Luck of the draw

What about VooDoo?

 I picked him from a picture the day he was born - how's that for solid criteria for a performance dog?

Today was a VooDoo and me day.  We went to see Dr B and get some meds - then we went to Wiregrass mall to the Fresh Market.  It was a hot mess and truly, VooDoo hasn't had that much experience in crowds of people milling around.  There were some other dogs too.

I go there to get the veggies - they are fresh and cheap and awesome!.  So, in one hand, I have VooDoo's leash, in another, about 20 lbs of veggies swinging wildly as I walk toward the long check out line.

In line - VooDoo is not sure what is expected of him - he tries to greet the people behind us, who are nervous about him, so I ask him to down. As soon as he downs, 5 (yes 5 kids) run over to him and literally latch on him.  Not sure he's seen many kids before and I sure wish I knew where these kid's mother was - because it could have been very ugly.

He jumped up and moved away a little, then rolled on his back tummy up - the kids ran over, one boy draped himself over his stomach, while another girl grabbed his face and pulled it next to hers.

God bless VooDoo - he treated them like puppies, with the same play bows and jumping away if they were inappropriate.

An older girl ran up and said roll over, which for some reason VooDoo did (don't think I taught him that) so then it became a contest for each kid to give him a cue - sit, down, shake, roll over, it was pretty funny and I think helped them to realize he was not just a stuffed toy to hug. 

VooDoo is the very best of the best - he is the most confident and enthusiastic dog I have ever seen - this was a totally foreign and potentially scary situation.

Somehow he knows that he is always safe and when new things happen to him (like 5 kids jumping him)  he knows it's ok.

And please be clear - I don't take credit for training that - he has a solid core and great genetics  -

I am blessed.