Day Two with Nico

I got the kids off to school and took all four dogs outside for thirty minutes, Wyatt for his first of many games of fetch and the others to run. Our shortened morning playtime was due to Nico having a date with a walk and meeting all the people along the way. My plan was to jump right into socialization have him meet as many people as he was comfortable with. Nico and I headed out of the house to the local strip of stores a couple of blocks from my home. As we made our way there at a comfortable pace Nico sniffed and cars slowed to look at him some even stopped to ask if he was a Greyhound. I've become used to people slowing or stopping to comment on my other dogs and what a unique looking pack I have. Nico didn't mind in fact he was ready for them to pet him.

We made our to the side shops of the strip and walked past a couple of stores and up and down the sidewalk and finally stopped in front of the local recruiter's office. The ladies and gentlemen take a fifteen-minute break to help me with my other dogs and gladly helps out this time too. I ask them to let Nico approach them and if he does to offer him a treat and if he gives them eye contact to give him even more treats. By the time the fifteen or twenty minutes was over Nico had met at least 15 new people most of whom were men of all shapes and sizes. He gave them all good eye contact and freely walked to and from them for pets and treats. He did much better than I thought he would. We thanked the recruiters and moved on with our walk.

Nico and I made our way through the parking lot walking close to the gas station so I could observe what he would do with idling cars. He looked sniffed but nary a pause. We continued and made our way down the center of the parking lot to walk past the automatic doors of the grocery store. He enjoyed the people and the treats he received but he was uncomfortable with the automatic doors opening and closing. After another ten or fifteen minutes of meeting and greeting at the grocery store we made our way home by way of the schoolyard. We walked the fence line so he could see the kids playing. His ears perked up, he watched and every so often looked to me to see what our next move was. Our next move was to go home so my frozen toes could thaw.

Nico spent the rest of the day napping and eyeing the cat, which he chased several times by the end of the day. The more time he spends with our cat, Leonardo the more I think it's probably not a good idea. While my three dogs will give chase they always let him jump the gate at the stairs, Leos safety zone, but not Nico. Nico will poke the cat's bed with his nose, yip at him until he pops his head up and then chase him if he decides to move to another location and a couple of times I caught Nico nipping at him. It could just be my cat irritates him, but I'm more inclined to say he'd probably do better not to have kitties around. But only more time will tell.

A successful day two, on to day three! Until then woof, woof, and roo, roo.