February is often called the month of love, and it certainly felt that way for me! Like many of my PADS puppy friends, I participated in the Invictus Games, spending time at the Puppy Lounge in the Pan Pacific Hotel and the Puppy Puddle in the Invictus Village at the Convention Centre. Both venues gave me lots of opportunities to give and receive love from kind and caring humans, while also practicing my future service dog skills in busy environments. This included navigating through the crowded venues, bustling downtown Vancouver sidewalks, and even travelling on the Skytrain. It was an incredible experience, and the humans were so proud of me!
I also joined my class pals for a field trip to Metrotown Mall this month—what a lively place! It was exciting to practice our skills together in such a real-world setting. Speaking of pals, I met up with PADS Fawn for a trail walk and off-leash playtime. We had a great mix of fun puppy time and focused work on our trail manners and skills. I also explored a new off-leash trail with my non-PADS friend, Koa and had a blast.
Beyond that, my raisers have been keeping me busy by bringing me along on their daily activities and errands. This month, I visited a hair salon, hospital, library, gym, brewery, various grocery stores, cafes, and more! Each outing offered valuable training experiences—whether it was a child running toward me, loud trains rushing past, or a fire alarm sounding. I consistently demonstrated my confidence in handling the unexpected while staying focused on my handler. And at the end of the busy days, I love to snuggle up with one of the humans on the floor while they watch a show.
I’m excited for next month with warmer spring weather and longer days ahead. I’m also preparing for my eight-month “walk & talk,” an important milestone in my journey.
Submitted by: Tanya
