Gradually Graduating
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| When Camp Bow Wow McHenry moves a dog to the big dog yard, they basically do another “interview” with the dog, doing a slow, one-by-one introduction to all of the big dogs to make sure the dog will not be overwhelmed by all the new activity. If everything goes well, this officially marks Graduation Day! |
Here at camp, it’s a big deal when we celebrate a Graduation Day.
For us, it means someone has graduated from the little dog yard to the big dog yard.
Many of our dogs come in as puppies, and even though they will eventually be in the big dog yard, they aren’t quite big enough to handle that yard yet, so they start out in the little dog yard.
Sometimes it only takes a week or two and they’re ready to go, and other times it might be a few months before they are big enough or playful enough to hold their own in the big dog yard.
When we move a dog to the big dog yard, we basically do another “interview” with the dog, doing a slow, one-by-one introduction to all of the big dogs to make sure the dog will not be overwhelmed by all the new activity. If everything goes well, this officially marks Graduation Day!
We recently had a couple of graduations. Joe the boxer was tearing it up in the little dog yard with his sister, Tootsie, the bulldog, and he was READY to run with the big dogs. Tootsie has a little while to wait yet before she is ready. Fortunately they both can find other dogs to play with, and they don’t even miss each other!
Brewer, the yellow Labrador retriever puppy, graduated on his second day to move to the big dog yard with his sister, Harley. Brewer is a CRAZY player and loves to play with everyone. Even though he is a puppy, he is really doing great and having a Dog Gone Good Time in the big dog yard.
Other dogs who have graduated are Bella, the Brittany spaniel; Scout, the beagle, Wrigley, the American bulldog; Molly, the bulldog/beagle mix, just to name a few. Graduation Day was such a big day for all of them!
Telling the parents about graduation day is always fun. They love to hear their little ones are growing up and are mature enough to be runnin’ with the big dogs. And boy, do they go home tired after their first few days in that big dog yard. It’s a whole different world, playin’ with the big dogs!
Have a Dog Gone Great Day!
Kari
