I should have known that I could count on you, Marty, to lighten the mood! I'm laughing out loud here, but I fear that if we acquired a second muzzle, he'd put it on me!

Stewart accepted the muzzle with puzzled good grace and had a fine time at the dog park yesterday. We are blessed with a community of enlightened dog owners who took the explanation for the need of it with a lot of concern and good wishes for a positive outcome. Stewie was very well behaved and though he managed to pick up one small stick despite the muzzle, dropped it immediately when George told him to. He sighed, momentarily dejected, but then managed his own attitude adjustment and went back to appropriate chasing and wrestling. We were thrilled and he came home one very exhausted, very happy puppy. Step one went without a hitch. I am going to set out this morning with both him and his sister and will see if we can get back into a healthy routine of wearing out two enormous pups with unlimited potential.

MarnaLou