PUPPY PLAY DATES: LILA PLAYS WITH LITTLE FINN

Having a puppy is a LOT of work, and for the first year you have to seek out the right training and resources to optimize those very important puppy development stages. 

We got Finn in late June 2019, and immediately started seeking appropriate playmates for him, which was very hard to do.  I literally stopped everyone who had a small dog to ask if their dog was good with puppies, liked to play with other dogs, etc.  I observed the dog first, and only stopped people who I thought might have a good candidate.  I was like a new mom at the playground, trying to set up playdates for my kid.  Anyway, I met Tom and his dog Lila, and we started having carefully supervised playdates and he and his family became good friends of ours.  And Lila and Finn love each other to this day.  I arranged playdates almost every day.  Tom started letting us use his backyard which is fenced and allows lots of chasing and fun.  Here's a video (from our tiny yard in the USA, inside an ex-pen since our yard is not fenced)-- again, watch how Lila gives Finn space (goooood girl, Lila) and how Finn is able to approach and retreat.  It's hilarious but a good lesson in dog body language.  https://youtube.com/shorts/WmyiHj6S_mQ