Our time with Ruthie is quickly coming to an end. On August 18, I have to take her back to Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) so she can receive advanced training. That is also the time our son returns to Ball State and we have an empty nest again.

I haven't written much about Ruthie, perhaps because I haven't had as many first-time experiences with her. Or maybe it's because Ruthie's personality is more low-key that Ruiz's was or because she didn't do as well in public as Ruiz did.

I got Ruthie last September when she was five months old instead of at eight weeks as is the usual custom. She started out with another puppy raiser who developed allergy issues and couldn't keep her. I didn't mind missing out on the housebreaking stage and I was excited that she was old enough to start going out in public.

Before long, it became work to take her with me and I was discouraged because she seemed so uncomfortable in public. She pulled a little on the leash and remained 12-18" away from me. I felt like I was constantly correcting her. As a result, one day each week, I took her to a store strictly for training. There was no shopping or set agenda and I left my purse at home. My friend advised me that it would be better for Ruthie if I was firm with her now so it wouldn't be a surprise to her in advanced training. She was right; I was not being an effective leader.

Our extra training and a dose of maturity has paid off. Ruthie is more confident and at ease in public. She once got her tail shut in a door and let everyone within earshot know how painful it was. Fortunately, she was mature enough to learn that she needs to keep up with me (we are to walk through the doorway together) and, yet, not bolt through the door in fear.

People still ask me, "Is that your new dog?" I'm never sure how to answer that because I don't know if they mean- Is that not Ruiz? or Is that the same dog you had the last time I saw you? or Did you just get that dog a few weeks ago? Lately I answer, "This is Ruthie, my second dog." I should consider alternating between yellow dogs and black dogs and then a new dog would be more obvious.

Canine Companions for Independence has their own breeding program. The puppies being raised currently are to be left intact as CCI replaces some of their breeding stock that are being retired (including Ruthie's mother). As a result, I gained new knowledge from Ruthie that I had not experienced before: a dog in season. I'm a city girl who believes it's best to spay or neuter one's pet, so I know nothing about the basic birds-and-the-bees process.

My CCI friends told me what to look for when a female dog goes into season. She was 13 months old so I kept watching for the signs but they didn't seem as obvious as my friends said they'd be. I finally took Ruthie to the vet who informed me that, yes, Ruthie was going into season. During the three weeks that this takes place, we can either board the dog or bring her back to the CCI kennel. I chose CCI because I knew she'd have a chance to play with the other dogs and, being an "only dog," I was happy for her to have that interaction. Living at the CCI kennel can be stressful and I felt this would be a practice run for her before she is turned in for advanced training for six months. I also hoped CCI staff would become aware of any problem behaviors Ruthie might have so that we could work them out before she returned in August.

After nearly three weeks at the kennels in Delaware, Ohio, we received a phone call telling us we could pick Ruthie up. She had no problems while she was there and her behavior was appropriate for her age and stage of training. Ruthie was home for one month when I noticed all the signs my friends had told me about earlier. As obvious as they were, I doubted them because I had also been told a heat cycle happens every six months and it had been only one month. I phoned CCI and was told that, not very often, a dog might have a back-to-back or split heat cycle and that Ruthie could be experiencing that. Ha! I always knew Ruthie was special.

This time I was given the option of keeping her home. It is getting close to turn-in and I didn't want her to miss out on another three weeks of training, even if she was confined to the house and backyard. We have been working on her 26 basic commands. I have been reminded of what it's like to have a pet: they have to be left at home when you go out and sometimes they get bored and become a pest. At one point, when Ruthie was confined to the kitchen, I think she experienced separation anxiety since she couldn't follow me around the house.

Ruthie has fit into our household even better than Ruiz did. Yes, it will be hard to give her back, so I keep reminding myself that, come August 18, our relationship as we know it will end. Even if she is released from the program and comes back to us, she will no longer be allowed in stores and restaurants and Church. We wish her good luck.