Decision Made.

I went to Petsmart today to meet a guy to practice the neutral dog exercise. (This is one of the hardest parts of the Delta Evaluation.) When we were working in the back, I noticed that the crates exactly like the one they have at the hospital, were on sale--$50 OFF. So, that sort of made my decision for me. Now, I just need to continue working with Lucy and hopefully she'll be hopping into the crate before long without a problem! I also think that this could be a great car crate. I've always wanted one for the back of my SUV since it's not at all safe to drive around with a 70 lb dog lose if you get into an accident-for us or the dog. Obviously, this would not hold both dogs, but I think it's okay for one while we're driving to and from our volunteer stuff. Once she'll get in and out of it okay, that is.

Here's Booker testing out the new crate for us. He, of course, is perfectly crate trained, go figure.
This shows you how the long side opens up like a garage door and tucks into the top. The sides also open and there is a trap door at the top that you can open to give treats or let them look out.

I plan to keep updating on here how Lucy is doing with the crate. Dog training is not easy or predictable, but I have always loved it. For those of you who are wondering what the big deal is and why I'm so determined to take Lucy to the hospital, I'm pasting my description of our first visit there below (remember for some weird reason, Lucy did great with the crate on her first visit):

I must say that I am super proud of my Lucy girl. If she wasn't on a diet I would have bought her a hamburger! We had our first official visit at the hospital last night. A visit that was almost a year in the making. And, wow. Was it ever worth it. When we get to the hospital we have to wait in the front lobby for the volunteers to come down with a crate to get us and take us up to the playroom. There is a dog there every week at certain times so the kids are expecting us. Just in the few minutes while we were waiting, we had many families come and tell us that the kids were anxiously awaiting our arrival in the playroom! Then, this lady come up to us and asked me if this was a dog that visits the children. I told her yes, and introduced Lucy. She said that her Grandson was here, and that she knew that he would love to see a dog because he was really missing his at home. She also said that her and her husband usually do the night shift with him and that he hadn't been well enough to leave his room. So, she didn't think that he could come to the playroom to see Lucy. I told her that his doctor could request a bedside dog visit and she was really excited. She hugged on Lucy and then walked away. Soon, the volunteers came down with the big cart and crate and Lucy got right in! Whew! I was a tiny bit nervous about this part b/c Lucy does not like those blacked out crates-only the open wire ones. I really think that she "knows" that she is on her visits (wherever they may be) for a purpose...I think she got that this was a special place...When we rolled up to the playroom there were a ton of people waiting for us! She got lots and lots of hugs. Things kind of calmed down and we were sitting on her mat and in comes the Grandma that I talked with in the lobby and her whole family-grandson included. Wow. This was truly one of the most amazing moments of my life. The dad told me that his son hadn't left his room in over 4 weeks and that our visit tonight came in such good timing because he was finally well enough. They also had a black lab waiting for them at home that he missed terribly...(I was strong last night but I'm tearing up just thinking about it.) This little boy could make sounds and he had a board with letters on it. He would use a fisted hand and point to the letters to spell things out. G-O-O-D G-I-R-L L-U-C-Y and I-L-I-K-E-H-E-R. He held his hand over the edge of the wheelchair and she just sat there and let him rub on her head and ears. She kissed his hand and he loved it. He'd nudge her snout and she'd kiss and kiss his hand.I must say right now that if I ever, ever complain about my toddler/child/teenager, I need to get on my knees and be grateful that he is healthy. We spend our minutes making a million different decisions as mothers and at the end of the day, what is it all for? For our children to grow up and be happy and healthy adults. I need to keep this in perspective always. Always always. May I always have these experiences to keep me humble and to keep the thought close of how fragile life is. And, may I act in my life with my healthy child with half as much dignity and respect as this family. God be with them.