malik – Jul 9, 2000 12:00 AM

" The pups are coming into the auditorium four times daily for Meet the Pack Presentations. The Nannies are the motivational force behind the puppies scheduled appearance at the programs, and they are finding this task to be harder than it looks. The challenge to socializing the pups is the creativity necessary to keep their lives in captivity and more specifically, their program routines, as stimulating as possible. The pups are extremely intelligent and curious. When they get bored, they get restless want to move on to something new, they don't care if they still have 10 minutes left to an educational program or a scheduled appearance. During the first week of pup programs, the Nannies have tried the following items to positively condition the puppies to the routine and to keep them stimulated throughout their busy schedule: Venison Steak/Pronghorn Steak Hamburger Deer Hide (which provided their first scats with deer hair) A Kong (chew-toy) filled with meat Cow Hooves Bird feathers Ice cubes in the water Birch Logs A tray of dirt More Birch Logs Balsam Boughs Rawhide chews Pigs ears Pine Cones A piece of deer hide on a leash (to lead the puppies back to the pen) A Moose leg Of all the items listed, the most stimulating to the pups would have to be the Moose leg, unfortunately, too much of a good thing may be trouble. The pups exhibit guarding behavior of the moose leg and don't want to leave the building without it, but at this time, they can't quite lift it. This week, we plan on using a deer leg to give the puppies a chance to carry their rewards back to their enclosure with them."