The big challenge right now is to make her understand what she can bite (toys, treats) and what she CAN'T bite (my hand!). Sometimes I think I brought home a land shark instead of a puppy. Of course, this is all perfectly natural for a young pup, but the education is ongoing and I hope to break her of this painful habit very soon!
She is attending puppy school every Tuesday evening, where she gets to play with 3 other puppies, all very close to her age and size. For the most part, she does well and plays nicely, but there is a Golden Retriever puppy that rubs her the wrong way and she gets a little growly with him. The 2nd half of the class consists of exposure to new things (sights and sounds), plus some training instruction and practice. It's a busy, stimulating hour and by the time we come home she's exhausted and ready for a nap.
Her list of talents now includes sit, stand, 2 different types of down, a clockwise spin & a counter-clockwise spin. We are also working on another type of down where she lays on her side. This will come in handy for nail trimming and ear cleaning. Learning to walk nicely on a leash is in progress, but right now involves a lot of jumping in the air and biting at the leash. Quite amusing, but not very productive! She is also learning to play "The Box Game". This involves giving her treats for any interactions with a plastic box (she tried to eat the cardboard one!), such as standing on it, pushing it across the floor, standing with 2 feet on and 2 feet off, etc. It's a great game to teach a puppy to invent and offer new and different behaviors. When I see one I like I reinforce it with treats. Fun all around!
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| 10 weeks old |
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| 13 weeks old |
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