...as the saying goes, makes Paxton a dull puppy. And my guess is that it wouldn't make him a very good guide dog either. Because most people see us when we're out in public (and Paxton is "working"), I often get asked if he ever gets to play.

One answer to that is that the work IS play for the dogs. Dogs, especially those bred as working, hunting or herding dogs, seem to have a need to be useful and often make something up if you don't give them something to do - especially the creative ones like Border Collies ;-) Just like pet obedience training (should be), all of our training exercises are games for the dog. If the dog isn't having fun, he's not going to willingly participate, at least not for long! One of the things I watch for while training is to see if Paxton is showing any signs of getting bored or frustrated. If so, I have him do something he does really well (end with success!), and then move on to another location or activity that I know he really enjoys and does well.

The answer people really want to hear is "Yes! They get to play." In addition to us humans playing games with the puppies (retrieve, hide and seek, touch, shell game, etc.) we have regular play dates with other puppies or with calm adult dogs. It's important for dogs to learn how to be good dogs, and one of the best ways to do this is with other dogs.

Paxton has had play dates with Flame, Trooper, Milton, Reilly, Aiden, Welby, and Noel and Yoga among others. We have also gone on some outings with other pups in training and their raisers - to dinner with Trooper and to a Pioneer Girls meeting and elementary school with Noel and Juliet. Even after they get to Guide Dog School, they will have playtimes with the other dogs in training.

Here are a few of Paxton's playmates:

When he was little, Yoga let him think he could win at doggie-tug!

Paxton and his girl Noel - she let him think he was winning - for a few minutes!

Then it was back to tug where she showed him who was really the boss.

Boston Terrier, Aiden, took a break every once in a while to catch his breath -
so much play, so little nose!

Milton and Paxton played in the large fenced yard on a day following rain.

The window was clean before the dogs went out...and the dogs were different colors!

Trooper (l) and Paxton are less than a week apart in age and have had several play dates,
including this one at Digby's Dog Clubhouse.

All the boys (Trooper, Paxton and Bean, the Newfoundland) were interested in Nika, a two-year-old Weimaraner. Despite the pose in this picture, she was not taken advantage of and calmly told the boys off when they got too fresh.

After our recent "square dancing" practice (subject of a future blog) the boys (Milton, Trooper and Paxton) stayed to play with a tug they found in Welby and Trooper's playroom.