Warmer weather has officially arrived, and Stanley is very happy about it. If there is a patch of sunlight anywhere in the house or yard, he plans to be lying directly in it. Honestly, I get it.
We’ve also been taking LOTS of walks around the neighborhood lately, which has been really good for both of us. Stanley loves exploring, sniffing absolutely everything, and soaking up the sunshine. I love getting outside more and enjoying the longer days.
We are still taking agility classes and really enjoying them. Last week, I helped the agility club put together the outdoor agility course for the season. Stanley got to come along and wait in his crate while we built everything, and then he became the very first dog to practice on the course for the year.
Running outside on a full-size course is so different from indoor practice. The obstacles feel huge out there! I was honestly a little intimidated by the full-height dog walk, but Stanley didn’t hesitate for even a second. He marched right up like he owned the place. He also absolutely loves the full-size A-frame and seems very proud of the view from the top.
We went back earlier this week to practice again, and… well… it was not Stanley’s best night.
He was very distracted by all the smells in the ring, and keeping his attention was definitely a challenge. We did successfully do the dog walk a few times, and he even went up the teeter! Unfortunately, I think he thought the teeter was the dog walk and just ran straight up it. Thankfully I was close enough to grab it before it slammed down. The last thing I want is for him to get scared of it.
Eventually, I got tired of him ignoring me, clipped the leash back on, walked him over a few simple obstacles, and called it a day. It was hot, and honestly, that was enough for both of us.
The good news is that class last night went really well. Stanley was focused, listening, and working nicely. I was actually the slower half of the team this time with my handling! He’s really starting to understand things.
I think for the summer, I may pause formal classes for a bit and focus more on obedience work and a few small agility exercises at home. We still have access to the outdoor course for practice, and I’d also like to make some trips to the dog park to work around distractions.
As for the rest of the pets…
The dragon worried me a little recently. She was acting quiet, wasn’t eating much, and just seemed “off” for a few days. Then she disappeared into her little cave hide for basically an all-day nap, came back out, and suddenly seemed completely normal again. At this point, I honestly don’t know how old she is, but she definitely isn’t young anymore.
The foster birds are all still here too. They’re cute and everything, but I’m definitely ready for them to move on to their next homes. They’ve completely taken over my downstairs craft desk area, and I would really love my space back.
The little Senegal parrot is adorable, but having him out loose is complicated because Stanley gets jealous and wants to chase him around. Between dogs, birds, reptiles, agility equipment, and crates everywhere, the house really does feel like a zoo sometimes.
We’re planning to visit family over the 4th of July and bring Stanley along for the adventure. Hopefully he behaves himself and enjoys the outing.
What are your summer plans with your pets? Any trips, adventures, classes, or favorite warm-weather activities?