Yesterday and today the puppies will be able to see, do and experience a variety of things that they have never done before!  And once they find out how big their world is, there will be no stopping them-the whelping box will no longer be seen as a place of security but instead a place they want to leave; 4 white walls will be replaced with sights, sounds, toys and lots of different interaction with “things”!!!

They’ve graduated from bio-sensor training and now they need to do things to build their tolerance, adaptability, and overall resilience so that when they grow into their role as assistance puppies in training they are ready for the task at hand as much as possible!

As whelping homes we do as much as we can to ensure their success, and so it’s difficult in my opinion if one of our puppies doesn’t make it to graduation; there are so many things out of our control that can derail the trajectory of the puppies-personality, allergies, medical issues and simply not having the desire to work.  None of these issues mean the dog isn’t wonderful, it just means this career isn’t the right path for them.

So we pour our hearts and energy into these mini-miracles in the hopes that one day they will pour THEIR hearts and energy into someone else. And for me, that’s the only reason I can happily go without sleep for many hours or days, be content for weeks mostly in the confines of my home, wash laundry like it’s a fine art, and be okay with pooper scooper duty of 7 pups for 5+ weeks:). The hope fir them is what fuels the passion for me!

Here are some pics of their last 24 hours of firsts!

First field trip to the dining room