Every dog has its day, the saying goes, and this has never been more true than during Puppy Palooza at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Last Monday, the sound of excited "yips" mixed with student laughter filled MDL3, a clinical teaching space adjacent to the main teaching surgery suite. The source of all this joy? Eight golden retriever puppies and seven miniature poodles, all about eight weeks old, meet veterinary students for their first-ever health checkups.

Welcome to Puppy Palooza 2025.

From classroom to real-world skills 

"Puppy Palooza started many years ago, in recognition that all of our veterinary students never had the opportunity to handle these small, little 7- to 8-week-old puppies that they're going to see in practice," explained Julie Cecere, clinical associate professor of theriogenology at the college. "And we have a lot of really good local breeders, and so we said, hey, if we offer to give your guys vaccines and a good visit, would you let our students be involved? So that's kind of how the first one happened."

During the event, each puppy received a thorough health check, including physical examinations, their first distemper combination vaccination, microchipping, and their first heartworm preventative treatment. 

The room was noisy and so full of "oohs and awws" that one faculty member had to take her puppy outside as she couldn't hear clearly through her stethoscope – a small challenge amid the excitement that filled the room.

Learning beyond the textbook

This hands-on practice fills a crucial education gap.

"Sometimes, in real life, they may get a new puppy in for an examination, but it's already left its litter," Cecere noted. "Most puppies from the breeders have a full physical exam and their first vaccines before they leave their household and go to their new owners. So, this is an opportunity for them to see that litter together and interact with the breeders."

Sydney Lallier a second-year student attending her first Puppy Palooza, highlighted why this makes a difference: "It's about understanding that puppy behavior is different than adult behavior, so knowing how to handle them is slightly different than handling even younger adults in the clinic. So getting more puppy experiences is really helpful."

Learning goes beyond technical skills. Orsolya Balogh, the JoAnne S. O'Brien Associate Professor of Theriogenology, highlighted another dimension: "They are getting exposure to working with puppies. Once they go out and into practice, it will be more than just the fact that they are cute. Here students get exposure to what to look for in puppies specifically, which things are unique for them and have some hands-on experience."

Neonates, or newborn animals, and puppies require special care and handling during their first weeks of life—an experience that's hard to simulate in a classroom.

Where learning meets joy

The timing couldn't have been better for many students who had faced exams earlier that day. 

"We all had a test this morning. So this is a really good way to de-stress," said Alex Gregoriou, a second-year veterinary student. A classmate summed up the session simply as "an amazing, fluffy, chaotic experience."

First-year student Shevy Marks agreed: "This is a little bit of a break and a mental reset. And what better way to take a mental reset than some puppies, right?"

But there's serious learning happening amid the cuddles.

 "The extra work is worth it because I mean, what we do, we can't just, like, study for the test, and then let it eke out of our heads,” said first-year student Wilt Boon. “We have to reinforce, and there's nothing that teaches you practical skills, like practicing practical skills."

Brooke Colvin, a second-year student and vice president of the Theriogenology Club, explained how hands-on application solidifies learning. "It helps us gain a further understanding because we can apply what we learned," Colvin said. “It's different from studying stuff in a lecture and memorizing it for an exam. Applying it in real life solidifies your memory; it's much better."

A win for puppies, too

The puppies weren't just adorable teaching aids—they benefited as well. Jennifer Anders, who brought miniature poodles to the event, explained it's "great socialization for puppies." 

"The more socialized, the better they will develop as well-rounded dogs," Anders said. “The more people I can get interacting and handling my puppies in a safe environment like this, the better."

These learning experiences sometimes include surprising discoveries. 

"My favorite memory is the first time I heard a puppy heart murmur," Colvin said. "It's very different. And first, it's a little scary because you're used to the normal, and you hear that, and you're like, oh my gosh, what is that? So, yeah, I think that was my favorite part."

The puppies and breeders received top-quality care, with vaccines and heartworm prevention donated by pharmaceutical companies and AKC Reunite providing prepaid microchips.  

For Renee Machen, a golden retriever breeder, the relationship with Virginia Tech extends beyond special events. "We specifically use Virginia Tech for all of our canine reproductive needs," Machen said.  

“It’s hard to find reproductive specialists and specialists who are willing to go the extra mile,” said Machen. “Girls don’t always read the book [on breeding] and often need services on weekdays or at midnight and Virginia Tech has always been there.”

Beyond the classroom, building professional relationships

The event creates valuable real-world client interaction opportunities. 

"There aren't many labs where we get to work with client-owned animals outside of the fourth year," Colvin said. "We get to practice that important client relationship while the breeders share how these professional relationships work in practice." 

Cecere echoes this sentiment, noting that these hands-on experiences prepare students for real-world scenarios: "A lot of these students are going to go out into general practice, and they may have a new family who has purchased a puppy from one of these breeders, but it's a singular puppy, and then they might have to walk through the doors and say, I have an entire litter. And so it's a little bit different. This is an opportunity for them to get a little more exposure."

The Theriogenology Club organizes Puppy Palooza as one way students supplement their formal education with real-world experience. 

"It's really fun because it's not just puppies,” Lallier said. “The club works with all species, and that's what I'm looking for. It's a lot of hands-on, and they always have awesome lectures. All these hands-on opportunities are just amazing."

For Cecere, watching students interact with puppies and breeders is the highlight. "I enjoy seeing the students' faces show that this is fun,” Cecere said. “I enjoy watching them interact with the owners because, again, they may never have been able to talk with a good breeder before or have never had an opportunity to ask questions." 

As the puppies headed home with their breeders, they left behind valuable lessons — and students eager for the next Puppy Palooza.

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