I’m not big on just driving around and looking at the scenery. Funny, as the scenery around here is pretty spectacular as far as I’m concerned. But for whatever reason, to just take a drive loses its appeal in about 15 minutes and I just want to go home.

But today, I took Bear and headed out for a Sunday drive. Bear gets very excited over ANY animal…cows, horses, other dogs, deer, squirrels – you name it, if it has 4 legs, he wants it. Even in the car when it is cows or horses in a pasture some distance away. I don’t know if he didn’t get out much or it is just everything new and changed or what, but my hope is that if I don’t react and he gets used to seeing this stuff, he’ll NOT react. And I hope this happens while I still have some hearing left…a beardog barking up a storm in a Jeep Wrangler…loud!

So, off we went.

Oh, I did take another tool to try…the electronic collar. I have one that has a paging feature. “Page” is vibration only. I can turn off the “shock” part. I had no intention of using any shock, but thought I’d see if a bit of vibration was distracting enough that he’d quiet and hear me. He did. So sometimes I used the page, sometimes just a firm “Leave it” and by the end of the drive, it was voice only and sometimes even that was not needed. I don’t think one drive is going to do it, but every bit of training and success builds – his confidence in himself and in me as the leader. We had a good time. I talked about the cows and horses and the pretty day. And for the first time, Bear kissed me in the car – in the past, whatever has been out the window has been too exciting. Today, there was a bit of “Isn’t this fun?” between us.

And it WAS a beautiful day for a drive. It has finally turned serious green and it is that vibrant Spring green that speaks of new growth.

A bit hazy again as a new front swirls up from the southeast, but some sun and some blue sky and the mountains have new snow from this latest cold storm.

We arrived home to see Bob on the front porch.

“Did you happen to lose that dog while you were gone?”

“Yea, I thought not.”

***Actually, we had a small breakthrough this morning. Bob’s and Bear’s “visits” have been mostly calm lately. This morning, Bob was on the bathroom counter…higher than Bear…so I took Bear in and it stayed calm and they seemed interested. Bear sniffed Bob’s tail, Bob turned but seemed curious…I gave Bear enough room to touch noses – they did! Bear then backed up, so I turned him and left on a high note. It is only 2 weeks since Bear has been part of the family. I think we are all doing very well :)!