Friends
People typically think of dogs playing when you mention socialization but it is so much more than that. Izzy walks several times a week with her friend, Maeve and once a week in a pack walk with Maeve and Elisha. Our pack walks teach our dogs to walk on a loose leash, stay calm around other dogs, and enjoy the outdoors with confidence. These walks combine exercise, mental enrichment, and social skills in a way that’s safer and more controlled than unstructured play, making them a valuable tool for behavior and well‑being. The dogs walk next to each other, sniff together, and interact subtly without play. These walks teach Izzy how to be around other dogs without physically interacting with them which is something she will need to do on her therapy visits.
These three are friends even though they don't play together. We were able to see just how much their friendship means when we unexpectedly ran into Erin and Maeve. Izzy was super excited as we entered the path and I soon realized it was because Erin and Maeve were up ahead. Erin got this great video of their reactions when they finally saw each other from across the canal. So even though these two don't play, they are friends and really like each other.
Izzy still plays with Maya (another FETCH Therapy Dog). Maya is older than Izzy and so tolerant of her and her puppy ways. These two are also friends. We have been meeting at our local home improvement store so they can practice walking together and not playing since we will be working together at the Airport. We practice walking through the store and then come back to our house and let them play.
Izzy had a few playdates set up that we have had to postpone since she started her heat cycle. Once she is through, she'll meet up with Juno again and with some new friends. Clark and Harry are two other goldens that work with FETCH and Wells, a golden retriever we met at Training Spot.
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