As I said in the little news story on Dotty’s service dog program, Dotty is a “little sponge” soaking up, well, everything. (That includes what Orly is teaching her …)

However, on the positive side, she:

• Learned how to go down the 3 steps from the deck into the back yard
• Learned how to go back up those 3 stairs
• Discovered the wonders of string cheese as a training treat
• Figured out how to get food out of multiple types of food toys
• Encountered & conquered an ice cube
• Mastered the snuffle mat
• “Paddled” in her water dish
• Taught Orly to snuggle with her
• Helped me mow the lawn and pull dandelions
• Had a bath and pawdicure
• Stole the hearts of dozens of Missoulians and countless email and text friends

… All in her first two days.

She’s learning how to go up and down larger flights of stairs, brush her teeth, walk on a leash, and more. In between her many short training, learning, and exploring sessions, she sleeps. A lot. She settles down nicely in a large crate or pen, but prefers to lounge in the grass or on a huge dog bed. She loves toys, especially ducks and the small chirpy chick that was one of Orly’s baby toys. And anything that makes a crinkly sound.

Orly is teaching her to eat grass, try to break into the newly reinforced raspberry patch, stare down squirrels, chase her tail, wrestle, and collect her fair share of the egg tax.