The "Go Blanket"

Emme has a “go blanket” that we use when she travels in the car. It is red fleece and even has an embroidery design on the corner. Donnie and Tonya’s baby was born about the time we were to pick up Emme and I wanted to send an embroidered blanket to him when he was born. I sewed out the baby design on the red fleece blanket as a test and then to use for Emme. The design is a little brown bear holding a ribbon that says “Just Arrived.” I don’t know why she needs a blanket to cuddle up in and stay warm for the car. When we go outside to hurry up, I put her down on the cold, wet ground and she gets along just fine. But she has the red blanket and we take it with her when we go for a ride. She loves the red blanket. We store it folded over her crate and periodically she pulls it down and wrestles with it. It must smell like us, coffee to go, Angies, Grandma (who wraps up in it when we return from Angies if it is cold). Anyway it is a favorite object.

Emme went back to puppy school last night. We worked on the beginning of walking on a loose leash. We were to walk two steps with the puppy on our left side and then stand still. When the puppy looked up at our face, we were to give a treat. Emme was great at it; however, she never looked away from my face because I had smelly chicken hot dogs in my hand. We also practiced never letting the puppy pull on the leash. If she pulled, we were to remain stationary and not move until the puppy let the leash go slack. Then she got a treat.

Emme was doing quite well in class: practicing the activity, sitting or laying on the floor then the trainer brought in a big brown dog to demonstrate not allowing the dog to pull on the leash. Emme went ballistic. She barked and was so excited. I think she thought it was a “Rudy dog” who would play with her. All the other dogs just sat there, but not Emme. She certainly got the bark award for the night. We had to keep saying Emme, “no, leave it” to quiet her down. Oh well, she can’t be the star all the time.