A few weeks ago, something exciting arrived in our mailbox…a parcel for me!!
There was a big sticker on the outside saying that Australian Quarantine had opened my parcel…how cheeky of them!!! 
They are very strict in Australia (and NZ) about checking things coming from faraway places – lots of foods and things made from plants and animals are not allowed and they will take them away! But I was lucky - there was a note inside saying that they hadn’t taken anything from my parcel! 
I was very excited because I could see from the writing on the parcel that it was from my blog friend, Mango the Mastiff - for me winning the Working Doggies category at Mango Minster!
And you know what? I LOVE tearing up cardboard – it is one of my favouritist things to do in the world! When I was a puppy, my humans used to save up all cardboard boxes, toilet rolls, egg cartons – anything cardboard – for me to play with and tear up.
So of course I went a little crazy when Hsin-Yi gave me the parcel!!
Ooh! And then when I saw what was inside, I got even more excited! So many goodies!
First, there was a medal shaped like a pawprint – how cool is that! 
And it’s even got my name on it!
And then there was a cool badge with a picture of my Relentlessly Huge friend…
But best of all – there was a tug toy! You know how much I LOVE playing tug!! (I can get a little crazy doing that too! Hee! Hee!)
Thank you so much, Mango, for all my goodies!!
By the way, some of you may have noticed in these photos that I have a new carpet! Yup – my humans have been worrying about me slipping on the wooden floors so they have been looking for a carpet to put on it.
First, they thought maybe they could use a carpet that Hsin-Yi’s mummy & daddy gave them for a wedding present – it is very beautiful but it is HUGE!! So big that it is even bigger than the room!
My humans tried to squeeze it in but it just wouldn’t fit and the front door couldn’t even open…
So then my humans decided to buy a smaller carpet which would only fit in the middle of the room. But Hsin-Yi wanted to go look in IKEA (which is one of her favouritist places in the world) – because she says they have nicer things there for less money paper – but the IKEA shop is very far away and you have to sit for a long time in the car machine – and Hsin-Yi wanted to go together with Paul but then Paul went away to his “conference”…
Anyway, last week, my humans FINALLY went to IKEA and came back with my new carpet!
Oooh, quick, open it!
Unwrapping the carpet was very complicated and needed lots of hard thinking…
And some good ol’ fashioned paw-work!
But finally…we did it!
Of course, I had to help make sure it was flat…
Ooh, it’s so lovely and soft! I love it!
It’s just the perfect size – I can really stretch out and there’s even space for my humans to join me!
Oh, before I go, I just wanted to say - a lot of you seemed very worried about me after watching the video of me with Marley kitten in the last post. Some of you thought my tail was tucked under and I was stressy – and some of you thought the Human Pups were bothering me and I might get grumpy…
Well, first, that was actually just my normal tail – I don’t hold my tail up high, like a lot of other doggies – even when I am happy, I often do a very low, slow wag, and a lot of the time, it is tucked close to my body, like an S-shape, with the tip bending out again…when I am really scared and unhappy, I tuck it up really close to my tummy like a C-shape and put my head down and hunch my back to make myself as small as possible! Here is a picture of what that looks like: (this is when I have to do the Yucky Bath Thing)
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And don’t worry – I am very used to Human Pups and don’t mind them hugging my head or jumping in my face or playing with my ears. I know they always give me treats and cuddles and I like them a lot! 
Because my humans don’t have Human Pups of their own, Hsin-Yi was worried about me not being used to them and so she made sure I had LOTS of socialisation with Human Pups.
Even before my vaccinations were finished, she carried me to sit outside schools when the Human Pups were all coming out and I got lots of treats & pats from them.
She also took me to sit next to playgrounds in the park so I could see all the Human Pups running and shouting and screaming and jumping around me – so that it was No Big Deal.
And she let them play with my ears and paws and touch me everywhere, while she told me I was a good girl and gave me treats. This way, now I don’t mind at all if human pups play with my face or jump around me or hug me.
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Hsin-Yi did all this especially before I got to 14 weeks old – that is called the ‘imprinting period‘ and is the most important time in our puppy development.
If us doggies don’t get socialised to something (eg. Human Pups) during this time – even if you try to socialise us later, it might be too late – we might always be scared and anxious – and feel stressy about that thing.
But if we are socialised to Human Pups and learn to get used to them during our imprinting time, then even if we get surprised by them later when we grow up, we will not feel too stressy and will just take it in our stride.
