What I Learned Taking a Husky Puppy to a Pet Fair

Gyoza is my seven-month-old Siberian Husky, and last month I took him to a pet fair at a convention hall in Bang Na. I went in with a plan, and that was the first mistake. The place was packed on a Saturday, and the barking, the music, and the wheels on the tiles set him off right away.

Here's what I'd recommend if you take a young dog to an event like this. Go early, before 11 in the morning, when the crowds are smaller. Bring water and a collapsible bowl, because the air conditioning doesn't reach every corner of the hall. Keep your dog on a short leash with a well-fitted harness rather than a collar, since puppies pull hard when they get excited. Gyoza spent most of his time sniffing the grooming booths and trying to lick every stranger's shoes.

Also, be ready to leave. We stayed about two hours, and by the end he had stopped paying attention to me at all. I took a break outside in the parking lot, gave him a few treats on a mat, and let him calm down. Next time we'll do shorter visits and build up slowly. The fair is fun for people, but for a puppy it's a lot of new noises at once.