Thanks, David!
Dave and I are doing great with Lucy!  We enjoy such long satisfying walks with her, using the techniques you showed us.  In fact, I just came home from one.  She curled up on the floor with the look of someone who had just eaten a really good hot fudge sundae.  Or finished a really good book.  The other day I watched from an upstairs window as Dave came home from a walk with her.  You could see how plainly she was enjoying herself, how in sync she and Dave were as they walked, and how proud she felt next to him.  I thought back to the beginning, when I kind of wondered if she would just feel bossed around all the time.  Quite the opposite has happened.  She seems to consider herself our co-worker, out on a very important mission.  She seems to thrill at being able to anticipate what we want, and which direction we will take.   

My kids, by the way, have taught her to jump through a hoop, and climb the pirate ramp and ladder to their fort/jungle gym.  She definitely reminds me of a police dog, and surely is part German Shepherd. 

Your email was timely.  My parents just adopted a dog about seven days ago.  I sent them your link.

Thanks again, and keep those emails coming. 

Alison Gillespie