16/09/2024
Good day, everyone! We’re back with part two of our journey with our precious fur baby.
The next stage was transitioning from dried dog milk formula to soft foods, chews, and toys. We had to wean her off milk slowly over the course of a few weeks. The first step was mixing puppy kibble with the milk formula. Her first reaction was priceless—she cautiously sniffed the bowl before diving face-first into it, turning feeding time into playtime! After a few more meals, she got the hang of it and began eagerly waiting at her feeding station, right on time.
We also worked on basic training, teaching her the "wait" command before placing her bowl down. She picked it up quickly and started doing other things on her own, like using puppy pads, sitting, and giving her paw—each behaviour positively reinforced. As part of her training, we began moving the puppy pads closer to the door, preparing for the next stage: outdoor potty training.
Around this time, we introduced soft chew toys, which she absolutely loved, especially her teething ring. Our little pup was growing quickly, and the days seemed to fly by. The only thing she wasn’t a fan of was her puppy vaccinations, but a snuggle and a quick play with her toys always brought her smile back. She developed a particular fondness for her rope toy and puppy Kong, sending biscuits flying everywhere as she chewed and tossed them in the air—only to dash after them in a blur of puppy energy.
Then came the day of her final vaccination, meaning we could finally take her out for her first walk! But before that, we spent time getting her used to a lead indoors. It wasn’t easy—she wasn’t a fan of the training lead at first, constantly trying to bite and chew it. We kept the sessions short, gradually increasing the time, and always rewarded her with treats and playtime. After about a month, she was ready for her first collar and lead.
Although there were still challenges ahead with lead training and walks, with treats and a clicker in hand, we knew we were well on our way.
Stay tuned for Part 3 of our journey!