Every K9 legend has a first day. Before the badges, the searches, and the rescues, every working dog starts as a puppy who does not know which way the tunnel goes. For Rocket, day one started with a balance beam, a lot of enthusiasm, and absolutely no coordination.

THE NEW RECRUIT

Rocket is a four-month-old German shepherd. His paws are enormous. His ears have not decided if they want to stand up yet. And his new handler, Officer Marcus Reed, knew from the first minute that this puppy had something special. Heart. Drive. And zero fear of anything.

THE BALANCE BEAM

The training field was full of obstacles. Tunnels. Hurdles. Cones. And a low wooden balance beam. Officer Reed walked Rocket up to the beam and gave the command. Rocket charged up it like he had done it a thousand times.

He made it three steps before his giant back paws tangled with his giant front paws.

Thump. Right into the grass.

Rocket popped up, shook off, wagged his tail, and ran straight back to the beam. Thump. Down again. The whole training class laughed. Rocket did not care. On the third try, he made it all the way across, tail up, chest out, like he had just won a gold medal.

THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE DAY

After four hours of tunnels, hurdles, and tumbles, Rocket finally flopped down in the shade. Officer Reed checked him over. The rough wood and hot gravel had left the puppy's soft paw pads a little scraped and rough. Young paws are still toughening up, and day one had asked a lot of them.

Every handler knows it. Your partner will give you everything, even before he knows how.

Officer Reed reached into his kit for AniSport Companion Gentle Wound Balm. A thin layer on each little pad for barrier conditioning and moisture. Rocket tried to lick his hand the entire time, then fell asleep with his chin on his handler's boot.

THE INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT: LAVENDER

Lavender grows in long purple rows across sunny hillsides and has been treasured for centuries for its calm, soothing scent. Inside AniSport Balm, concentrated and precisely balanced with eight other all-natural ingredients, lavender oil brings calming sensory support at the end of a long day.

• Apple cider vinegar with the mother
• Coconut oil
• Shea butter
• Vitamin E oil
• Bergamot oil
• Frankincense oil
• Helichrysum oil
• Peppermint oil
• Lavender oil

See the full AniSport Balm ingredient breakdown.

AniSport is made for dogs and K9s only. Always check with your vet first, especially for puppies, and call right away for bites, punctures, deep cuts, or anything serious.

THE TRAINING DAY KIT

• For young paw pads after a long day of training: AniSport Companion Gentle Wound Balm.
• For scrapes they will not let you touch: AniSport Companion Gentle Wound Spray.
• For the handler who took a tumble on the course too: NutriCore Vital Recovery Spray.

ONE DAY

That night, Officer Reed sat on his porch with Rocket asleep across his lap, big paws twitching as he dreamed. Somewhere out there was a search Rocket would win. A child he would find. A partner he would protect.

But not tonight. Tonight, he was just a puppy who fell off a balance beam twice and never once stopped trying.

Every hero starts on day one. Care for the partner beside you from the very first day at zombiesportco.com.

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