Wow, what an amazing couple of days it’s been! First, guess what? I jumped into the tub with Little Paw during her bath! Can you believe it? I used to be so scared of baths, but now I’m splashing around like a pro. Captain (my human) couldn’t believe it either—she was super proud! She says it’s all thanks to our slow and steady approach, with treats and positive experiences. I just like getting wet!

Then, the next morning, I got to walk with Little Paw and Lovey Paw to the bus stop. I watched them very closely as they got on the bus—I mean, someone’s gotta make sure they’re safe, right? On the way back home, I even stuck my head out the window for the first time ever! I kept my eye on that bus like, “Hey, driver, you’ve got precious cargo in there!”

Later, we had a busy day of errands. First, we stopped by the vet. I got some heartworm and flea medicine and a nail trim (which I wasn’t a fan of, but Captain gave me Cheez Whiz, so it was worth it!). Then, we went to Captain’s hearing aid appointment. I stayed calm while she got her hearing aids adjusted. Captain was so happy to get them fixed—she said the high-pitched noise was driving everyone crazy, but I didn’t notice.

After that, we stopped by a pet store. There were so many smells and noises, but I stayed focused on my training: sit, down, side, and come. Captain was really impressed with how well I handled all the distractions.

But the best part of the day was meeting Claire, a woman who works with service dogs! Captain and Claire talked for a long time about hearing loss and how service dogs, like me, help with that. I stayed mostly calm at Captain’s feet, though I might’ve barked a couple of times… I couldn’t help it! But Captain says I did an excellent job, and she left the meeting feeling super inspired with lots of new ideas for training me.

The day ended with a splash—literally! As a reward for being such a good girl, Captain and Little Paw set up my kiddie pool in the backyard. I splashed around and chased balls until I was completely worn out. After that, it was cuddle time with the family, which I love.

But this morning? Oh boy. It started at the bus stop again, but this time, things got a little scary. Little Paw wanted to hold my leash, and Captain let her. Suddenly, I saw something weird—a girl with a cast on—and it freaked me out! I tried to get away, and Little Paw accidentally dropped my leash. I ran across the street, and I could hear a car coming. Captain didn’t scream or chase me, though. She stayed calm, crouched down, and called out, “Blake, come!” She made the ASL sign for “Come Here,” and I knew what to do. I stopped, turned around, and walked right back to her. Captain was so proud of me!

Little Paw was pretty shaken up, but Captain calmed her down. She said it was a great learning moment—for both of us. Captain’s planning to take me to a place where we can work through whatever spooked me. I’m ready to face my fears again!

These last few days have been full of wins and lessons, and I’m excited for what’s next. Here’s to more splashes, more training, and more fun with my pack!

Tail Wags and Belly Rubs 🐾🐕‍🦺Blake 🐾🐕‍🦺

P.S. You can head on over to the Captain’s Log to read more details from Captain!