Of course, even after we grow up, it’s really important for us doggies to keep socialising with human pups and having nice things happen to us when they are around, like getting yummy treats (“positive associations”) – but Hsin-Yi thinks it is also good to let Human Pups do some silly things to me, so that I learn not to mind. As long as she is watching us and making sure I am not feeling too stressy, it is good for me to practise Toleration of Human Pups.
This way, if one day, a Human Pup does something REALLY silly and my humans can’t stop them, I won’t get scared or grumpy and bite them by mistake. Of course, my humans are really careful and try to make sure that stressy things don’t happen to me – but sometimes, stressy things can happen in life, even if you are super careful!
For example, last year when I was on my first holiday in Rotorua back in NZ, my humans took me to have lunch in a cafe and Hsin-Yi made a nice bed for me to lie down on next to her, beside a small wall with plants. This way she thought that any Human Pups who wanted to come say hello to me would have to come from the front and I can see them coming – so nothing stressy would happen to me.
But then a naughty Boy Human Pup sneaked up behind the wall and jumped out over my head, from behind Hsin-Yi’s chair! I got a terrible fright and jumped up too but when I saw it was just a Human Pup, I remembered all the silly things they do and I didn’t get grumpy - otherwise I might have bitten him! But it is only because I have had lots of practice of Human Pups doing silly things to me – that’s why I didn’t mind. I think a lot of other doggies would have bitten that naughty Boy Human Pup.
Of course, it is not our fault if we bite Human Pups doing silly things – they should NOT do silly things to us doggies – but it is very unfair and if we ever bite a Human Pup, then it is us doggies who get blamed and in Big Trouble (in NZ, doggies get put to sleep!) – so that is why my humans think that the best way to protect me is to help me learn not to mind them doing silly things to me (Hsin-Yi says this is called “de-sensitisation”).
Otherwise, the only other way to protect me is to keep me at home all the time and never take me out to any fun places – which would be horrible! I would much rather go out to fun places with my humans, even if it means that I have to practise Toleration of Human Pups!
Anyway, so that is why the Human Pups were doing so many silly things to me in the video with Marley Kitten and Hsin-Yi didn’t tell them to stop – she knew I wasn’t feeling stressy about it and she thought it was good practice for me.
But it is true that other doggies may not be as well-socialised as me with Human Pups and so even if I don’t mind, it is important for those Human Pups to learn not to do silly things with doggies in general. Hsin-Yi was so busy watching me with Marley that she forgot to tell them that – so thank you for reminding us! She will make sure to tell them next time we see them – so they don’t keep on doing silly things like stick their faces in other doggie’s faces!
* We are behind on Google Reader again – so sorry! – please bear with us and we will come round to visit as soon as we can!
What lovely presents you got in the mail. I love how you helped open the package!
You human has done a wonderful job socializing you Honey. I know you attract a lot of attention everywhere you go, so it is great that you are so willing to be friendly and go with the flow.
Lucky you getting a carpet from IKEA. I wish we had an IKEA near us. The closest one is 3 hours away
Wow!!! What a great present you got in the mailbox and beautiful carpet that your human got.
Honey! That was the best post ever because I got to see your goofy side. I love the funny faces you made tearing into your package and tugging on your new toy.
Thanks for explaining your body language better. I get C shaped tail too when I am really stressy, but when I am feeling like I might go big dog I get the S shaped tail so I was confused by your photos. PeeWee sticks his tail straight out behind him when he is ready to go big dog.
We're all different.
Slobbers,
Mango
Awesome pressies and awards from RH! He is one class act! I love the pics of you opening it too! You have a bit of a 'crazy eye' look in one of them
We have rugs from Ikea too! I have the same rug by the front door and kitchen door and they are almost like giant welcome mats b/c they are made of synthetic fibers and NOTHING sticks to them! Muddy paw prints will vacuum up when it dries and they cost 17USD which is what less than a tiny rug at most places! IKEA is awesome and it is nice you have one close to you.
Moose was raised as a puppy in a family with Children so he is used to them but I gather they were pretty rough with him becuase he gets an 'oh brother' look when kids start playing with him but he just sits there and takes it luckily.
Honey! You look SO PRETTY with that medal on! Congratulations all over again! And how fun to get a tuggy toy and everything!
