Pupdate!

Today we had a puppy field trip for Jag & Audi.  I can't take all the pups home at once, as fun as that would be, but I can take 2 home for a few hours to get them "out". 

As I said in the previous blog entry, at this time in their lives puppies are very impressionable.  It's vital that they see new things and meet new people every single day.  And it's very important to get them out of their comfort zone (our shop) and into the world while they are still in this breathlessly fearless stage.  Of course, you have to be VERY careful about where you take your puppy.  Not fully vaccinated, their introduction to the world at large should be in a safe environment, free from heavy dog-traffic.  That's why I took them home to my yard.  

In 4 hours, Jag & Audi had these new experiences:  they touched grass for the first time, and also walked on gravel, concrete, hard wood, carpet, and pool decking.  They learned to walk up and down a metal wheelchair ramp, and learned to maneuver steps.  They met 7 new people and 1 new dog (our own, fully vaccinated).  The boys that returned to their litter mates were not the same puppies that left.  Loud and obnoxious, and pushy they returned incredibly worn out and content.  The world is bigger than their ex-pen, and they are a little bit wiser to have experienced it. ;)