Marsh’s Marvellous month of December:

This month, I have confidently settled into my co-raising routine. At school, the kids know how and when to give me space when I’m in training mode. They also know the times that they are allowed to come and pet me. Often in the library, I lie really still and they come over and give me some scritches and snuggles. I love the kids and they smell warm and sweet. At recess I usually have a small group of kids come over and say hello to me and I watch them playing, running around, swinging on the swings and squealing.Β 

Outings this month have been quite exciting and I have been to lots of different places. The streets, houses and shops are decorated with lights, inflatable statues and sparkly decorations. At my age now I am supposed to be able to lie quietly for a while. Places that I went to and practiced settling were a restaurant, coffee shops, a hospital laboratory waiting room, a clothing shop, a hairdresser again and the recreation centre to watch the swimmers. There’s always someone asking questions about me and about PADS and a short outing often takes longer than planned.Β 

Other outings took me to some big box shops, and grocery stores, walks around the lake to see lights, a Christmas craft fair, malls looking for Santa and a number of evening drives to look at more lights. The nurses and volunteers at Langley Hospice were excited to see me one evening and I also met two patients.Β 

Once a week I go for an off-leash scamper somewhere and work on my recall, and sometimes, I go with a friend and enjoy a good play. Our puppy class Christmas party was long and fun and I managed to stay on my soft blanket for a lot of the evening. The month ended with a few Christmas social events in the house and I used those days to get some extra naps in.Β 

Happy New Year everyone.

Submitted by: Jo & Laura