Early morning romps at home between you and your puppy are always fun. From first nose-rubs and paw-shakes to a friendly game of catch in the backyard—both of you are constantly getting to know each other better. But that’s just the beginning. Soon you’ll be running out the door with errands and other things to do during the day and who better to keep you company than your little pal? You’ll discover even more firsts with him by your side and before you know it, heading out won’t be the same without your puppy to keep you company.
For Honolulu, Hawaii, resident Madge Jen, bringing her seven-month old French Bulldog puppy Otis to the veterinarian set off a new spark in their friendship. Now the duo travels together for most of their day-to-day outings, even veggie shopping at their local outdoor produce market.
“Initially, I was planning on going home right after Otis’ appointment but on the way home, I remembered that my neighborhood was having its weekly market and that I needed to buy some veggies for dinner,” Jen says. And true to puppy form, Otis’ wonderment at this new atmosphere left him bursting with energy and excitement. “Soon Otis was venturing from stand to stand—becoming more curious with every step he took. I could see his already big ears stand up even higher when a car would pass in the distance or he would hear a child laugh. He would also start sniffing around and make faces depending on whether he liked the smell of something or not.”
Sometimes the journey can be just as interesting as the destination. For Brooklyn, N.Y., resident Lizzie Joseph, taking her American Pit Bull Terrier puppy Paige from place to place is usually done on foot. However, on the occasion that she has to take public transportation, she can just pay an extra $5 and rely on taxi driver Jasper at the pet-friendly Hummingbird Car Service. “Jasper is such a kind soul and a huge dog lover. If I need to go anywhere further than my feet could take me with my puppy, I will certainly call on him again.” Content to stay close together during their ride, Paige is more interested in playfully nuzzling by Joseph’s side than being bothered by the city traffic.
Over in Philadelphia, Penn., Joanne Perez loves taking her Chow Chow puppy Grimace over to the pet store. She recalls their initial outing: “I took him for his first ‘field trip’ when he was around six-months old. The automatic doors were already something for him to marvel at! From stepping on squeaky toys, sniffing different chew toys, and zigzagging through the aisles, he had the time of his life. Now I can tell if he likes something in particular, because he grabs it and places it at my feet and starts wagging his fluffy tail around. But when I go down to pick it up, he’ll take it away before I can get my hands on it. This goes on for a few minutes then I’ll finally take it from him and put it into the cart. And since he’s still growing, Grimace also likes to test his size by squeezing through small spaces—whether it’s a crate or underneath a shelf—to see if he can manage to escape. He loves the challenge of getting into (and out of) tight spots as if he’s trying to tell me ‘look what I can do!’ ” As an added bonus, taking Grimace to the pet store also gets him adjusted to other people and pets as well. “It’s fascinating to see how he reacts to fresh faces. Overall, he’s very social—he always wants to play and becomes extra boisterous around fellow tail-waggers. It’s incredible how much enthusiasm he has.”
When it comes to stepping out with your puppy, his experience becomes yours as well!
