodate.
She pranced her self right in through the door and
followed me to get the mail as if she had
done it a thousand times.
"Here Kitty Kitty".... "Ruff"... "Ruff"!
Said the Man at the P.O. Box behind us, as he squatted down to get his mail from his box...
Seriously?! Great... Here She goes! I figured she would run right up to him and try to kiss him to high heaven-
"What did Baily do?" you ask. She took two steps towards him, turned around to look at me and came back and sat down!
What a good girl!
I kindly thanked the man for being a good training distraction. He smiled and said "Anytime..."
I was a little taken back that a grown man would tease so much...
What was he like as a school boy? I bet someone has some good stories on him!
Scott and I had a good laugh when Bailey and I got back to the car. We were both very proud of our service dog in the making.
**As a side note - Bailey will wear the "In Training" Vest for a year.
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