I have been posting a lot of photos lately.  I keep catching Stella in some very unique situations.  She continues to grow and change and still shows a growing fascination with the world around her.  Last Friday she had her stitches taken out from her spaying.  We waited in the exam room for several minutes and I got down on the floor with her to calm her and help her relax.  By the time Dr. Boer came in she was lying next to me and had settled down very nicely.  She still likes Dr. Boer and doesn't seem to have any fear of him or the place.  She gets so excited just to get in the car and go somewhere.  The minute she sees a person or dog or cat she wants to go to them and make friends.  Unfortunately, in her excitement she also wants to jump up on them.  I have been leashing her in these situations and let her know that this is not acceptable with a firm "OFF!".  She is getting the idea and  is slowly learning to settle down a little and then she gets to greet people. 
   Her leash training continues to progress.  We have been taking short walks around the neighborhood.  We sometimes go for walks to the river and she does not have to be on a leash.  She always stays right with me or a few feet away.  
   She has been going through a barking phase for the last week or so.  Every Monday morning the garbage truck goes down the alley next to our house.  It is a very loud truck and makes lots of noise and rumbling.  This morning she started barking frantically the minute she heard it.  I took her to the window and we watched the truck pass down the alley picking up garbage cans and dumping them into the truck.  I took lots of deep sighs and stroked her gently, keeping myself as calm as I could.  She slowly relaxed and is now sound asleep in her bed at my feet. 
   She has become a world class frisbee catcher!  She tracks the frisbee as it flies over her head and takes a huge leap into the air to catch it.  Depending on how well I throw it she catches them more and more.  I'll have to get Kent to try to catch her in mid air with the camera some day.