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| Fellowship Day 19 |
The SPCA Summer School.
It was a very early start today - there was a lot to do and I promised to meet up with Fawn and the dogs she takes for training walks first thing in the morning along the beach. It's such a hard life! Any way, I met up with her at Union Street and took the photo of the steep streets - and that one is a baby in comparison to other streets here.
Those famous San Francisco hills!
We then headed out to the beach and although it was quite chilly, it was lovely and refreshing, and all the dogs she walked today have been with her for years and are all just so sweet. Owen the Pug, Rupert the Corgi mix, and Tristan the Labrador, as well as her own babies, Bebop and Biggie. Biggie is just so cute - every time we go any where he sits on my lap and blows kisses at me. I keep threatening to run away with him - sorry Evie! You are still the best!
Fawn and the dogs of her training walk.
After the walk, I headed back to 16th Street, and to the SPCA this time to meet up with Jean Donaldson and Janis Bradley. They are running the Summer School that they have been running every year for 9 years now, to train people to become effective dog trainers. It was wonderful to sit and observe the students as they worked with their dogs and to listen to Janis and then Jean give their talks on different topics in training and behaviour.
Jean Donaldson talking about the effect of neutering on aggression. Her Chow
was the only one who wasn't interested.
At lunch time I had lunch with Fawn and Sandi Thompson, a dog trainer and good friend of hers. We talked like 3 old friends and only got back to the Summer School late, but it was just as important to build up good friendships with Fawn and Sandi. They are both such positive forces in puppy and dog training, and I so appreciate their open and honest attitudes to life.
Janis Bradley mentoring some of the students at the Summer School.
I finished the day watching Janis and Jean assess the students progress so far, and suggest improvements, etc for the students to help them as they work on their training skills. I headed back to my hotel, stopping at Peet's, a wonderful coffee house, for my usual, a double shot decaf latte. I could get used to this you know!