Tomorrow, McGee will have been at my house for 3 weeks exactly. For the first two of those weeks, I took vacation from work. Under supervision from our trainer, and strict instructions to socialize, McGee flew home with me to visit family for a week. There, she met 8 children, lots of adults, and learned how to fly in a plane, navigate the airport, etc.
McGee was awesome in the plane. She slept almost the whole time. PetSmart had these new carriers for a reasonable price and she thought it was just great.
The first night at my parents', she wasn't sure how to act. I let her do what felt most comfortable, and in this case it was to stick as close to me as possible. For the majority of the trip, she insisted on sleeping all curled up on my neck.
Her shyness only lasted for two days, though, and then she started coming out of her shell. We did all sorts of fun socialization stuff. She responded really well to the other adults and was happy to take naps in everyone's lap.
I had my nephews take turns lying on the floor (ages 6 months to 6 years) and planted treats all over them for McGee to earn. The kids loved the feel of that tiny little puppy jumping all over them and were really, really well behaved. The two-year-old loved her most of all! We played ball, the kids gave her treats and treats and treats. The last day, she was running circles around the kids, just having fun and playing.
When we got home, my roommate commented that it was like McGee had become a different dog. She's definitely braver, and more interested in exploring than she was before we left. Remember that timid little dog?
For the rest of the two weeks, we worked on the things that I consider to be most important -- potty training, bite inhibition, and integrating the two dogs. This week she starts in her supervised puppy play group.
Here are a few more new pics of her around the house. She loves to chase this sunbeam around the kitchen all day.
McGee was awesome in the plane. She slept almost the whole time. PetSmart had these new carriers for a reasonable price and she thought it was just great.
The first night at my parents', she wasn't sure how to act. I let her do what felt most comfortable, and in this case it was to stick as close to me as possible. For the majority of the trip, she insisted on sleeping all curled up on my neck.
Her shyness only lasted for two days, though, and then she started coming out of her shell. We did all sorts of fun socialization stuff. She responded really well to the other adults and was happy to take naps in everyone's lap.
I had my nephews take turns lying on the floor (ages 6 months to 6 years) and planted treats all over them for McGee to earn. The kids loved the feel of that tiny little puppy jumping all over them and were really, really well behaved. The two-year-old loved her most of all! We played ball, the kids gave her treats and treats and treats. The last day, she was running circles around the kids, just having fun and playing.
When we got home, my roommate commented that it was like McGee had become a different dog. She's definitely braver, and more interested in exploring than she was before we left. Remember that timid little dog?
For the rest of the two weeks, we worked on the things that I consider to be most important -- potty training, bite inhibition, and integrating the two dogs. This week she starts in her supervised puppy play group.
Here are a few more new pics of her around the house. She loves to chase this sunbeam around the kitchen all day.
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