Finished my first week of training! Some observations

Wow, what a busy and wonderful week it's been since I got here to New York! It was complete with meeting lots of people I hope to keep in contact with and of course, the best of all, meeting my new four-legged buddy, Burke. Every day he and I become more and more of a great team where now he looks to me for direction instead of the trainers. He's so adorable - those eyes when he hands me a toy to throw. . . .melt! :)

Apparently this little boy has a thing for tennis balls and the cuz. Throw that for him, and he's your friend for life. Burke will fetch tennis balls long after you are exhausted from throwing - I don't think there's a limit.

I'm thinking Master Burke may have had a girlfriend in the kennel where he stayed before he came to me - Rhythm is the ONLY dog he will get up out of a down/stay to say hello. No other dog, male or female, will he do that. It's so sweet, but at the same time sad, since after the 23rd when Rhythm and her mom go home, we won't see them again most likely. He'll have to find himself another girlfriend in Austin, I suppose. ;)

I'm hoping to find out more about his background, who raised this sweet dog. Hopefully the puppy raisers will be willing to keep in touch with me, because I would love to keep them up to date as to how their sweet boy is doing. :)

Lastly, I can NOT wait to get Burke home and start working with him in our neighborhood, etc. There's nothing like being in a familiar environment to relieve stress. I'm in HIS home area, but I'd like to be in MY home area for a change. We're doing really well though, in a few short days we'll be on our way back to the Lone Star State and we'll be settling in just fine. I can't wait to show him off to my friends and family - that will be so much fun!

Just a quick update for you

I got to NY yesterday and have been on the go ever since!!! We immediately had a lecture on some of the equipment we would be using (harness, training collar, leash) and were handed our new leashes. Tomorrow we'll be getting our dog in the afternoon sometime - I'm so excited!! This morning I went on a walk with a trainer holding the harness in their hand so that they can gauge my pace, tension, the amount of correction I will apply Plus it was essentially a '20 questions' type thing - they want to know all about the city I live in, where I will be travelling, what I will be doing with the dog.

There is so much information given to me, I feel like I'm on information overload! I know it will become second nature to me, but for the moment, it is almost overwhelming. Ah well - I REALLY enjoy it here, and love the people I'm working with, and the other students as well. So. . .I am going to be running along now to our next activity - I believe another lecture, with yet more info on dog care. :) Until next time. . . .