Oh, the secrets...

This morning we reprised an activity that we hadn't done in several years.  Each raiser contributes a fact about him/herself that the others won't know, and then we play a game to identify everyone.  Each time we do this we are flabbergasted to unveil what an interesting group of people with which we share this adventure.  

As for the dogs, the practice for them simulates a cocktail party.  Those of us who've ever attended a Dogs Inc banquet, Commencement, or groundbreaking know that those events put tremendous pressure on a puppy (literally) "in the face of" so many other dogs, whether trainees or working dogs.  It is our job to create the necessary personal space and to insist on a level of composure that will set them up for future success in such a setting.  

Oh -- and to have a LOT of fun with unmasking everyone!

Beacon and Atlas

 

Franny and Hudson

Mastro and Buddy

Dash

Jewel

Beacon and Jewel

Rosie and Jewel

The Yellow Squad!

A peek under our puppy vests

What a vista!

Samuel, in North Carolina with Sarane.  

So much excitement

Our pups always have fun (and a lot of new experiences) when they stay with another raiser for a short time. 

Pretty sure Franny passes the "okay with cats" benchmark!  (Crate door is open.  Nobody's under any pressure here.)

Brooke always captures nice portraits of the pups who visit.

And...this is what they tend to look like when they get back to their full-time homes.  "I had a great time, but I am super pooped!"