TK Goes to School: Our Second Visit!

We got to see TK yesterday afternoon, and it seems that he has had a growth spurt since the last time we saw him, which was 2 weeks ago! 

Here's the comparison.... 

Maybe it's just me, but he seems more like a "man" now than he did just two short weeks ago! 

However, seeing him yesterday wasn't as SAD for me as it was the first time.

He has graduated from obedience school, and he is now working on the long lead with Trainer Matt. He has introduced some fetching to him, and he says TK has "great drive". 

This meant a lot to Matt to hear the trainer say that; I remember the first few weeks of having TK home, Matt would call me some and tell me that he was worried TK wouldn't want to hunt, or wouldn't have the drive to please Matt as a retriever. To have Trainer Matt say that of TK seemed to cause Matt to breathe a sigh of relief.

He was proud.

Trainer Matt showed us what TK had been doing over the last two weeks, 

and he meshed it all together with what he has learned over the last 30 days.

I love this shot of TK. 

I love how his eyes are fixed on his mark.

When Trainer Matt says, "TK!" He takes off...

and retrieves...

Then they start the process again.

TK knows "PLACE", but now he also knows...

"DOWN"

and he seems pretty proud of himself :)

He greeted Matt with a full blown hug. Like, on his hind legs, front feet around Matt's shoulders, and plenty of licks to the face. It's so sweet to see him see us! 

He's getting so tall, and he's getting so smart!

(we already knew he was smart, though :] )

I love these of Matt squatting beside him. I will show a comparison at the end of the post!

More kisses for the boss man!

And David was able to go with us, too! He was happy to see TK, and TK even greeted him before he came over to me! Ha! David had said prior to going that he didn't think TK would remember him, but I think he certainly did.

grandparent-Pam with the babe!

TK watches Trainer Matt with full attention. The whole time we visited, he could find Trainer Matt elsewhere, and he would sit and watch him as he worked. Granted, he spent time with us, and we think he enjoyed us, but I am also assured that this is how TK should be towards Trainer Matt. He has become his master. Of course, it will only be for a limited time, and (our) Matt will assume that role when TK comes home, but it's neat to catch a glimpse of how TK will eventually answer back to Matt. 

We know he loves us, and the second he saw our faces, his tail wagged 90-to-nothing. 

It's fun to see TK grow up. It's sad, too. I wish so much that we could be there every single day with him, and it makes me sad that he will be nearly FULL grown when he gets back. However, he will be bettered when he gets back. He will fulfill the role that Matt sought out for him, and he will be a companion to him {and us} for, hopefully, the next 11-12 years!

See what I mean? 

He's 6 months old. We think he's starting to look more and more like his Dad!