First Mosh Pit

There are pivotal moments in the development of a pup, and it's important to remember those and see how they affect the pup-that-is-now and how he grows into the pup-that-he-becomes. For us, that moment was a weekend full of moments in Dallas when we attended the International Puppy and Trainer Conference in Spetember 2009.
Luckey was learning and growing and playing, and we were adapting to a new person/pup in our lives. Playtime was between me and Luckey. Playing fetch, romping around the house, snuggles, scritchies, lots of lovey time. IPTC provided an opportunity to meet new pups, get some education, and MOSH. He was nervous, but I knew he would adapt. We arrived in Dallas after a frustrating flight and then argued with the hotel desk about our room, so the startup was a challenge. Chris and I went out to the bar for the welcome party, and Luckey had to stay at the hotel since he was still 20. We bought him a leather dog bone that night, and it travels with us everywhere now. (When we're not traveling, he hides it in my house to keep it safe.) The classes were great. The presenters knew their material. The people were fun and open and it felt like family. But then we hit the mosh pit. It took Luckey about 2 whole minutes to absorb the scene, decide what he wanted, and jump in with all four paws. This was before lunch on Saturday, and after an hour of play, we went to grab a bite to eat. He sat at the table, trying hard to eat and rebuild his strength, but he kept tipping to one side, falling asleep sitting up. He napped during the next class and was ready for the next mosh pit, even though his knees were a mess of blisters rubbed and blisters popped. Once the pup hit the floor, the knees didn't hurt anymore until he was out of headspace. After three mosh pits that weekend, his knees suffered greatly. We found new way to wrap and protect them, and we found that gummi bears are one of the safest treats for pups when allergies are present.
One moment, though, stands out. First mosh pit, the pup is just about ready to venture out on his own. I'm sitting with him on the mats, giving him love and encouragement, knowing that things are about to change. He's about to become a social pup, and I won't be the only play buddy he's got. His eyes told me he knew something big was coming. He nuzzled me, and then one long look full of love, some scritchies, and encouragement to "go play" launched him into a new chapter of puppyhood.