This is just a beefed out list of four things about Novel. Literally.

I just kinda have a lot of random things to say. I'll try to squeeze in a few pictures, but I just realized that I don't really have many recent ones of him. Anyway, here goes:

#1. I love Novel a lot, but he loves me more. Seriously, this dog has attachment issues. I am pretty sure that he thinks his goal in life is to be as close to me as possible at all times. If I get up to walk two steps across the room, so does he. If I leave him in a room - even a room with other people in it - for any amount of time, he plasters himself against the door until I return (I know because the door is always warm when I come back) If I am driving with him in the car, he rides leaned up against the front seat with his head resting over my shoulder. If something of mine happens to be on the floor...a pillow, a shirt, a sock...he is laying on it. I am constantly getting comments when we are out in public like "wow he sure loves you...look at how he just stares at you constantly!" And he does. I just hope he will be able to adjust when I leave him at CCI for advanced training.
  ....now, just as a note, Novel does spend plenty of time away from me, and does well with it. I am gone nearly all day Monday through Wednesday, and Novel stays at home. I am told that he does not whine or cry or panic, but waits quietly for me to return. It is when I return that he starts to get restless if he can't see me immediately. 

#2. Novel has so much trouble being still and quiet. He really just has so much trouble. He is marvelous when we are working actively. His focus and joy in his work are unmatched...but when he is asked to do a down for any length of time, he transforms from a responsible, seemingly mature young man to an unruly little boy who can't sit still in church. He cries and fidgets and moans and groans and plays with his leash and tries to rub his gentle leader off. So we've been working on that a lot. And he gets gobs of kibbles for being good. Novel adores kibbles. Almost as much as he adores me...almost ;)

Novel Practicing "Down stay" at the Library

Novel Practicing "Down stay" at Barns and Noble

#3. Ok, now this one is embarrassing, but at the same time it marks our first real, big victory so I can't help but share it with y'all: I think Novel has finally grasped the concept of housetraining! Yeah. I know. He's 9 months old and most pups are experts on this by 4 months, but Novel really struggled with this one. Even with a really strict schedule and 100% supervision, Novel was still peeing in the house at 7 months. Now it didn't happen frequently - it was only once or twice a month - but that was only because he was on such a strict schedule and he really didn't have the chance to do it more often. Unfortunately, even the strictest of schedules aren't completely pee proof. The problem was that he was just not grasping the concept that he wasn't supposed to do that in the house. Anyway, the good part is that I think that struggle is over. Novel has not had an accident in nearly 2 months and has finally started indicating when he needs to go out. Hooray for victories!

I chose this picture for #3 only because it was the only one I had that had anything remotely to do with the topic...there is water in the picture! LOL Novel loves water a lot. Maybe that's why he had so much trouble with house training! ;P

#4. Speaking of victories, Novel is finally starting to grasp another basic dog concept: Fetch. When he was really young he played this game wonderfully, but as he got older, he started to think that it was fun to just run around with things in his mouth without bringing them to me. We have worked on this so hard. Novel has such a mischievous streak and has a tendency to want to play "keep away" so fetch was a little difficult for us. Novel has always been wonderful at the "drop" command, and loves to chase the stick or ball or Frisbee or whatever, but he usually needs the help of a long leash to bring it back. Finally, however, he seems to be understanding that "Hey, If I bring it back to her, she will most likely throw it for me again, and I will get to chase it again!" 

Yeah, Yeah I know this one doesn't have anything even remotely related to fetching in it. But its a cute picture right?

I think that's enough for now. I just need to remember to take more pictures of this dude...

Service dogs in Public Restrooms.

Taking a service dog in training out into public always creates unusual situations, curious people, and often "interesting" comments. People just don't expect to see a dog in Walmart or the Mall or at the bookstore. What I have found accentuates this situation, however, is taking Novel into a public restroom. I mean, when you think about it, that truly is the last place on earth people expect to see a dog.

Fridays are a little interesting for me right now. I work in the mornings, and have Novel's training class in the evenings, but both are about 40 minutes from my home, so it is a waste of gas and time to try to get home in between them. Instead, I've been bringing Novel to work with me, and then hanging out at Barnes and Noble or the Library during the time in between work and training class. Those precious "quiet hours" are spent studying school and working with Novel on learning to be comfortable just laying down quietly for several hours at a time. (Preparation for bringing him to school with me)

Anyway, this afternoon, being a special Friday afternoon, Novel and I headed to B&N. I had a change of clothes with me in my backpack so I didn't have to sit around and then attend class in dirty, hairy, stinky scrubbs. (being a Vet Tech is dirty work!) For whatever reason, I forgot to change at work, so I went to the bathroom in B&N to change, Novel tagging faithfully along. Before I go any further, can I just say how thankful I am for handicap stalls? They are soo helpful when you have a dog with you. Ha.

Our adventures started before we even got into the restroom. I tried to open the door at the exact moment when someone else was exiting, and we very nearly collided. We both were startled, but she was clearly (and understandably) more so upon seeing the dog. So that was the first incident.

Novel is usually really good when it comes to public restrooms. Today...well, he wasn't bad, but he decided to lay down too close to the side of the stall...and his whole butt and tail slid under the partition into the occupied next stall. The poor innocent person who had no idea there was a dog in the restroom was clearly quite surprised and let out a rather loud "OH!" when Novel's ever wagging tail swept across her feet.

Our adventures were not over yet, however. As I was washing my hands, Novel was in a sit/stay being extremely good, when yet another person emerged from the stall that happened to be right behind Novel. Upon realizing someone was behind him, Novel politely got to his feet, his tail wagging a calm and friendly greeting. Her reaction however, was quite different. The start she received upon seeing a dog in the restroom sent her staggering quickly back to press her self against the wall. Several shrill screams shredded the air of the echoing restroom as she pressed her quivering hands to her chest. She was quite clearly terrified.
"I don't like dogs!" she quivered in her strong Asian accent. "I am afraid of dogs!"

Upon my first sight of her, I quickly moved Novel away. Profuse apologies, an explanation about Novel, Reassurances that he was exceptionally friendly, and his own perfect behavior (Thank you thank you thank you Novel!!!!) eventually calmed her down enough to recover and even laugh about the incident.

The things you run into with a service dog in training! whew...