A night out

For months before Fizz arrived, I worked on putting together (and revising!) my "Insane Puppy Socialization Plan."   Fizz is to be my obedience partner, among other things, and I don't want to worry about ANYTHING that may come our way in a trial.  I don't care if the judge is on stilts, with a toy train running about her wide brimmed hat and her wig falls off.   That's fine, we'll still be working.   I want Fizz to think that's an every-day occurrence, and not worthy of note.

So....we're going out everywhere that we can, finding anything and everything to experience, and basically trying to see the whole world and all its oddities.    Tonight, we went out to a local Catholic facility who has a few acres of walking paths, and an amazing light display at Christmas time, complete with beautiful Christmas hymns.   I had hoped that on such a warm night (65F), there would be a lot of people out.   However, it's early in the season, and I wondered tonight if not many people realize that the shrine is open for lights.

Fizz had a grand time wandering about, met a few people including 2 young girls (sisters) who have an 8mos Boxer pup at home.  Because we were so busy sniffing things, hubby and the kids got ahead of us.   At one point, she put her nose to the ground, and I could hear those deep inhale/exhale sounds of a dog working a track.   She pulled me right up a steep hill (in the dark), and around to where the kids were.   Big praise for that!

As we were finishing our tour, the rain started, at a fairly steady pace.   Fizz's nose shot straight up in the air, and she started biting at the rain, I haven't laughed so hard in ages.   Never have I seen a puppy "attack" the rain....but I tell you, this girl's prey drive.............she's a dream!    Again, the kids and hubby got well ahead of us, and this time, she tracked solidly on a hard surface (paved sidewalk).   The focus and intensity were awesome to see.   The tracking history behind Fizz is amazingly strong, and I look forward to having her out one day on the TD/TDX/VST fields.

So tonight's experience brought us:  new people to meet, scent work, new environment at night, areas of loud music, lit/moving things (taller than me), and some simple work (hand targets, name game) in a very new and different environment.   There is no such thing as too much socialization!!