Celebrate, no matter how small the step!

Yesterday Finn and I did one of our park visits. It was a horrible day, a bit rainy and very blustery. There were people around the park, but all some distance away - apart from the workmen by the cricket pavilion who required a good staring at, as did the noisy kids on bikes but they were on the other side of the park. He was a little jumpy, as he often is when it's windy, but settled after just a minute or two, and did some beautiful loose lead walking, looking up at me and thoroughly engaged, then heading off to the end of the lead for a good sniff around when released to do so. Direction changes with a cheery 'Let's go!' resulted in a dog bouncing along beside me and looking for his reward. Lovely (if soggy) coaching session.

Short and Sweet Spells Success!

Finn's park adventures with me have not happened for a few weeks now - even after the kids went back to school, the park we were going to in the next town was still busy the last few times I tried to go. I see no point in pushing things if there are more people there than I'm happy with and I definitely will not attempt it if I am unable to park somewhere I can get back to the car and Finn inside quickly if I want to beat a hasty retreat. Today was the first time I tried going there in a while that was quiet enough to try it.

What a Chronic Condition Has Taught Me About Anxious Dogs

I talk a lot on this blog about Finn and my much missed old boy Red - they are the reason the blog started, after all - but I rarely talk much about me. The dogs are far more interesting and much more photogenic. 😂 For a change today I am going to talk a little about me in relation to something dog related, so it's still relevant!