Holy crap my dog is AWESOME

So one week ago I started teaching her "sit pretty." I started with holding her paw and giving her the support to get the other paw off the ground. She got that really quickly. I moved on to just asking for "sit pretty" and getting her to balance with both paws on me (like in this really old picture of her doing it against someone who was not me -- this was on the transport). She got that super quick and has been doing that steadily all week.

Tonight I decided to ask her to sit pretty when she wasn't sitting RIGHT in front of me, but a foot or so away. And what did she do? Sat up with both paws up and curled under, just like you want with a "sit pretty."

She's so smart. It brought a tear to my eye. WHY didn't I teach her tricks sooner? I keep saying she doesn't know any tricks and I feel silly for that. She's been awesome with standard obedience and I can even stop her from rushing to greet another dog by saying "leave it" (granted, I have to be forceful, but it does stop her in her tracks). She has awesome recall, can do waits/stays from 40-50 feet. So now she's learning two tricks. I don't think it will take long before she's solid on these. And then I'll get a picture!

Phew!

I very nearly had a dog who would be sleeping OUTSIDE tonight. She raced up a slope to see what I thought, at first, was a cat. Until I noticed it moving funny and the light hit it.

And it was a skunk!

I shouted "Dahlia, leave it!" and she rushed right back to me. I am so HAPPY my dog is well-trained.