Rocket pups celebrate 1st birthday!

Has it really been a year already?!  They say time flies when you are having fun, so perhaps that is the reason why this year flew by so fast.  We have been having lots of fun with Delta and it looks and sounds like all the other Rocket pups are having fun and bringing smiles to their families too.  It makes us very happy to see the pups enjoying life with wonderful families.

Atlas

from Keith: "Atlas celebrated a his first birthday with a  good chew on a nylabone toy, which he then followed with a powerful chew on my aluminum framed eyeglasses which were sitting on the bedside table.  They are partially usable after a herculean effort by our optometrist,  but will need replacement.  He claims that they give him double vision when he tries wearing them, and has decided that I can keep them, and that he will stick to chewing nylabones in the future.  He suggests that from his point of view, they should make glasses frames out of nylabone material, not flimsy
aluminum.

Skipper

Skipper's family: "We love her so much!!!  She has added so much joy and fun to our family!!!!!   Dory has been a great big sister to her!!!  Skipper had a wonderful 1st birthday...We spent it at our cabin...There was even a bit of snow for her...She loves, loves, loves snow....We say she gets "snow rabies" because she absolutely goes nuts when there is snow!!!  She and Dory celebrated her 1st birthday with special yummy dog treats and several new toys!!!"

Luna

Luna's family: "Here is Luna after a recent splash at the dog beach. She is spending her birthday with her best human friend and their dog Willow. We are out of town but we plan to call and sing her happy birthday.

Probably no hats (see Pocket below) but when we get back to town this week she'll get a big bison knee cap to work on for a few hours. :)"

Pocket

Pocket

Pocket's family: "Here are a couple of Pocket. Got to go to the park and be king of the rock. Then our kids made a birthday hat for him - not sure he liked the idea but was patiently waiting for his treat."

Delta

Delta got two new toys and had turkey/sardine meatloaf (yum!) for her birthday dinner, but otherwise had a boring birthday.  We made up for that a little with a visit to Sauvie Island the following day to run along the river.

Redstone

Redstone's family: "Redstone is spending his birthday weekend with grandma and will have a birthday party with Carver, who decided that RS is really more of an April puppy. "

Lani

Lani's family: "I will take a better photo of Lani when I finish her hair cut.  She is so sweet, beautiful coat, lots of bone, 20” tall & 43#.  We just started an agility class, she seems to love it."

Continuing Socialization

Socializing Delta outside the local grocery store.

It's easy to enroll your puppy in a puppy class or two and think your socialization efforts are complete, but it is important to continue to socialize your pup well past puppy-hood and throughout his life.  Noted trainer and author Jean Donaldson states there is a “use it or lose it” aspect to socialization because over time, an animal’s degree of sociability always moves naturally in the direction of greater fear-avoidance of things rarely encountered.  Here are a few quick suggestions on keeping your dog social:

• Enroll him in a training class.  Tricks, nosework, agility, canine good citizen...there are lots of fun options.
• Some of the classes you take can lead to continued socialization as well as a lifelong hobby competing in agility, trialling in nosework, getting your dog therapy dog certified and going on visits...
• Arrange for doggy play-dates with compatible dogs owned by your friends.  You can let the pups romp in your back yard or get more ambitious and take them on an outdoor adventure swimming or hiking or....
• Need some caffeine?  On a good weather day, go to your local coffee shop and grab a beverage to drink in the outdoor seating area.  If your pup is a cutie, people are sure to ask to visit.
• Running errands?  If you are going to a business that allows dogs, take your pup along with you.  Pet supply stores welcome leashed dogs, as do many hardware stores.  In my area there is even a nationally known clothing store and a local kitchen supply store that allow leashed, wall-mannered dogs.
• Got kids, or know someone who does?  Outdoor sports provide a great place to socialize your dog with other spectators.

If you put your mind to it you can think of lots of other things to do with your dog to encourage him to stay socialize and confident.  Use common sense, take treats for people to give your pup and enjoy yourself!