Before the Twist arrived, I knew I wanted to have an extendable lead for him since there is no fenced in yard here. My friend Annemarie and I had plans for a coffee, so we headed in to La Pause in Cajarc, with a side trip to the Gamm Vert for puppy essentials. We talked of Twister's arrival on Friday. Annemarie promised that she and Gerard would be down to see him.
The Sunday that they came, they were both amazing with him. We decided that they'd scoop Twist and I up and we'd go meet their dog "Lou" and continue this training the next day. Honestly, training for Twister and ME...training the trainer too!
It was incredible for me to watch Gerard and Annemarie work with the TWIST and to see how the TWIST and LOU established their relationship. Both male, I was a little concerned, but they were pals in no time.
I could easily see mistakes that I was making. Patience has been hard fought for me most of my life, but it's most important when working with these puppies. I tend to want to scream NO, but I'm learning to stop, look, wait, and then go on.
We decided to follow-up yesterday too, so we had two days in a row.
Amazingly, everything seems to have taken even more with the TWIST.
It was hot and we'd walked further yesterday than the day before. LOU had had a bit of a run on his own and seemed to need shade and TWIST followed suit. Everyone got a break. I'm not complaining...my flat, below sea level New Orleans lungs were getting a work out all their own.
Back at their home, TWIST got his first real water exposure and by the end of the visit he was swimming for the very first time!
Annemarie, Gerard, and I sat at the table with our waters and watched the "boys" run, play, jump, and have great fun. I knew we'd arrived when the two of them sat together at the far edge of the pool and just watched and listened to the next door renters in their pool!
What wonderful days! What great friends! We might be able to squeeze one more day in before TWIST's weekend pick-up.
But as you can see...we are on the road to Zen!
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