Retail therapy at Skechers

Tonight's excursion was to the Sketchers store for a little exploration.  Raisers were asked to try on shoes in order to practice having their puppies lie calmly and wait.  Shoppers and employees loved having us!

Skylar

Hudson

Franny

Dash

Skylar, bored   ;-)

Beacon

A great group of people, enjoying the air conditioning and camaraderie.

Happy bird dog!

That's a very big bird, Franny!  Might want to leave him alone. 

(For non-local readers, this exquisite flamingo sculpture has been erected at Tampa International Airport.  We're pretty fond of it!)

That face!

Franny's new family just might be smitten.

(Lynda's travels meant that she was unable to complete the entire fourteen months of raising Franny.  A "finish" family is a second family to raise a dog in just this kind of situation.  Mike and Bryn will have Franny until the completion of her puppy training in October.)

Miss Manners

At this morning's outing, Carrie set up stations for the puppies to practice their basic skills while their handlers did simulated household chores.  The goal was simply for them to wait calmly so the tasks could be completed.  These skills, along with many others, fall under the category we call "housemanners," and they are critical for the pups to develop.  Everyone did exceptionally well!

Franny, while Bryn simulated food preparation.

Beacon, as Ann folded laundry.  Note the dropped sock that he ignored beautifully.

Skylar shows her composure at the food prep.

And she couldn't have cared less about the vacuum (not running).

Having recently completed Puppy Kindergarten, Beacon receives his vest.  Job well done.

What a perfect first photo of a working team!