Dog Days of Summer

Zinfandel finally understands why it's called the dog days of summer. She sure has been having fun. With gma and gpa in town. It's been boating, fireworks, more boating and lots of fun!

Minneapolis Aquatennial fireworks - the 4th largest display in the country. 

Fireworks don't bother her, she LOVED watching them for 20 min!

Riding the waves of the mighty Mississippi.

Lake Fun

KC Visit

Zinfandel and Kristi took Lee's mom back to KC on Friday. We then headed over to Brian's on Saturday. Zinfandel and Chardonnay played and played and played. We then went to a PR/Graduate play and training session. Zinfandel did well with all the dogs of various ages and sizes and attitudes. She rocked on the distraction training, (remote controlled car moving around her while she was in a sit/stay or down/stay, with and without Kristi nearby, dogs weaving in and out and different handlers). Needs a bit of work on strange things touching her back. (We used baby toys during the training.) More playing with her sister and then headed back to MN on Sunday.

Sisters riding in the car.

She can cuddle!

Zinfandel is not a cuddly dog. She is fine with a pet or two, but no cuddling, hugging, or goo-going over her! But the other day she curled up in Kristi's lap for a few minutes. It was so sweet.

Learning to work in the MN heat!

Down/stay in the shade while Kristi loads groceries.

Working the streets of downtown Minneapolis. 

Down/under at a lakeside restaurant.

Bedtime after a long day's work.

What About My Training?

We are happy to announce we are under contract for a permanent home. It's been a busy week of sanding, painting, building, staining, yard work, etc., in effort to get our current MN home market ready. Zinfandel has gotten more training and exercise than in the past few weeks, but still not what she used to get. We are all so ready to be moved into our new home and settled. Of course that's months off, yet. But at least some training is coming back into the schedule. Yesterday, Kristi was so proud of Zinfandel. She did so well at three busy stores. Walking behind the cart, watching Kristi for cues and not trying to get attention or rub her gentle leader off. At the last stop, the grocery store, they do not bag your groceries, it's DIY. Also, they have two sets of people's groceries going down the one cashier lane, so it gets pretty crowded. Usually we go during the week and they don't have the cashier lanes on either side open, so there is room for two people, their groceries, their carts and a very tucked in dog. Not on Saturday!!! It was wall to wall people and carts. So, I pushed the cart across the way up against a wall and told Zinfandel to sit/stay and watch her tail (tuck it in to her body). I walked back across the aisle and bagged all of our groceries, carried one bag at a time back to the cart and repeated. Zinfandel didn't budge once and kept her tail tucked in!!!! I was so proud of her! The cashier told me it looked like she was in time out, but who cares she was doing so well ignoring everyone walking by her. As we left the manager told me she was so amazed. Of course we all know this should be no big deal for a working dog. But it still made me happy for Zinfandel and her future! Of course, no camera. I can barely keep up with all the projects, managing daily life and Zinfandel, let alone remember a camera. But I wanted to share with you!
Have a great week!

Zinfandel at 8 weeks