11 weeks-12 weeks Old
July 27 – August 3^rd

This week was all about getting out and about, meeting new people, and checking out new places. Captain says it’s super important for a puppy like me to meet well-behaved adult dogs, not just any dog at a dog park, because they can have some not-so-great habits. So, we went on some fun outings with that in mind!

Our first adventure was to a restaurant with outdoor seating. Captain made sure we had permission to bring me along, and one of our friends even brought his big dog named Mando. Mando is a full-grown, large breed dog, and we got to meet each other the right way—with some good old-fashioned butt sniffing and tail wagging. Captain had a treat bag clipped to her belt, and every time I behaved nicely, especially when I settled down and laid at her feet, I got a yummy treat! There was even some live music playing, but I didn’t mind it at all. We didn’t stay too long, though—Captain wanted to make sure I left on a good note before it got too loud.

A few days later, we visited a really nice lady who runs a therapy dog program in our county. She had her retired therapy dog there, and I got to meet him too! I made sure to go potty before going inside, so no accidents in her house (yay me!). I played nicely with her dog and then settled down at Captain’s feet again—earning more praise and treats, of course.

We also took a quick trip to a home improvement store that welcomes dogs. Captain thought it would be a good place for me to experience some new things, like sliding glass doors and walking on different types of flooring. It was just a quick 10-minute shopping trip, but I did great, and yep, I got more treats for my good behavior.

This week, we also met with three different trainers. Captain wanted to find just the right one for my obedience and group classes, which start in three weeks after I get my final vaccinations. We’ll be looking for a trainer with the right experience when we move on to more advanced training down the road.

I’m so grateful for all these new experiences and for the people and places that welcomed me in. Socialization is a big part of my training, and it’s been so much fun!

P.S. Captain says it takes a lot of patience to raise a puppy like me, she wrote about some of the ways I’ve tested it over here in her Captain’s Log.