Tomkin and I started dog-training classes at PetSmart with Scout and Chloe last Thursday. Tomkin loves working with the dogs and has already modified some of their bad behaviors (like Scout barking aggressively at other dogs). Scout and Chloe love working with Tomkin because he gives them lots of treats. Friday night we went to a neighborhood chili party. Apparently it's an annual tradition, and it's always held outdoors. It was fun to meet more of my new neighbors!
Next, Tomkin and I headed to Becca and Omar's house. We got to see Max, Spencer, and Calvin before they all went off to bed. Then we grown-ups drank gin & tonics, talked, and relaxed in the hot tub. Heavenly! 
On Saturday afternoon, Tomkin and I walked the dogs to Grand Ave. and ran some errands. Scout and Chloe shopped with us at Frattallone's Ace Hardware (the people there are so friendly!) and then carried back the items we bought. Such good workers! (They're earning those treats!) Tomkin recently performed a wedding for his friends Cassidy and Angie. As a thank-you, they gave us a gift certificate to La Grolla, so we enjoyed that on Saturday night. It was fun to dress up and go somewhere swanky--especially since it was free! 
On Sunday we went back to the dog park, and that night we had one of the best dinners ever--pizza with chocolate mousse for dessert. Tomkin and I agree that we should use special things all the time (rather than just on holidays or special occasions) and create our own traditions, so we've been using a tablecloth crocheted by my great-great grandmother and eating off the china that used to belong to my great-grandparents. We drink out of crystal glasses that were a gift from friends who went to Prague, and we always have fresh flowers on the table. And we enjoy dessert out in the screened-in porch, even as the temperature starts to dip. In fact, yesterday we saw our first flurries of the season. (Just minor, though--no actual snowfall yet.)
3 comments:
Grand Avenue was always one of my favorite places in St. Paul. There are a couple of really good Greek restaurants there for you to try too!
Yes, it's an eye-opener just how quickly some dog behavior can be modified. Glad that Scout and Chloe are responding. Our latest success story is with a cat, but the principle applies ... for two years we'd put up with him scratching on our back door each breakfast time as his way of signaling that he wanted to come inside. Then we insisted he make a 'meow' instead. And guess what? In only FOUR days he was using the new vocal signal! If only we'd thought of this earlier. I think I have a similar DOG story in my dog training book that's free from my site. (www.dogtraining-books.info) You'd be welcome to pick up a copy if you thought it might help S and C.
All the best,Len
It sounds like you're having a great time. (And looks like it, too; you're glowing!)
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