Mall Walking!

This past Monday was a very busy day for Joy! We had puppy obedience at the mall, only this time, instead of working in the parking lot, we all went inside and walked around. This was the first time that the little puppies had class with the bigger puppies.

We started out in a different area of the parking lot and all the puppies walked around in a circle, as usual. We then practiced 'halt', 'sit', 'down', 'stay', 'forward', etc. I was very pleased with the way Joy behaved!

There was also plenty of grass around, so the puppies had plenty of room to 'busy'.  Then we all formed a line and walked into the mall. We stopped inside and sat on the benches at first while our AC (Area Coordinator) talked about what we would be doing.

Looots of sleeping puppies ^_^

So, we then split up into two groups: older puppies and younger puppies. Joy and I headed off with her two brothers and a couple of slightly older puppies in what I dubbed "the puppy parade". You should have seen people's reactions! We heard various things like:

"Mom, there are DOGS in the mall!"

"THEY'RE SO CUTE!!!"

"Are they for sale?"

No, seriously. At least two people asked us if they were for sale. I guess they figured we were like walking, talking advertisements for the puppy store on the first floor.

We walked all around the first floor and then we braved the long staircase and the elevators! A couple of puppies were a little scared but Joy plodded right ahead, trying to take three stairs at a time! We've also done several elevators already so she was fine when we came to this.

Then we took the little puppies out to 'busy' again. As we came inside we were greeted by two very enthusiastic people who were very curious about Southeastern Guide Dogs and our puppies. The younger man was quite smitten with my dog and (after she did a very good sit for him) he started HUGGING, KISSING, AND LICKING HER.

It was weird.

Um...would you run up to someone else's dog and start kissing it? I wouldn't. Let alone a dog with a cape that says "Guide Dog In Training"...

People confuse me.

Anyway, we walked back to the fountains and waited for the other puppies. Several other people and kids ran up and started petting our puppies without asking but we made sure to tell them about what the puppies were doing and what Guide Dogs are. When we were reunited with the other group, we took a group photo.

I just love how MY dog is the only one that's moving.
Joy was...a little hyper at this point in the evening.

The only way I could get her to be still was to hold her...

I love her worried expression in this picture!

When the puppy meeting was over and we were walking out to the parking garage, we passed by a troop of Brownie Scouts in a Build-A-Bear store. It was like a chain reaction, once one little girl had seen Joy, they ALL saw Joy.

There was nothing we could do besides go in Build-A-Bear and let them pet her. At first we pretended we were looking at the bears. I was happy to hear one of the moms tell her daughter, "No, that's a service dog."

So, I walked over to them and said, "Would you like to pet her?" Of course they did!
The little girls were all so sweet and gentle with her and Joy sat immediately (something she's been doing a lot lately) so that they could pet her.

They asked me lots of questions about her and I tried my best to answer them. Meanwhile, the moms took pictures. Including mine.

Let's all guess what Joy wanted to do when we came home...

Silence.

Which means, this morning...

Craziness.

Peace, Love, Joy :)