Tuck’s mom claims he has no work ethic, that he works entirely for cookies. Granted, this is not the fastest kid on the block, but with extreme patience and persistence, Linda has helped him make enormous achievements. He was shy, hid behind Linda’s legs or under her chair during class, kept to the far end of the leash whenever I held him, didn’t want to jump, or enter tunnels … He is now outgoing in class (has a true love in a sweet Papillon, male of course – they make their own choices, after all), allows me to pat him (and feed him, of course!), is willing to do the work, interested in what’s going on – which is huge. He loves the contact obstacles, certainly because of all the food he gets for doing them, but I think also because he feels good about being able to do them. This photo, I believe, illustrates the determination that Tuck brings to his work. He’s such a serious little guy. Gotta love him!

Tuck, a Tibetan spaniel, crests the A-frame and is loading his gear for the descent.