{"id":7429,"date":"2014-04-01T17:05:14","date_gmt":"2014-04-02T01:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/?p=7429"},"modified":"2023-11-20T14:18:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T22:18:48","slug":"theres-something-squishy-under-my-little-puppy-paws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/theres-something-squishy-under-my-little-puppy-paws\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Introduce Your Puppy To Different Surfaces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I may not always be learning something new when it comes to puppy training and raising, but I’m often reminded of something old that I may have forgotten (actually more like it was dormant) when raising a new puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This past weekend we were puppy-sitting an adorable little (actually big) puppy in training named Tagg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tagg is the type of puppy you dream of bringing home<\/a>. \u00a0His mom is doing an awesome job raising him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At only 7 months old he’s already very easygoing, well-behaved, very good out in public, and basically just a rock star puppy in training. \u00a0He isn’t without his faults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He really liked picking up the leaves and grass in the backyard. So we worked on his “leave it” command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also heard he’s a seasoned veteran when it comes to destroying his doggy toys. \u00a0We heard he destroyed his black KONG! \u00a0Now that’s quite a feat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why You Should Introduce Your Puppy To Different Surfaces<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Pups<\/a>
Pups Tagg and Duncan at the GDA Booth<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This week’s story starts with a visit to the Irvine Regional Park where Tagg and I went to help work a Guide Dogs of America (GDA) booth at the AHF Walk a Hound Lose a Pound<\/a> event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working the GDA booth gives puppies in training a great chance to represent their school as well as work on meet and greets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also gives us puppy raisers a chance to tell people all about GDA, puppy raising, and the joys of volunteering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amanda and her GDA puppy, Penny (from the famed Penny Tales Facebook page<\/a>) set up the booth for GDA as part of her Girl Scout gold award project. \u00a0Awesome job Amanda and Penny!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We arrived a bit late and things started winding down a bit early so we decided to take a walk through the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven’t been to Irvine Regional Park it’s a little more than just a park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s a zoo, kids’ playground area, pony rides, mini train, tractor with hayrides, duck pond, and of course all the other excitement of a regular park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basically an awesome place for a puppy in training to see a few sights, sounds, and smells they would normally never come across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did I mention that Tagg is a Rockstar? Nothing phased Tagg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had a great loose leash heel. A few kids came up to say hello and he did an awesome sit-stay while receiving love and affection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn’t care about the ponies, the whistle from the train, the loud noise and dust from the tractor. Basically unphased by everything except…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we walked through the park Tagg took one step on the sand and started hopping around like a jackalope (do they hop?) \u00a0chased by a lion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He reached down to grab a mouthful in excitement. \u00a0This wasn’t the first time I’d seen this reaction when puppies’ paws hit the sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m guessing it’s that squishy feeling pushing the webbing of their paws, but whatever it is it triggers some kind of crazy playtime in puppies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a look at this video of Dublin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go to the 2:22 mark of the video<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n