Another Week In The Books

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Ludo has been home for two weeks now. I can really tell that he's grown.

It's funny because since we spend so much time together, he's never really that excited to see me.  I'm just the one stopping him from doing all the rascally things he tries to do. He wags his tail and gets excited when everyone else walks in and I seemed to be just left sitting around with no one to get excited about me.  Well a few days ago, I left him with my mom to meet my sister for a shopping trip.  When I got home.... OMG you guys.  He ran over, tail wagging.. way more excited than he ever is with anyone else.  It kind of pushed aside that silly self-conscious worry about not being his favorite.  I totally am ;)

We've been working on commands a lot this week.  We'll do 5-ish minute sessions multiple times a day just with kibble and he reliably does sit, lay down, stay, come, shake, leave it, look at me.  I'm working on transferring the leave it command to real life and he does understand it, he just doesn't always respond reliably.  I'm using it mostly with chewing on rugs and he is starting to leave them when I ask him to.  It's so sweet to see his head swing up to look at me (since I often pair the leave it command with 'look at me') to see what he should do next.  

I had bought poochie bells a while back but for some reason, last week, hadn't used them at all.  I realized that while I was taking him out reliably, I wasn't teaching him anything.  Within a few hours, he had caught on to what he was supposed to do.  He hasn't had an accident since starting the bells and he rings them probably 30% of the time. The remaining 70% of the time, he goes and sits by the door.  I touch his nose to the bells as we go out.  I was surprised at how quickly he caught on.  

He's still a little growly.  My mom is convinced that it is aggression (I rolled my eyes as I typed that) but it happens rarely (once every couple of days) when he gets picked up or when he has been continually removed from something but not far enough away that he really is truly removed from the temptation.  Otherwise, he kind of likes being carried. I truly believe he'll grow out of it, that it's no big deal and that putting him in time out when he does it and watching cues for stressors are the best things I can do for him.  

I'm very close with my niece and see her daily.  My family is quick to allow her a little bit more freedom with Ludo and writing it off as "she's only four." I'm clearly not as nice the one looking out for everyone's best interest.  I've banned tug games and wrestling sort of games, even though my niece enjoys them.  She just has not really grasped that he's not a toy.  I think she's starting to get it and we've been talking about how my job is to keep both of them safe.  I credit DK for helping me understand that these kinds of games with children are not appropriate. 

I think my favorite thing that he's started doing (spoiler alert, I never ended up putting him in his crate at night) is cuddling with me more in the mornings. He's not a super cuddly dog which I'm a little bit bummed about.  I know that every dog is different and I'm not forcing him to do or be anything he's not.  But he's started burrowing behind my pillow (which is adorable until your woken up by warm dog breath between the pillows--ok, even then it's still cute.  I hadn't realized how much I missed having a dog in bed.  My malti-poo used to sleep with me and full-grown, he was the size Ludo is now.  Ask me if I like having a dog in the bed when he's 50 pounds though.  I hope my answer is still yes.  I might now like him burrowing behind my pillow and breathing hot dog breath on me though.  hahaha.  

Puppy school this week was ok.  Last week, we worked on desensitizing puppies to the handling they'll receive at the vet and groomer.  This week, we talked about bite inhibition.  The two other puppies there both had other puppies at home to play with and there was little Ludo being completely inappropriate.  Humping, biting cheeks, etc etc.  One puppy, Bruno, was actually 16 weeks and was quite tolerant of him.  I felt bad because Bruno just wanted to play and Ludo just didn't know how.  The trainer didn't seem to worry about it and I try to stay calm since I know that dogs can sense our emotions, but I just felt kind of nervous about his interactions.  I don't actually have any friends with appropriate dog playmates.  My mom has a friend who has two gentle adult dogs.  I'm thinking it might be helpful for them to have a few play dates, but I'm hesitant to put him in a position without an expert... I certainly don't know what to look for and what is normal and appropriate. Maybe I'll wait a week and ask the trainer at our next lesson.  My whole outlook is to just set him up for success and socialization is definitely part of that.

Today, my sister and I took my niece and Ludo to meet my photographer cousin at a dairy farm (tons of activities like corn mazes and pumpkin picking and homemade ice cream and stuff) to take fall photos.  Ludo was SUCH a champ.  He's such a doll and everyone wanted to pet him.  Everyone from big burly bikers, people in wheel chairs, children and infants.  He was wonderful and gentle and friendly.  He walked perfectly on a leash and was very attentive to where I was.  I was really proud of him.  I'm hoping my cousin got some great photos of him-- of course, I'll be sharing them here.

All in all, he's one chill puppy. He rarely barks, he's unfazed by things like doorbells and he's so gentle.  It's been tiring but it's also been so much fun.  I've heard that there's kind of a honeymoon period with getting new puppies that lasts three or four weeks. Maybe I'm different than most people here--I totally appreciate the puppy time, but I'm just excited to have my full-grown, adult dog. All this puppy business is just prep work for that but so far, he really is great.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

So fun reading your update! You are doing so great with him and he sounds just wonderful!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Ugh he just sounds so cute! I think we figured your a couple hours from me but if you need a puppy play date Loki and Moose are available anytime!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so glad you are enjoying Ludo so much.  It sounds like you are doing a super job meeting his needs.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Enjoyed your puppy update, Kaitlin.  You're doing a super job! And it sounds like you're having great fun with Ludo -- you've got the right attitude :))  

[Becka]

It sounds like you have the best possible attitude and it's really paying off! He may well be more cuddly when he grows up--I think sometimes puppies are just too full of energy to be real snugglers. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Ludo sounds wonderful.....thanks for the "puppy update".

[Jenny and Cooper]

Great update! Glad things are going good for you and Ludo :) Enjoy his littleness, before you know it he'll be 50 lbs. lol

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Congrats Kaitlen!  Fun to read your update on Ludo - you are doing a great job!