Ivan goes to church

One of the things they stress in therapy dog training is to make sure your dog is comfortable and well-behaved in various settings.  Even before your pup is 100% accurate at home, you should take him out in public to re-enforce all those commands.  Easily said.  How many folks out there have had their placid little Fido turn into a ravening beasts at the sight of Fidette at the park?

So Ivan and I took to the streets.  We walked through crowds.  We introduced ourselves to complete strangers with and without dogs.  To this day, I have not been able to convince Ivan that he can wait to be introduced.  Although now, he confines himself to trying to sit on a tail wagging so hard you can barely see it.  Still I keep taking him out in the hopes that he will catch on.

So one Sunday not long ago, we got ready for a full complement of weekend activities.  I dressed for church but packed for a horse show later that afternoon.  Off we went.  Arriving at St. John's Episcopal Church in Versailles, I was fully prepared to tether Ivan to the jungle gym but got talked out of it by the other usher who thought Ivan would be an ideal Greeter.  Well, okay, I thought: ideal opportunity to practice "peaceful greeting."

Ivan, of course, thought this was grand.  Seriously, everyone thought Ivan was adorable and Ivan thought they had all come to church to tell him so.  We remained on the front steps until the choir filed in and then prepared to head off to the jungle gym.  But my fellow usher convinced me that Ivan was up to the challenge.  I was skeptical that Ivan would behave once we go into the church.  I should not have worried.  Ivan was a complete gentleman.  He stood when we did, sat when we did, and lay down when we knelt.  He thought the exchange of the peace was heaven. Who knew Ivan was Episcopalian?

After church we headed off to the horse show.  I was riding high on Ivan's success in church.  I should have thought about how tired good behavior can make a puppy.  Paying attention and behaving is exhausting to a puppy.  Ivan was tired going into the show and being left with others or being tethered was just too much.  Ivan whined and whimpered all afternoon long.

Mea culpa.  None of this was his fault.. I should have known that he was going to reach his limit at some point during the afternoon.  Lesson learned:  puppies need down time in order to become geniuses.