When she and dad lived in Europe (when the dinosaurs roamed the earth…) they used to go all the time.
Our mom and dad chose the floor stuff specifically with us in mind, so we don't slip and stuff!
I just LOVE little bipeds! It's in our genetic predisposition, plus I was really well socialized, like you said!
Our mom wishes we had an IKEA near us -- the closest one is a long, long way away.
Have fun with your new toy!!!
Love,
Ammy
Love the looks of concentration (on both human and dog) needed to open that roll of carpet! That made me laugh! Wonderful post!
Congrats on winning your prize, Honey!
BTW, my mummy loves stuff from IKEA too! She is going there this weekend to buy me a new bowl!
And Mummy loves every single post of yours! She finds them extremely educating, helpful and funny! One of the best blogs we ever come across!
Hi Honey -- oh, that second photo of you is brilliant, we can tell you're having SO much fun!! What great pressies you got from Mango Minster -- love that paw medal, really cool, what a great keepsake. FH did giggle reading this post -- we love tearing up cardboard too and they still keep kitchen roll tubes for us to play with, he he he!
How great that you're so used to children. Max isn't too keen around them which makes FH feel even prouder that he hides is well! His ears dip a bit and his tail uncurls, but he lets them pat and stroke him and gradually his tail makes its way back up again as he gets used to them! JD absolutely ADORES children -- he seems to know instinctively that he has to be gentle with them.
FH walks us to the supermarket once a week, not to shop but to wait outside with us for about 20 minutes. It's good training for us to be patient and wait around without pulling, plus there's the noise of crowds and trolleys and cars and stereos and mobiles (humans are so noisy!) plus FH knows that at least one harassed looking parent will usually approach us asking if their child/children can 'pet the doggies'! FH always explains to the children how to interact with us too, so it's good training for them as well, he he he!
Actually, we've fallen in love with the granddaughter of one of our puppy sitters -- she's 7 and adores us, it's like having our own little slave on-tap to provide round-the-clock tummy tickles, treats and ear scratches, he he he!!
Anyway, we've waffled on for long enough!! :O Schnauzer snuggles -- JD and Max.
Oh Honey you are such a lucky girl getting a package from Mango. I love that medal with the paw and your name on it…how cool is that!
Did your mom get a new camera? Just wondering since these are some great pictures. I love the looks on your face opening your goodies…too cute.
AARF Kasha the Dainty Great Dane
Congratulations Honey!! So glad the mailman didnt steal your award. That photo of you in the bow tie with the little girl is SO CUTE!! Glad you love your new rugs; they look warm and soft for you.
I love pictures number 4 and 5. That's how I get when I get a new toy!!! Toys toys toys!!!
I have a tug toy like the one Mango sent you. It is a lot of fun! Try not to tug your humans across the room with it, which I do sometimes. And I'm so glad you get to enjoy human pups. Mine are so much fun, indoors and out!
Drools,
Thor
Honey -- those are awesome presents from Mango's contest! I think your tug toy is the best!
Enjoy your new rug -- it looks wonderfully soft and perfect for you!
Woo did an excellent Khrakher Dog impression!
Khongrats!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
Congrats on the package! I'm glad I don't have to worry about someone going through my mail. When I first got my Post Office Box though, all of my mail was opened and taped shut. When I complained, the Post Office changed the lock and I didn't have to worry about it anymore. I guess whoever had the box before me kept a key and was going through my mail.
I love that picture of you tearing up the envelope! My Shiver would do that too if I let him. I usually don't though because of the mess to clean up after.
Your humans were very kind to get you a rug! It's pretty and looks like it'd be nice and soft. Fortunately, most of the rooms in my house were already carpeted when I bought it so I didn't have to worry to much about things like that.
I didn't know 14 weeks was the imprinting time! That was right around the time I got Shiver. He's very shy and doesn't want anything to do with anyone except me. Chico, on the other hand, spent his first year of life in a cage with very little human affection and he's just the sweetest little dog!
I can see how excited you were opening the package and playing with that toy!
Congratulations, Honey!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Aw, look at you helping Mommy and Daddy with the package and carpet! You must have known there were treats and cuddles to be had!
It doesn't surprise me that you are so good with children! I'm sick… I would love one of your cuddles, myself!
Congratulations Honey! What a great present -- we enjoyed seeing the glee you had opening your present.
Also we're very impressed with how you tolerate human pups. So much patience!
