Day 1 - Friday, May 21, 2010:

Day 1 – Friday, May 21, 2010:

I picked Sinatra up at A.C.C. today around 2:00 p.m. Charles brought him out for me (with a towel, as he was his usual urine-drenched self). Sinatra was ready to go. He could hardly wait for me to put the towel down on the passenger’s seat before jumping in my car. Once I got in, he curled up and put his head in my lap.

As far as the rest of the day, it couldn’t have been much better, though I recognize Sinatra not only started a new life today, but also was neutered just yesterday. So, I don’t expect today was typical. Anyway, we got to Bark Avenue and introduced him to everyone. I think he’s going to have a fan club. There were lots of dogs in the lobby (4-5) and he was pretty good (staring, but no growling). We hung out for about 30-45 minutes and then I went back to work. I returned to Bark Avenue around 5:30 and he was out on the lot, “playing” with one of the kennel attendants (it was more like hanging out, but…). Daniel brought him out to me and we worked a little bit of obedience, but mostly just had fun and played around (with other dogs coming in and out, walking though, etc.). He met a few more people (some of whom he was immediately comfortable with and some whom he took him a minute to warm up to), and then we went on a 20 to 25-minute walk, which included Damen and Grand (both very busy at rush hour), as well as some neighborhood side streets. The leash was NEVER taut (not even once), nor did he EVER place one foot or his head in front of me – and this is not the least bit of an exaggeration. It was the easiest walk I’ve ever taken with a dog. He peed immediately (as usual), but didn’t do any environmental sniffing (except for as noted ahead). His head was low, but his tail was in the middle (neither too high, nor tucked) and his gait was pretty comfortable and relaxed. He’d head check with me very occasionally, but not often. He was acutely aware of my body and movement (I stop, he’d stop; I turn, he’s right there too), but would not do any obedience on the street (and I did not push it) yet. On our walk, we encountered loud buses, an underpass (with passing traffic), people walking with grocery bags, bikes, runners - approaching from both the front and the rear, and a number of dogs (probably 5), mostly at a distance, but we passed one closely in the neighborhood (at a distance of approximately 4’-5’). We stood in the parkway grass, while the dog (a good size shepherd mix – bigger than Sinatra) and its owner passed in front of us on the sidewalk. Upon the dog’s approach, Sinatra started sniffing the ground all over (which he had done none of up to this point). He continued sniffing until the dog passed, then calmly watched the dog and owner walk away. He made no effort to go the dog, nor was there any hard staring. All the while, there were dogs on a balcony across the street barking at us and the passing dog (he didn’t notice any other dog on the walk, nor look for where the barking was coming from). As for the runners, the one that came up from behind startled him; he came in close to my leg when she passed, recovering as soon as she was a few feet ahead. He watched the bicycles carefully, but didn’t break his stride. He noted and was a bit uncomfortable with changes in terrain, like when a driveway slanted the sidewalk. I left Sinatra around 7:00 p.m., and he was headed to have some dinner. Louie and I are going to take him for a walk tomorrow. Hopefully, we’ll have another great day.

Again, I take all of this with a grain of salt, as I know it’s his first day out, his first walk outside of the A.C.C. lawn in almost a year…not to mention that he had surgery yesterday. As soon as his stitches come out, that boy is getting a bath.

I’m sure this is more than you needed to know, but thanks for letting me share our fabulous day.