Yesterday was a big one (again) for Ole ( oh-lee), I took him to the local Ralphs grocery store. I parked in their underground parking. The reason I picked Ralphs is it has both an exterior escalator and elevator. These I reasoned would be good things to get him used to. He was amazing! He rode up and down in the elevator 4 times and acted like he'd done it everyday of his life. You'd think a puppy raised in a barn in Wisconsin would freak out at this , but not so with Ole! We got off the elevator and walked up the ramp to the escalator, and once again, no problem. He hopped right on it, sat his butt down and rode it like a pro. This particular escalator carries shopping carts up and down so it had no steps for him to get his feet or tail caught in so no worry there. We then just sat in fron t of the store and lurked waiting for people and kids to come and meet him. Never fails, he was soon charming multiple people and practicing his best sit to greet behavior. He only met one child however. It was a little girl about 6 yrs old who got him to sit. She also fed him a treat which he took gently from her hand. Good puppy! We then rode the escalator back down to the car.

We then got back in the car and went to Noahs Natural Pet Market and I carried him in. I am concerned about Parvo and Distemper so I held him in my arms ( believe me that is getting more difficult every day as he is gaining weight hourly). He got to meet with both Mary and Liz the shop owners as well as their great staff ladies. I had to measure one of my paintings thatare displayed on their walls so was able to get the ladies to hold him for me while I did that. Yes, I am also a painter. I paint pictures of....DOGS and sometimes cats which I also like. Mary and I had to go upstairs to their office to retrieve a painting and Ole got in some more good stair climbing practice. After that we headed home to get him prepared for his first night of puppy class. I work with Laura Christiensen who owns Canine Learning Centers. She offered him a space in her Del Mar class for puppies so I took her up on it . I wanted my husband Abner to get more involved/bonded with Ole and he agreed to take him to class on his own. I had to drive to LA with my friend Donna and her dog Ginger to take my other 2 dogs to Tracking class. so the boys were going to be on their own.
On the way back from the tracking class, Donna and I were going to pass by where Ole and Abner were in class so we decided