“It’s important never to use the crate to punish her. Also, no hitting or kicking her or… ” She stopped at the horrified look on Harrison’s face. “You would never do that anyway, I know.”
“Never.” He kissed the top of Gabby’s head.
This time, it was Kenzie’s heart that squealed. She had a soft spot for men who loved animals. “Do you want to learn how to train her to follow?”
“Sure.” Harrison set the puppy down.
Kenzie took hold of Gabby’s leash and grabbed a few treats. “I hold her leash in one hand, and I hold a treat in the other and bend down like this so that I’m keeping the treat at her face-level next to my leg while I walk. She wants the treat, so she goes right where I want her. Use the command ‘Follow.’ It’s a little awkward to walk like this, but they learn quickly.” Kenzie took a few steps. “Gabby, follow.”
Gabby trotted along at her heel, taking the treat from her fingers.
“Then you praise her.” Kenzie knelt. “You’re a good girl, Gabby. Yes, you’re just so smart.”
“How often do you want me to do that?”
“I’d say a few times a day. She already knows how to sit.” Kenzie grabbed another treat. “Gabby, sit.”
Gabby looked up at her, then plopped her little bottom onto the floor.
Kenzie gave her the treat. “Make sure to praise her. Good puppy! What a good puppy you are!”
“I thought dog trainers use those clicker things.”
“I’ve taught clicker training in classes, but I don’t any longer. Whether you use a clicker or not, it’s all about rewarding desired behavior. If I’m consistent, my pups will learn to be consistent.”
“So be consistent. Got it.”
He looked so serious that Kenzie had to smile. “Exactly. I wrote it all down in case you forget something.”
She glanced at her watch, saw that it was just before noon. “The last thing I should show you is puppy runaways. That’s the first step in training her for SAR work.”
“Puppy runaways? You want her to run away?”
“No, I wantyouto run away.”
“Me?” A dark eyebrow arched.
Kenzie knew she was taking a chance here, but things had already gone far better than she’d imagined. She gave Gabby credit for that. Harrison had always been fond of Gizmo, and it was clear that he’d fallen in love with the puppy at first sight. Kenzie couldn’t blame him. So had she. “Why don’t we put her in her car carrier and drive to that new park near the library?”
“Scarlet Springs has alibrary?”
Oh, God. He didn’t know.
“Joe Moffat built a library and donated Silas Moffat’s journals and a bunch of historic photographs. The town had a big book drive. Now we have our own library. They built it on the site of the old schoolhouse. The school became part of the library, and the playground became a pocket park.”
“Cool. Okay.” He glanced down at his bare chest. “I guess I’d better get dressed.”
Bummer.
Well, all good things must come to an end.
* * *
Conrad struggledto get the squirming puppy into her tiny harness. “Okay, that’s too cute to be legal.”
Kenzie laughed, the sound melodic and sweet. She reached over to help, her arm brushing against Conrad’s, contact sending a jolt through him. “All that cuteness—it’s a survival strategy.”
What were they talking about? Survival strategy?
