8 Miles High; 3lbs Low

The mostly affable Princess has walked 8 miles in the past week. Every one of them, at least the uphill parts, has been a struggle for both of us.

For her, it's just a matter of conditioning, and each trip is just a teensy bit easier than the last one. To her credit, Princess looks forward to these walks, even though I can tell they are difficult for her.

For me, it's mostly frustration. I walk for exercise, and plodding ever so slowly up the "hill" is hardly what anyone under 80 would call exercise.

Still, we're getting along well. She's beginning to understand what's expected of her in this new, adoptive home, and I'm beginning to understand that it's going to take a good while for her to be able to walk at my speed.

We are making progress on her weight. When Princess was surrendered three weeks ago to the Golden Retriever Emergency Assistance Team, she weighed 121. When we got her from a foster home on Friday, Feb. 19, she weighed 117. Yesterday, she weighed in at 114.