Puppy socialization

You humans.  It is so interesting to see how you deal with us as puppies. You fret and worry about our "socialization" - because, as I understand it, if we don't experience a whole lot of different things - including people, places, animals, sounds, and even textures during our "critical period" which goes up to around 16 weeks - we will grow up needing psychiatric help when we are older.  So you humans do your very best to make sure we are well-adapted, sociable beings.  

So to be sure that Jaws doesn't turn out needing sessions on a psychiatrist's couch (which he would no doubt chew), my human has been exposing him to all kinds of things, places and people.  This supreme effort to expose Elroy to the world, also serves to tire him out - which as we all know, a tired puppy is a happy puppy.  Or maybe it should be a tired puppy has a happy human.

So yesterday, our day began with a walk with all three of us on the trail. Socialization #1.  The Hulk walked with Velcro dog - who can actually be allowed off leash as he never runs away - even when he sees a bunny.  My human walked me and Jaws.  And all went well.  She didn't need to carry him at all.  When we arrived home, she THOUGHT he might be tired.  Fat chance - the walk wasn't 50 km.   After breakfast, Jaws had his first visit to the Vet - just for a puppy orientation.  Socialization #2. Everyone was happy to see him and most the staff had never met a Picard before.  They were Googling photos of adult dogs.  Jaws was quite well behaved, until the Vet trimmed his nails.  Now he behaved - but he exhibited a PERFECT PON imitation.  We told him to.  He screamed.  It's not as if the Vet cut his nails too short - he just decided to be very vocal about how short they should be cut.

After the visit to the Vet, my human wasn't done with him yet. Socialization #3.  She took him downtown to the Halifax waterfront - a mecca for tourists, cyclists, baby carriages, dogs, boats - you name it.  Socialization overload.  And Jaws had a blast.  My human had to keep telling people what breed he was.  And no one knew a Picard.  Go figure.  He was a happy, outgoing boy.

So when he got home, Jaws was POOPED.  

He slept for several hours.  And when he woke up, my human THOUGHT he might still be sleepy - so she tried to get a decent photo of the three of us.  Well THAT was a circus.  Velcro dog and I stayed in place, but the squirming worm with the needle teeth who has the attention span of a gnat was just a tad difficult to capture.  And we each took turns sticking out tongues out at the camera.  

The top photo you see was one of the best and happiest shots taken - and note Jaws is holding a stick.  That was the ONLY way to get him to stay in place.  And he has already caught on to the variety of weird and wonderful noises my human makes to get our attention while she acts as the puparazzi. He ignores her.  Total picnore.  I have taught him well!  But I doubt my human is finished with us yet...just wait until she brings out the holiday attire...