Shawny's great. Still lying around like she's dead and not at all interested in chasing a ball or playing with toys.

But I'm happy to report she's been good off-leash so far. Of course, I take her far away from civilization. I'm lucky enough to live 5 minutes from a forest. I have never walked in there before because I was afraid of meeting a bear or cougar, but my need to walk in the woods (with an unpredictable dog) overcame my worry.

I whistle as I walk, call to the dog, stop and listen carefully every now and then and carry pepper spray and an airhorn. I think I'm pretty safe. Oh, yeah, and whenever possible I take a 2nd person (boyfriend, son). I keep away from areas with berries.

I'm more concerned about walking back through the provincial park where we inevitably meet dogs and Shawny flips out. Last week, a loose labrador approached in a threatening manner (while Shawny was on-leash), no owners in sight. I could read their body language:
Labrador: I own this trail.
Shawny: Put your money where your mouth is, sucka.
Huge fight ensues.
I was forced, for the first time in 5 years to draw and discharge my weapon - the pepper spray. I learned that you have to hit them right in the face. It sounds cruel and I felt bad having to do it, but it stopped the fight in an instant and nobody had to go to the vet to get an ear sewed back on or anything.

Actually, driving home, once my blood adrenaline levels had returned to normal, I felt strangely empowered.

"Yeah, baby, yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about!!!"