Professional handlers teach an old dog some new tricks
This last week has been an up and down week. I guess you could say it was a roller-coaster week.
It started off last Wednesday at a local bank. I was meeting with my friend and fellow Pawtucket Backpacker officer, Candy, at the bank. I got out of the car and walked over to the walkway and stepped up on the curb. I had my cane but it was on the side of me instead of in front of me. I turned slightly to look at Candy and lost my balance. I then proceeded to nose drive onto the driveway. It was not a pretty fall. I hit chest first, then chin, then nose. Candy and the nice gentlemen came running over and helped me get up.
To my surprise my legs were fine; it appears my chest and face got the worse of it. I was sure my nose was broken. I went inside the bank, finished our business and then went to Armistice Blvd Urgent Care facility right next door. They were great. They took me right in. After checking me for a concussion they took x-rays of my nose and right thumb which had begun to hurt. I am happy to advise nothing was broken, I don’t understand how that could be, but I was thrilled to hear it. They sent me on my way with a splint and instructions on icing my nose. I have been sore for the last week but every day it gets better.
I have always been a big fan of live theater. Each year when ABC 6 runs a contest for tickets to see the latest musical or play at PPAC I enter every morning by answering the contest question. Over the years I have been very lucky and have won tickets to several shows. Last week my luck held out and I won two tickets to see the musical “Company” at PPAC.
My friend Linda and I arrived early so we could get a good parking space. We enjoyed our soft pretzels while we waited for the show to start.
The musical was about a 35-year-old woman who is celebrating her 35th birthday, with her friends who are concerned that she is not married. The story is presented in a series of sketches about what being married is like. The episodes are quite funny, and people could relate to what was happening. The music was outstanding and all the performers had amazing voices.
Monday was Fallon Memorial Elementary school week three of their sixweek dog program. This week Wendy was joined by English Bull dogs Venus, Hope, Betty Boop, and Chumlie, their owner school communicator Candy Chamberlain and professional dog handler Ed Kazotek.
The lesson started off with Ed demonstrating the proper way to walk a dog in a show ring. There were two patterns that a judge might ask for, an L shape and a triangle. Once he showed the students a few times it was time for the fun part of the class, each student got to walk the dogs themselves. Three of the bull dogs had been in show rings during their younger years so, even though they are strong dogs, the youngest of our student Robert was able to walk them. The kids, ages 6 to 9, all did a good job and were super happy to be working with the dogs.
Next was a short lesson on how to train a dog to sit. On the way to class I had stopped to pick up some Wendy’s chicken nuggets for a treat. The kids got a big kick out of the fact the Wendy was eating Wendy’s. When we started the lesson, Wendy was on point and never missed sitting on command and of course never missed her bite of chicken. The kids then took some chicken and tried to teach the bull dogs to sit. Venus did not care what you had she was not going to sit, Hope & Betty Boop did eventually sit. Chumlie who was with Candy sat every time he heard someone calling it out.
Next week we will be working on grooming.
Have a great week and if you see us around town be sure to say Hi!