After breakfast we had a lecture on praise and corrections and dog fears – the instructors were doing their best to distract us while our new pups were being bathed and prepped for their new life. Then Hugger was brought to me in our room.

Our first lesson was to heel down to the dining room to practice putting our dogs under the table – it was amusing as the 4 students at my table tried to place their new pups next to our seats, laying down with heads out. One would swivel to nose a neighbor, then the next would slither out to meet a passerby. But eventually all the dogs were settled. It was great practice before lunch, when staff came in with their guide dogs, creating a few extra distractions. Eating while keeping an eye on an excited pup in a room full of dogs is not as difficult as watching a toddler, but there were quite a few interruptions.

By dinner, the dogs were amazingly quiet. Maybe partly because they got their energy out during our first walks … After lunch, we put on harnesses and had our first outing. Hugger and I were last to get out in our group, and we were both getting anxious as we waited. But the trip went perfectly! We even passed a couple dogs on a leash without much distraction. It was amazing to fly down the street again. One of the new instructors tailing us commented that she wished she had a golf cart to help keep up. (I know my husband is remembering the days of jogging to stay with me and Whit, hi Steve, better start getting ready to jog again)