Puppies learn differently than humans. No surprise there. They process via different senses and view at a different height. 

This morning, I took a saunter with Lime Boy back a woods road. Now I have been walking this road regularly lately and it's amazing. So many flowers coming into bloom at this time of year. Polly wogs, birds singing as they sit on their nests. No human or vehicle traffic. There's a couple babbling brooks and a well laid dirt road. It's truly bliss. Today there were geese honking nearby as well as an owl. 

I added some elevation work today. It was combined with new(ish) textures underfoot. Now, this isn't just a pop a pup on a log event. It's a careful and thoughtful process. Elevation immediately changes the scent and the view for a pup. The deadfall would be 5 times his height. Seems like nothing for us, until you do the math and realize the equivalent would be 25'+ off the ground for us. 

As expected, he was calm, sniffed the log and remained sure footed. Elevation is something I purposefully work on with my litters.  It's important for things like vet exam or grooming tables. The key point is, once I decide to place a pup somewhere, I'm committed to that "somewhere" until they are done. I choose spots that have an interest, elevation, texture (like moss), or smells. It would be unfair and unjust to say "let's go" after the pic was snapped. The photos are a by-product not the purpose. He sniffed and tasted. He looked around. He got his bearings. When he was ready to move on, he jumped down. 

He is amazing at checking in while off leash. This is an under rated skill. It loosely translates to him doing the work, not me. It means I don't have to recall him, or watch (as closely as other pups). He can lag behind and sniff a spot longer and catch up. He can run ahead until something catches his interest. He stops and gets eye contact and a "good job" from me and carries on. It's important to put our responses on the part we want repeated. If I yelled for him to "come" while he was running away.... it would get me more running away. If I sing out "good job" when he checks in with me... you guessed it, I get more checking in. 

Now, while he's walked on gravel, pavement, dirt road. He's played on pea gravel and sand and rocks the size of him. He has not stood on a big rock, until this morning. It's important to start recognizing the nuances in the differences. There is also value in recognizing the differences and giving puppies time to explore those same things. Just like the log, he was able to take his time, sniff, dig, smell, taste. 

How far did we go? Well I carried him from home to the side road. (and back). He explored maybe .2 of a km. Its not about distance. Distance builds stamina, and I really try to not do that. I try to focus on enrichment and socializing not distance. Distance is a human thing. Can I call it socializing, even though we didn't see a person or animal? Yes! Socializing is about building confidence. That isn't done while the dog or pup is stressed. Each thing they "conquer" goes into their mental database and confidence grows. That's what socializing is supposed to be. Not 1000 people and 1000 places. It's reaching a saturation point of textures underfoot. or noises or scents. 

This boy has smelled 30 shampoos, not on people, but from friends blue bag items! I've done the same with house cleaners, laundry, and lotions. He's played with plastic, metal, random things and store bought things. Things that squeak and things that  crunch. Edible and non edible things. Toys that aren't toys and food dishes that aren't food dishes. 

All of this effort makes his transition from home easier and makes him the easiest companion pup ever. He's 4 months old and today was his first "walk

Now he gets time off to mentally process what he took in today. It's a big step. He likely smelled 100's of new things. He got pretty involved with a clump of grass that may have had a rodent. I learned he is a scent puppy! His little nose never stopped sniffing the ground and when the wind blew, the air (air scenting and ground scenting are two different things). I believe with his calm approach to life, he would do excellent in scent sports. 

It was a good day. Nothing scary, nothing too much. Just me and a puppy on a little saunter in the woods.