Guiding Paws met up recently for a walk of the Wilmington Riverfront. This outdoor walk was an excellent exposure opportunity for our puppies in many ways.

• The weather was pleasant and the riverfront was full of people walking, riding, and pushing strollers. Even a couple of jet skiers rode by!
• An outdoor bar featured loud music, many patrons, and lots of smells.
• The riverfront path includes boardwalk, cement and brick walkways.
• There were plenty of pet dogs (on and off leash), plus other wildlife (ducks, geese, birds, etc.).
• We encountered new smells and distracting debris on the ground.
• We walked past the train station and listened to an arriving Amtrak train from afar.
• We stopped below the Walnut St Bridge and listened to the traffic above in an unusual setting for the dogs.

All of these exposures are great for these potential future guide dogs. The puppies practiced good leash behavior throughout, including walking with a short leashes and leisurely walking when able. The walk is a nice experience for humans and dogs, so we recommend you check out the Riverfront Wilmington too.