The alarm went off at 7:30 and we got up to do pet stuff and leave for Hondo. It was cold and I had to scrape ice off the windshield before we could leave.
The trip itself was uneventful. There was little traffic that early on a Saturday and we made really good time. Once I got to I35 my speed usually varied from 75 to 80. By the time we got to Castro we were an hour ahead of schedule. We stopped at a bakery there for breakfast. We had ham and cheese croissants and donuts.
When we got to Hondo we went by the BBQ place. It wasn't open yet. We went back to the HEB (and its bathrooms) and spent over half an hour sitting in the parking lot. Then we went to the trainer. We arrived exactly at 11.
The lady was training another dog, so we watched. Ellen talked to her while I talked to her husband. Eventually she got out Abby. Abby looks really good. I'm not sure if she got bigger or not.
We began a combination demonstration/train the humans session. Abby now heels really well for both of us. The trainer taught us the cues needed - step forward with the left foot to start and say whoa and stop on the right foot. Abby is also good at stay (look directly at her, show your palm, and say stay). Finally she is good at coming as long as she is on the rope (crouch down a little, slap your thigh, and say stay). This is an incredible amount of progress.
We put Abby away before she got tired/bored. Then we went into the house to look at the 4 week old cocker spaniel puppies. Of course they were cute. We finished up discussing the next steps. The trainer said that they would work on come from longer distances. All the training will be done with a collar. We'll come back in 2 weeks for another demonstration/train the humans session. That will be followed by another week of training and then a last demonstration/train the humans session.
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