Okay, I had to post a photo of my sweet Cocoa Joy because lately it’s been Chipley, Chipley, and more Chipley, which is what’s going to happen in the next few photos. Today, Chipley went to his fourth lesson at Dog School 101 while Cocoa stayed home and watched Meerkat Manor on The Animal Plant.

Chipley waits to go in the door at Dog School. He’s wearing a gentle leader just so he won’t jump or pull.

Chipley says “hi”to Jake, the man!

Xalina explains how a hoola hoop is used to squelch doggie fears. Chipley often plays with the one Cocoa Joy got when she was going to DS101. From time to time, he pulls it out from under the bed in guest room and says, “I’m not afraid!”

Sandy easily gains this dog’s attention. “Sit, watch, stay, and good dog!” I love her shirt. It says, “Got Woof?”

A quick trip to Chick-fil-A for a cup of cool fresh water, and then we’re set for the drive home. Oh and his homework (the yellow sheet of paper) is right beside him on the back seat.

It’s okay to go “nose-to-nose” with another dog that you don’t know if the other dog is a puppy. Jake is a 13 week-old Australian Shepherd mix. Oh, and Miss Pitt, the one that planted a big fat kiss on his lips the first time she saw him a few weeks ago at day school, was there, too. But there was no kissing this time around.

Near the end of the class and Prince Chipley begins to slow down but he knows how to sit, watch, and go to “place,” which is what he is laying on in this photo.

Sorry, Reba. I tried to take Cocoa and Chip’s photo together, but Chip would not cooperated. This is the best I could do. We took a short walk on the Silver Comet Trail late Sunday afternoon before the rain blew in. I totally forgot about the bikers that flood that place and fly by you. Chipley freaked out. He constantly looked over his shoulder to see if another biker was heading his way. When one approached, he begged to be picked up. I told my friend don’t do it. Instead, we would stop beside the path and watch the bikers pass and then praise him for sitting and watching and not freaking out too much.

One good reason for going to Dog School 101: Cocoa learned to deal with most of her fears there, and Chip will, too. In fact, on the way home, Sandy (Cocoa’s trainer) called to talk for a moment. Looks like Mr. Chipley will be heading off to his first class this coming Wednesday night. The best thing is this: the Princess Cocoa Joy gets to go with him.

So many questions are left unanswered at this point: Will he eventually win her heart? Can he conquer his fears of speeding bicycles, of runners that whiz past him without warning, and of baby buggies traveling side-by-side with Moms, who are too deep in conversation to care that he is just a little puppy who needs a great big hug? We’ll know soon; the adventure begins this week.

Trail bridges span small rivers and shallow gorges. But this is a place that you need to make sure someone else is with you and that you have your cell phone on your hip.

Ok . . . . This is not as bad as it looks. In fact, it is really great fun, but when “Mommy” is watching, you have to put on some sort of pitiful, heart-wrenching show, and this is what Mr. Chip was doing when I snapped this photo at Dog School 101 early this morning. Was Cocoa Joy with him? Absolutely! So, where was the fair maiden? She was in another area trying to get the attention of the trainer with the hopes of raiding her Bil-Jac stash! Sorry, Chipley—you’re on your own today, buddy.

Mr. Chip meet Miss Pitt, who is obviously much more experienced. The first thing she did was walk up to him and give him a big kiss! I feel like quoting the Queen (of England), “Oh, I really don’t like that.”

Some . . . where over the rainbow, the Princess waits for meeeeee. Somewhere, over the rainbow; I’ll win her heart, you’ll see.