Honey-what a great present! And don't you just love new rugs? My favorite rug is the fluffy one in bathroom by the tub--it's a bit small so I always take Mommy's towel down from the rack to make the area bigger!
Unlike you, I didn't meet any human pups when I was younger, and my Mom and Dad say that they are surprised how good I am with them now. It's probably because my Dad always did silly stuff to me when I was a pup-like grab my head and pull my ears! Humans and their pups are silly…but fun to kiss!
Sniffs,
Payton http://www.misterpeoples.wordpress.com
Hi Honey,
I wonder if your mum brought you any meat balls from Ikea? I love them ad Have had them for a special treat before.
Wow, youre posts are amazing, I love reading them.
The human pups are funny arn't they ? My little people climb all over me and I really really like the vey small one, her fur smells so yummy!
Take care xx Major
IKEA !!!! Sanne love that shop
yes we have ikeas in belguim!!! 
well we love human pup, it very very inportent fur us to meet many
keep hughing and licking them
Kissslobbers
El'bow & Hauwii
Hi Honey
You looked like you really enjoyed that wrapping! Sometimes my human brings home a big paper bag, and then she crumples it up and lets me shred it. I love paper! And tissues, they're lots of fun too, and if you pull one out of the box, another one comes up for you play with, as well!
That Quarantine Man sure is nosy -- and greedy -- he's always going through my parcels and stealing the treats out of them. Then he sends me a letter saying that if I want, I can pay lots and lots of paper money to send them back to where they came from, or else he will keep them. I usually let him keep them, even though I'm fairly sure he eats them.
We don't have any Human Pups, but whenever we go past them on the street my human asks if they want to pat me. They usually do, and my human shows them how.
Then their parents often thank us, especially if they don't have doggies at home, because I'm so small and cute and soft and fluffy that I'm not scary.
So they've had a good doggie experience, and I've had a good Human Pup experience, and everyone's happy.
I know another schnauzer who also doesn't have Human Pups, but who has decided he likes them in general, because he discovered they usually have food on their faces, so they're good for licking.
Puppy kisses
Sasha
PS. We have lots of rugs from the Ikea place, and I really like them -- they're very tasty.
Hooray for your presents & new carpet!
Loved your play photos and your new carpet. You do like packages and tug, don't you
What a coincidence — I was wearing my Mango Minster shirt today!
Hi Honey,
What a lovely package from Mango!! That medal looks great on you!
Our mom loves IKEA too.. something about how she can afford to replace them if we destroy it. I don't know what she's talking about there.. we are good, well-behaved pups!! **wink**
Wow you are one special girl! New parcel, new toys, new carpets. Sheesh spoiled! Just kidding.
I think my favorite picture is the hard thinking one of you and Paul. Your expressions were great! I liked the lip flapping pictures of you tearing open your package too. Very cute.
I'm glad you were okay with the evil . . . er nice human pups. I think I'm actually more tolerant of them than my mom is LOL! She doesn't have anything against them, just doesn't have that much patience for them. I like the attention and petting I get from them.
Jackal
Congrats on the presents Honey! I love the rug too. I had no doubt that you have been wayyyy socialized with human pups. You are more patient with them then I could ever be.
Your mom is a smart one and you are the most well trained doggie I have ever heard of due to her hard work with you!
What a great prize from Mango Minster! Love the medal! What a nice surprise!
It was great to see pictures of you getting a little crazy opening your parcel and tugging with your new toy! Darwin LOVES tearing up paper and cardboard too!
BARK! I love getting presents in the mail too. Especially opening them. We have those hard floors too, and mommy always had a rug in the big room. I made a bit of a mess with the last one (it looked like the too big one of yours) and we just got a new one, that looks like your new one. I love it as much as mommy does. She says it makes the room look bigger and my blond hair doesnt show up as much. Do you shed a lot too?
Mommy says she can make another doggie with all my shedding. BARK! Sasha the Princess
Aren't you a lucky dog? And thanks for the pictures of the human pups, they bring back happy memories. We have a little kitten I have been trying imprinting on. She comes to the kids school with us some days, and on rides in the car. We have a little harness and a lead too, but she is so tiny she can slip out of it, so she prefers to be carried in a shopping bag! I love Ikea too, so next time Hsin-Yi feels like making the trek, I will meet her there. I have never been to the new one at Logan and apparently it is so huge you can spend a whole day there!