Stair Master!

Congratulations to Robin the Good! She finally mastered descending the stairs! Robin was ace on running up the stairs but going down had eluded her. It was that first top step that was a killer. She'd dangle her paws over the edge and make frustrated moaning sounds. It was imperative that she learn to go down the stairs as she's getting bigger and heavier: Lil' Robin has gained 10 pounds since she came to live with us. I was at my absolute upper weight limit for picking her up as she is heavy AND squirmy. (30 pounds and growing at her last vet appointment.)
Bob worked very diligently at assisting Robin in mastering the stairs. He began by carrying her down the stairs and putting her down, then carrying her down except putting her down on the third lowest stair and then half way down... until finally she just did it. It was such a conceptual leap; you could see the gears grinding in her head. But she committed and the next thing I knew, she was halfway down. You have to imagine that her legs are very long and still ungainly- her back end tends to overtake her front end. But she did it!
Now, of course, the stairs are a great source of fun and entertainment. Up and down and up and down; great exercise and great help for her coordination. (Sometimes, she can't find her brakes in time and over shoots and crashes into things like trees and glass doors. Ouch.) Thank god for carpets (even ugly, stained carpet) as it makes for better traction that wood.
Today, we're having a puppy play date so we're expecting utter exhaustion come this evening.