Baxter is twelve weeks old, a golden retriever who treats every pavement, leaf and jogger as a personal discovery. His owners both work from home but can't give him a focused hour during the day, so he's on a puppy visit plan: three visits a week, 30 minutes each.
Each visit follows the same shape: toilet break first, then a short carry or lead walk into Highgate Woods, then quiet time on the bench with treats while he watches the world go by. We count people, prams, bikes and other dogs at a distance. He gets a treat for looking, not for reacting.
The socialisation window closes fast and we're making the most of it while it's open. At home he gets a food puzzle and a short alone-time session so he learns to settle without his owners in the room.
Every visit ends with photos and a note for his owners: what he saw, what he ate, how the toilet breaks went. The routine is working, and he'll move to group walks once his second vaccination boosters and vet clearance are done.