Out and about with Sherlock

The Green Dogs out and about class was at Patch brewery this evening. I thought it would be a good opportunity to take Sherlock out in the public for the first time. He saw another dog as soon as I got him out of the van and started barking like crazy and pulling me around by the leash. It was obvious that this wasn't going to be the outing I had in mind. 

Sherlock is good with other dogs around here. He likes everyone and they all seem to like him. But his reaction when seeing a dog that he doesn't know in a place that he doesn't know, is to bark. I expect he's just talking, shouting that is, because he's happy to see one of his own kind. But he comes across like a crazy man shouting at everyone he sees. Plus, he's not good on a leash. I haven't been pulled that hard in a very long time. 

We kept our distance from the other dogs and even got out of the line of sight completely. Then he was very calm. We met new people. He is a little nervous about that at first, but he does warm up quickly and I think that the more people he meets the more he will like it. But he needs some leash work and needs to learn to control his reaction when seeing other dogs. 

The group was all outside in the field, so Clay and Sherlock and I went inside. We met more people and Sherlock settled down. He is a great dog but he definitely needs to learn to handle himself in new situations.

Sherlock the lap dog, with Clay.

Sherlock smiles like our Cabell used to. He lifts his lips in a big grin.

The effect makes them wrinkle even more and is quite hilarious.

When we got home Sherlock and Maya started playing together in the kitchen,

but then Elvis got involved and poor Sherlock got left out.

We went outside and it was just Maya and Sherlock.

Paisley were there too, but she doesn't know how to play.

Maybe she will learn by watching.