Today I gave both Tigerlily and Lola long separate adventures. First I went to town with Tigerlily and trained for squirrel distractions (turning my wild child into Little  Miss Mellow for the rest of the day), then got home before noon to take Lola for a long adventure, all the way around the island.

The sun was blazing, but we walked much of the way through the woods, in the shade. Lola doesn’t fully understand that it’s impolite to stare at passersby, so I taught her that little glances would be rewarded and stares would be interrupted, and she was  very responsive to that and just so much fun to walk. She floats along. She enjoyed not staring, but getting treats instead.

All this training seems to be developing Lola's muscles. Her posture is improving, she seems to be getting stronger! Kathy is coming out to the island soon with her services dogs, and we're going to share training ideas. I think Lola can perform all kinds of useful service behaviors. Our daughter Echo is home now, and she is wild about Lola.  Lola begs her to play when we are picking fruit and veg from the garden.

Tonight Echo says to me, as Lola was bouncing around, “She must wonder why we’re outside and not playing. It must seem weird to her, that we’re being so boring.”

But in case Miss Ansley might worry that Lola has forgotten all about her, look where Lola is choosing to retire after her busy day!