Puppy Raising Workshop

Last Friday my mom, Dante, Moray, and I packed up and made the three-and-a-half hour drive to Nashville.  

Our Southeast Region Puppy Program Manager along with an Advanced Training Trainer came up to do a puppy raising workshop for Tennessee and surrounding area puppy raisers.

Dante has traveled a multitude of times, but this was Moray's first trip.  Being only 14 weeks old, he is not allowed to go on public outings yet, and just in the past few days have we turned a corner in potty training.  Needless to say, this was a huge trip for Moray, but he did fantastic.

We usually don't tell hotels we have a dog(s) with us, because we don't want compromised service.  It is easier to ask forgiveness, than beg permission. ;-)  We have yet to stay anywhere where they are not welcoming of our puppies, and this motel was great, too.  With Moray's unpredictable potty habits right now, it was much easier to stay in a motel where we had quicker access outside.

After unpacking and feeding the puppies, we went to dinner at Panera Bread.  Since Moray is not old enough to do public outings yet, we planned on sitting outside with them, but it turned out to be quieter and less distracting to sit just inside the side door.  Moray did well for his first time.  I think having Dante there to help show him what to do helped a lot!

We decided to go check out the facility where the workshop would be on Saturday, so that Moray would get a feel for it before it was busy and overwhelming.  The man working there was so nice and gave us a tour of the whole place.  Moray was a little unsure of some of the flooring, that I hadn't even noticed.  he does so well with taking on new things, that it is easy to forget he has not been exposed to a lot and needs a little more time to figure some things out.

My boys and I on a huge rocking chair

Saturday started with a trip to Starbucks with Young and his raisers for breakfast.  You think one puppy gets a lot of attention, try three!

"You got more kibble, right?"

I guess Young didn't like his "down" command ;-)

We had a fabulous time at the workshop!  Unfortunately, with my mom and I both working puppies, we took very few photos.  We gained so much information, and left with renewed motivation for why we do this. 

Moray was the youngest puppy there, so he got to do some demo-ing with our PPM.

  One of the things I was looking forward to most was meeting Katherine and Novel.  We have been following each other in puppy raising through our blogs and Facebook for over a year now, and it was so neat to get to finally meet them!

Novel, Puck, and Dante

Katherine and Novel, R and Puck, and Dante and I

In all, we had seventeen puppies and two graduate dogs representing five states.  It was so great to talk with so many people who understand exactly what puppy raising is all about, the good, the bad, and the funny! ;-)

The group.  Picture from CCI's Facebook page