Great class.

I am delighted. I had a fantastic turnout for this morning’s basic obedience classes. The 10 a.m. class filled, both classes had perfect attendance, and Ramona brought her A game despite extreme wind this morning and a lack of exercise this week.

This marks my 11th group class since I started training dogs — my 10th in Tucumcari, and my fourth at the Tucumcari Railroad Museum — and each time I do a class, I make a few adjustments and professionalize my approach just a tiny bit more.

My first class was eight weeks of near-anarchy that I based on commands I’d learned from Scout’s old trainer, with a few additional Canine Good Citizen skills tossed in. That class went relatively well, but I saw plenty of room for improvement and have made adjustments with each class since then.

Today’s new additions were a hands-free microphone to project my voice better; a handout that included an outline, vocabulary list, space for taking notes, and QR code directing people to my recommended products page; and some door prizes, including cap lights for nighttime walks; a poo baggie dispenser I got for free when I bought something else; a couple of dollar-store tug toys; and a Lamb Chop plushie for each class in honor of Marley, who adores her Lambie.

Most amusing discovery today: Several people told me their dogs share Marley’s enthusiasm for Lamb Chop. None of us can figure out what makes Lambie so special, but she is clearly one of the better dog toys on the market. Family Dollar sells the little Lamb Chop squeak toys in stores, but if you want to order one online, you have to buy a case of 72. (Don’t think I didn’t think about it. I’d love to watch Marley leap into a big box full of replicas of her favorite plushie.)