Day 31 (10/11/17): bath, training, Home Depot

Terra got a bath. She smells so much better now.

SO SAD

WHY DID U DO THIS TO ME

The fur on her back was sticking up afterwards.

SAD DOG

She now consistently goes to the mat and stands and looks at me. I'm jackpotting for sits on it. She also plants herself into an awesome stand across my body, facing right (as for conformation). I've started adding my movement to the picture. Working on getting her to place her chin in my palm rather than me putting my palm under her chin. In nose work, she consistently puts her nose by the tin when I'm holding it at head height (and I have treats in the other hand at head height). Now we're working on lowering the tin (and treats) to the floor.

We went by the vet's for another weight: 56.5 lbs.

After that we headed to Home Depot. My favorite way to introduce a dog to stores is to visit a plant nursery, or go into the nursery area of Home Depot/Lowe's/OSH. They tend to be more open (plants on tables rather than aisles that completely block your view) and look like a blend of outdoor (more familiar) and indoor spaces. Terra immediately walked into the nursery, letting her nose lead the way. I had to pull her away from a few plants she wanted to chew on. We headed into the store proper after a few minutes.

I stopped in a little open area just to the side of the door. Terra was overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds and smells and started circling around me, trying to take everything in. I waited until she stopped, and because standing is tiring, she sat and then laid down. I squatted down and pet her for a while, letting her continue to process.

When I felt like she was ready to walk around, we headed through the aisles. For the most part she was leading the way into new parts of the store. Sometimes I guided her down specific areas (mostly to avoid people or animated Halloween and Christmas decorations). Sometimes people scared her and she wanted to retreat, but she doesn't always choose the best direction to go, so I have to use the leash to interrupt her and encourage her to turn in a different direction. Sometimes people made her only slightly anxious, and by putting a hand on her shoulder, I was able to get her to just pause and wait for them to go by. So there was some negative reinforcement for both walking with me, and for standing at my side. There were also times that she didn't react to people, and a few times that she wanted to approach - even, one time, a man!

We stayed in the store too long. After 35 minutes she sat down and gave a couple of yawns. We left as soon as she was ready to walk again. I'd give this trip a B-; there was still a lot more good than bad.