As I have mentioned many, many times, Gracie is not wild about riding in the car ride. She was not completely thrilled with the long car ride last week. She continues to improve, though. Maybe, by the time she is 15, she will be thrilled with riding in the car.
Our little adventure showed some other areas in need of training. She is becoming less tolerant of other dogs. Our villa had a huge sliding glass door that faced a popular bike path. She growled and barked at every dog on the path. She did the same when she encountered them on the beach or on walkies.
She also pulls way too much on the leash. Fortunately, we worked a lot on this behavior during our walkies. I saw an improvement. I need to continue working so she does not forget the lessons.
The biggest shocker, though, came when she splashed in the ocean. This was our third trip to the beach, and she previously had zero interest in the ocean. She did not even like walking on the beach. However, after several frustrated attempts to find squirrels, Gracie decided that sandpipers would be a nice substitute.
She hesitantly ventured into the water as she chased the birds. The second time, she showed less fear. By the third trip, she pulled on the leash as soon as we hit the sand, anxious to begin the chase. She charged straight into the ocean. At one point, she was up shoulder deep in the water. While she did not like it when the larger waves raced toward her, she still had a blast. We put on quite a show for everyone on the beach.
Gracie is work in progress, like most pets. Moments like the ocean adventure make it easier to laugh and smile when she is tugging on the leash or shaking in the car. If a dog who was previously terrified of the ocean just jumps right in one day, who’s to say other behaviors will not change one day? Be patient. Your hard work will pay off.
Rescue Mommy
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