Life on the Leash

It begins!

We arrived on Wednesday and started painting on Thursday … sky blue:

We taped up the front windows so no one can see what’s going on. I’m planning on a big old Extreme Home Makeover-style reveal in a few weeks.

I took some time off on Saturday to take part in a local pet event. There were dogs there, sure:

… but I also got to see these cuties:

I made bandannas to give out to the canine attendees, and I invited their people to stop by LOTL when it opens at the end of June. Premature? Sure, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to network with my new community.

I made the most obnoxious T-shirt for myself in the hopes that it would get people talking to me … the front had my LOTL logo, and the back said this:

No one said a word about it. I’m chalking it up to my hair obscuring it, not the fact that it’s compeltely ridiculous.

… to LOTL!

(Or is it a birthday?)

I missed the actual date – my very first post was on 5/21/08. (Though it wasn’t my first ever post … I’ve been blogging for about 3 years now. Sadly, AOL and NBC ate all of my old stuff.)

Wondering why I didn’t use the backdrop in Sum’s pic? That’s because the backdrop, and nearly everything else in our house, is packed. Move day is Tuesday/Wednesday.

Yikes.

I probably won’t be able to post again this week, but look for tons of store-to-be pics in the near future.

Stick with me for another year – this one is bound to be a roller coaster!

Young Toby used to be afraid of the stairs.

Stair phobia is a fairly typical new puppy challenge … stairs are big, scary and slippery. Going up usually isn’t a problem for most dogs, but going down? Yikes.

The secret to conquering stairs is taking it one step at a time, literally.

To start, I threw some of my cheapie Home Dept stair treads down (slick wood steps can lead to traumatic spills – pups appreciate traction when they’re figuring out how to navigate the mountain.) I placed a treat on the bottom step, which Toby had no problem reaching. Up, down, up down on that bottom step, until Toby looked ready to conquer step #2.

It only took a few minutes and some tasty hot dogs before Toby was going up and down the bottom half of the staircase with ease:

We didn’t bother going to the very top, as that’s a lesson for another day. Baby steps, folks!

The only drawback to teaching a pup to navigate stairs is that the potential explore, chase and pee zone gets bigger!

After many months of preparation, stress, confusion and doubt, it’s time for me to spill it.

Change. It’s here, and there’s no turning back.

Change #1: we’re moving.

I’ve been in NOVA for about 13 years, but my heart has always lived north of here. It’s not going to be easy to leave … Virginia has been good to me. That said, it’s time.

Change #2: I’m opening a little dog supply store in beautiful Doylestown, PA.

In this economy. Gulp.

It was Tom’s idea, and a darn good one at that. The brick and mortar “Life on the Leash” will cater to the training and behavior side of living with a furry best friend. I picture the store as a place for dogs and their people to come and hang out, get advice, and learn about the coolest and most helpful dog products available. My vision of the store has infected me, and I’ve only set foot in the space twice. I can see it, feel it, even taste it …  (What does a dog store taste like, you ask? Cheetos and grass.)

But I’m still incredibly nervous.  I’m leaping off a cliff. What if it fails? What if this is mistake? What if the dogs of Doylestown don’t want a community gathering place, thank you very little?

I hear those doubts. But then I hear something else. “You have to do this.”

So I will.

Stick with me, folks. I’m going to chronicle every step of the process here on LOTL.  The joys (I’m signing the lease today), the traumas (I have to learn to use a cash register?) and everything in between.

I’m building the next chapter in my life … join me, won’t you?

Wow.

Last night was so much fun! I was honored and amazed by the turnout at my little book party … people (and pooches) I haven’t seen in years turned up. And more than a few of my former clients traveled great distances (during rush hour, nonetheless!) in order to attend.

Just, wow.

I meant to photograph the entire evening, but hostessing got the best of me, so I only managed to snag a few shots at the very beginning of the evening. Plus my Speedlight stopped working, and my on-camera flash is CRAPPY. Glowing eyes and shadows galore.

The evening was a whirlwind of friendly faces, fur and slobber. And pink cupcakes. And warm soda. And squeaky tennis balls. And not enough books to go around. (Sorry, Connie!) It was a great night.

Thanks to all of you for coming … your support means the world to me.

I’m a very lucky dog trainer.

Winston!

And … Tommy!

Winston’s brother Tommy joined the household recently, and things have been rumbly ever since. Tommy added bossiness, questionable house training skills and poop eating into Winston’s peaceful, predictable life.

“But Madame … how can you resists ze cuteness?”

The “getting to know you” adjustment phase has been rough on all of them, but I think they’re going to be just fine.