Peppa is probably having an unusual puppyhood, given that the first months of her life are taking place in one of the longest lockdowns in the world. No puppy school for her. But since we're allowed to exercise outdoors (albeit of course wearing our masks), she's doing well.
We walk with her mini dachshund friend Bosun when we can, but it has taken a while for Peppa to grow up enough to visit parks without trying to strangle herself on her lead, and without jumping all over any dogs she meets. However, we're getting there.
She has at last walked with us off-lead, when we can find places that are not crammed with people and dogs taking that afore-mentioned opportunity to get out of the house. One new place we've found is a local school where the public is allowed to walk, seeing the students are doing home schooling. It's a terrific place, because it's completely fenced and has lots of different surfaces for her to walk on - grassed areas, asphalt, stony paths and soft mulch. I guess this is one positive aspect of the present troubles.
And today, for the first time, she met our nephew's puppy. We've been waiting for this opportunity - it was not possible when we were only allowed to travel five kilometres from home. But now, with the more relaxed travel rules, we finally did it.
The other pup is a mix, probably Border Collie and kelpie. A sweet-natured pup. By all accounts he's usually the submissive one in puppy play, but he's so much bigger than little Peppa that he could for once be on top in the roughhousing.
I would have felt a bit worried as the rough play went on and on and on, but it was obvious that Peppa and he were happy. Somewhere I've read that puppy play is okay if the two dogs are taking turns to be the one on top, and that was what was happening.
