Sheraton Sand Key Meeting Nov. 12, 2011

Susan organized a great meeting for us on the second Saturday of November.  We met at the Sheraton Sand Key and got to do some obedience under the watchful eyes of sunbathers and tourists.  In fact, our obedience session actually created a bit of a crowd.

Judy puts a harness on Phyllis, who goes in for training in December.

Wrangler was the most impressive walking around each distraction as if it didn't exist and he was floating on a cloud of doggie nonchalance.  Cookies? Me?  Never touch the stuff! Feathers? Bah!

Phyllis, on the other hand, showed a sneaky side.  As Nancy guided her around each distraction and kept her from getting at the cookies, Phyllis set her labbie brain to thinking.  By the second go round she had figured the problem out and as she was pulled away from the cookies, she snaked out a paw, trapped a cookie beneath it and dragged it with her.  Of course, Nancy kept Phyllis walking, so she had to leave the cookie behind (best laid plans!) but it showed a keen canine intellect, Judy pointed out.

Essie demonstrates that the proper procedure for exiting a trolley or at the bottom of the stairs is to do a sit.  

Next up was a trolley ride to get a feel for public transportation.  This exposure included getting on and off the trolley by managing the stairs and negotiating the narrow aisle and a down under with the dogs when you got seated.

Stephanie and Carbon on the trolley.  It's a bit of a tight fit.

Jean with Polly doing a nice down under.

Wrangler and his puppy raiser Kerry on the trolley.

Wrangler and Jam laying down on the trolley floor.  Jam is on the left and Wrangler on the right.
They are facing each other across the aisle.

Elena was supposed to have her new puppy at the meeting, but got a call an hour before that the litter had a virus and was on quarantine.  Here she is with her stuffed puppy stand in on the trolley.

Here is our intrepid group, minus Wrangler and Kerry.  From left to right: Stephanie and Carbon,  Nancy and Phyllis,  unknown, Susan and her husband and Essie, Mary Ellen (Elena's mom), Jean and Polly, and seated, Cheryl and Jam and Elena and puppy.

All in all it was a great outing and a fun time.  Thanks Susan for planning it and to Sheraton for hosting and providing refreshments and trolley tickets.

Our next meeting will be at Fred and Cheryl's for a Christmas Brunch.  We have koi ponds, so bring a towel in case someone falls in! (That's not recommended, of course!)