Mom and the girls took me to a grocery store. From the moment I walked in I knew it was different from the grocery isles at Target. There were more food smells and I couldn't help but sniff at the floor. I wanted to sniff everywhere but mom kept telling me to walk nice and sit tall. They only had to get a few things and went through the store pretty fast. Mom shops here often and staff smiled at her and commented that I was doing very well. But then, I saw it. I started to growl and then I barked! It was a large blue cow statue in the cheese department. Lots of  people laughed because they knew I thought it was alive.  Mom didn't let me check it out though and hustled me away. She said she might let me check it out next time if there are not cheese samples out. I guess I need lots more practice in this new environment!

We went shopping at a new Target store today, but it looked so much like the other one I didn't even blink. It did have better potty spots out front, more landscaping and bushes on the parking lot islands. I void a long time because I know there won't be other dogs to meet or spots to mark. Mom's really happy that I know the difference between dog park or pet stores and public access work!
Mom did a lot more shopping than the last time we to the store. She filled her cart with produce and groceries. I walk on her right side and most people don't even notice me unless we pass them or are walking towards them. Three people asked if they could pet me but mom said no. That really does help me focus on my public access manners. One lady stopped and chatted for a while about her volunteer work at Can-Do-Canines and Helping Paws, two local service animal training centers.  She wanted to pet me too but said she knew not to ask.
So the bread isle is my biggest challenge. My nose can't help but drift towards the yummy smell and mom had to tell me to leave it when I got too close. I also got a little spooked when she opened a freezer door and picked out some vegetables, but next time she will probably warn me and the cold whoosh won't be such a surprise. Check-out was easy this time. I sat politely and waited patiently while mom loaded up the groceries. When we got home, mom told dad I am way easier to handle than the kids! :)

Today I went to the Target store with both mom and the girls. Mom pushed a cart with me on her right. Little sis is a lefty and holds onto the short leash with her left hand and I am in the middle. They stopped pretty often to put groceries and paper products in the cart, but I parked every time mom asked. She stepped on my leash while I was laying down so she could turn around to reach onto a shelf. Mom talked to little sis about going left or right at the end of an isle and staying next to me so we could turn corners together. Little sis jumps and flaps a lot, but I'm used to that and am not bothered even when I'm crowded between them. She held onto her leash and didn't leave the group at all! 
Both girls brought birthday money to buy a toy. They knew what they wanted so that didn't take long. Waiting in the check-out lane was the hardest part because each girl had a turn to count out their money and put their toy in a bag. I got bored and discovered some brightly colored goldfish crackers laying around. Mom told me to leave it and gave me a treat when I did, but I couldn't  take my eyes off them until we moved up in line. I really wanted those purple and red crackers that smell like cheese!
The check-out lady in the next lane asked if she could pet me, but mom said no. Trainer Lynnda wants me to focus on little sis and accepting pets from friendly strangers could distract me from learning my job. I parked perfectly while everyone zipped up their jackets and we all drove home. Mom told everyone they did a super job!

Mom took me out to a Target Store. The first thing she noticed is there was not a landscaped area for me to potty at before we went in. She had to go out a ways into the parking area to find a median with rocks.  But I was so distracted by a dog barking in a nearby car that I didn't want to go. So mom shrugged and we went in. I looked at mom when she stopped at the door just like we have practiced at other stores. She got a cart and we started walking. There is a grocery store there and mom went up and down the isles, but it didn't seem any different from the other stores we have been in. She has me look at her a few steps before we get to an isle and she stops now and then and asks me to park.  Mom is practicing using her shoulders and a hand signal to give me a clue to which direction we would turn. The only two places she had to remind me to "leave it" was the meat case and the bread isle. My nose was drawing me towards the enticing aromas so mom picked up the pace and we walked on by. In the toy area, I could hear some children and wanted to see what they were up to, but mom turned and went the other way. I quickly forgot about them and walked very nicely through the rest of the store. The TV area made me a little nervous at first, so mom had me sit so I could catalog the sounds and then I was fine. She was chuckling to herself about when I was a brand new puppy at their house and I was afraid of the TV and Computers. I've really grown up a lot! She walked back past the meat case again and bought a loaf of bread so we could practice the check-out isle. Right behind us a lady commented to mom it was so hard not to talk to me because she loves dogs. Mom invited her to pet me and explained I am an autism therapy dog. The lady gave me a nice scratch under my chin and told me I was doing a wonderful job in the store. I parked nicely while mom bought the bread and we went on home. I like going out with my family!