Thursday

It got up to 90 degrees today, but the humidity was 54% and the breeze was 7 mph, so it was a nice day.

John ordered me a new pair of Asics running shoes, and I got to try them out this morning on our causeway walk. 

We took Toby to the community center this afternoon for a walk.

I took an hour long nap after lunch. I was tired from yesterday’s biking and walking.

We did some housework, Toby training, and got a Jet’s pizza for dinner.

Miles walked: 10.6

Miles biked: 5.79

Wednesday

 

Sunset at the Dunedin Marina, more on that in a minute.

After lunch, I rode to Stevenson Creek after exercising at the outdoor gym at Weaver Park.

This close up shot shows the beginnings of the condo construction on Edgewater Drive.

These ducks seem to like the location.

We took a stroll around the community center this afternoon.

The sky was especially beautiful today on our morning causeway walk. It was a chilly 73 degrees on our bikes around 9:30. The humidity was about the same, 77.

We enjoyed lots of cloud cover.

It was a great day for paddle boarding or kayaking. We talked about our plans to get a canoe or Kayak. We agreed that it would be a great reward once Toby takes and graduates from advanced training, assuming he qualifies. It would be easier to teach him to enjoy boating once he is more advanced.

We passed an armadillo outside of the state park on the Dunedin Causeway.

Morning snuggle time with Toby

Last Toby walk of the day. I think the birds are migrating south for the winter. They are everywhere.

John and I decided to ride our bikes down to the marina downtown to watch the sunset. I pulled Toby off the sofa and said, “Go get in your crate” and he made a beeline to it. I had already placed treats in it, so he knew what was coming. We used to have to carry or drag him.

On Victoria Drive, near the condos 

I thought Jeff, the sailor, might appreciate this picture.

Today’s bike routes to the causeway, Publix, Weaver Park, Stevenson Creek, and the Dunedin Marina 

Miles walked: 9.5

Miles biked: 24.91

Tuesday

John got this shot of a water turkey swimming around hoping a fisherman would throw him something.

On our Toby walk this morning, Toby wallowed in some manure of some type, so our causeway walk got delayed as we put him in the shower for a full shampoo. (He likes showers more than baths. Go figure.)

When we came home for lunch, he took a sun bath in his bed as he surveyed the back yard. He was a vision in white, as you can see above.

After lunch we took him downtown to do some training with distractions. He did pretty well with heel, but he really just wanted to poop and sniff.

Then he found a very dirty spot near the Pinellas Trail and down he went again!

He had just greeted a couple with a polite sit, and the woman said, “His coat is so white. It’s really beautiful.”

Ten seconds later, he was wearing this dirt scarf.

He got hosed off in the driveway upon his return.

Training is a process, so we’ll take our successes. 

Our trainer has helped us to understand what barking/whining in the house at people, dogs, and random noises outside means. She says he’s on alert or scared and he’s protecting his pack. Heretofore, we’ve just let him whine and run around, thinking his whining was funny.

Now, we understand that he’s doing that because we are not stepping up to reassure him that we will protect him. It doesn’t matter that we know there’s no real threat. He needs to know that we have things under control so he doesn’t have to take action.

This insight on his thinking has been eye opening. Knowing that he is safe with us will help him to bond with us and help him to relax. The added benefit is that when someone is invited to come to our house he won’t go bezerk—in theory.

Now, when he starts to whine at people, dogs, or noises outside, we distract him and get him to focus on us. Because of the foundation we’ve built, we can actually get his attention. He then let’s go of the threat, assured that we’re up to the task.

Lunch was huge!

Apples, bananas, cherries, blueberries, beets, cauliflower, raspberries, red grapes, boiled egg, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese 

Dinner was from New Bamboo, egg foo yung with a side of vegetable low mein.

Our last walk tonight around 6:30 felt like fall. It was 82 degrees with 52% humidity—almost cool.

Miles walked: 10.3

Miles biked: 5.38

Monday

 

John met with a friend after our morning Toby walk, so I hopped on my bike and headed to Honeymoon Island. I walked on the beach the equivalent distance of walking on the causeway. The temperature was in the low 80s with a 7 mph breeze.

The water was clear, even though I’ve read that the Red Tide is still lurking out in the gulf and will likely linger until cooler weather.

This peninsula is all that’s left of the southern tip of dog beach.

There were lots of birds out today, fewer people.

I went to the outdoor gym at Weaver Park after lunch. I stopped to take this picture on the way home. The sky and clouds were awesome.

Our new mailbox flowers are blooming, but the leaves have yellow spots.

Toby flopped in my lap during coffee time this morning.

We made it to the community center for a walk on the way to get our Juan’s takeout burrito.

We’ve been practicing Toby’s week 1 commands from his intermediate class. He’s doing well with “down,” “wait,” and “heel.”  He is even going from down to sit, which can be tough. Once Toby is in a down, we’ve been teaching him settle. That one will take awhile to stick.

We practiced some more in “real world” situations on our last walk around the neighborhood for the day.

Today’s bike routes to Honeymoon Island and Weaver Park 

Miles walked: 9.3

Miles biked: 17.13