Head of the Class, Josie!

Okay, so Sarah didn't say that, but throughout the class on Wednesday evening, she'd tell us what to do with our pups, then survey the students to see all the other canines leaping around on their leashes, while Josie was doing as ordered: sitting calmly behind us, or heeling, or ignoring racing children. When Sarah had us scolding rope or a sneaker (to discourage a dog from going near it), Josie avoided it without fail. I don't think I could have mastered all that when I was 5 months old!

But Josie has an advantage, too, besides being generally poised and whip-smart: All the other human students in the class are mothers with very young children, or working women. Peter has a lot of time at home this summer, so Josie has four of us to work with her. I take her for longish walks in the neighborhood (yesterday she heeled flawlessly for about ten minutes of the half-hour), Elizabeth is constantly working with her on hand gestures or handling issues, Michael is taking charge in his own way, and Peter takes on alpha issues. We've also seized every opportunity to train her not even to look at cats (as Sarah advised), and Cinder, at least, is getting the message. I don't know how cats can be so attuned to these power matters, but she almost immediately learned that she was now safe from Josie. (Jack has yet to venture from upstairs if Josie is abroad.)

My back seized up on me today, so instead of taking Josie for a brisk neighborhood stroll, I drove her to the church grounds, to pick up Michael and Elizabeth. We clipped the puppy to the longline and let her race around. All her pent-up frustration of the morning poured itself into galloping full-tilt alongside the brook. She was finally winded by the time Kate brought fellow-New Skete shepherd Nezhma out. Josie wanted so badly to play, but Nezh turned her back and snapped at her when she came too near! Ah well, she's eight and not willing to bounce around puppy-style.

Peter's been in Ohio since Thursday. I know it is for an ecumenical gathering and that it is celebrating the 20th or 25th or 50th anniversary of some organization. (It was good to hear that Kate also has trouble keeping track of what her husband is traveling for.) He's been meeting again with many friends from the international ecumenical movement, many of whom he hasn't seen in several years. But I'll let him fill you in on that.