Ludo is 5 Months Old Today!!

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

I hope everyone had a great holiday and Happy New Year!  I have no idea how it's possible for Ludo to already be 5 months old! He's had his first Christmas and New Year, has become a pro at doggy daycare and has started puppy kindergarten!

On Loving Ludo:

I absolutely adore him in every way, but I wanted to share an experience about when I really REALLY realized how much I love him. A few weeks ago I was reflecting on my favorite things about Ludo and my list was a short one item: I love when we're laying in bed and he sleeps with his head on my shoulder. I felt so crumby about it! As much as I love him, I could only think of ONE MEASLY THING?!?! I didn't doubt loving him, but I found myself fleetingly questioning our connection.

The following day, he had some tummy issues-- diarrhea in the morning and vomiting undigested kibble in the afternoon. I, of course, called the vet and consulted DK and I was really worried that he ingested something he shouldn't have. It was in that scare that I think we both realized how much we love and need each other. I laid next to him and couldn't bear to even walk into the next room and Ludo just wanted to be near me. I had tears in my eyes driving to the vet, just completely a wreck thinking that I hadn't been vigilant enough and that I was a bad dog mom and really beating myself up. At the vet, he wanted to be held and couldn't get close enough to me. He just needed me. It turned out to be nothing and he was completely better the next day, but it was this huge spark of realizing that we DO have a connection and very much love each other.

On Confidence:

When I signed Ludo up for daycare, my goal was to improve his confidence with other dogs and to be confident and happy away from me. He was scared of dogs barking at him, he was nervous during walks, he cried when I left him with a family member to go into another room… just generally a scaredy dog.

The change in him has been remarkable. We were walking in some wetlands near my house on Christmas eve and he approached a dog with a wagging tail! His confidence has grown so much and seeing it has been so so cool. He's now going to daycare 2-3 days a week from 8:30 am till about 4:00 pm and he is WORN OUT when he gets home. He's still in the small dog room, but the workers update me each day on how well he's doing. They actually used him last week to help evaluate a new dog. How cool is that? They would NOT do that if they questioned his interactions with other dogs. He's also a much happier dog since starting daycare. On the days he DOESN'T go, he needs a long walk and TONS of playtime-- his energy level has certainly increased which is fine with me. I can just tell he's having fun there based on the look on his face when I pick him up and drop him off. When I first started him there, he would put on his puppy brakes and literally have to be dragged away from me. Now? He RUNS to get behind the drop-off counter and into his room. You have no idea how exciting it is for me to see that change in him.

On Puppy Kindergarten + Training:

Ludo started puppy kindergarten over the weekend.  Ludo has recently decided that it's not all that fun to listen to even the simplest commands sometimes, so I spent the week really working on the basics.  I know that he knows all the things we'll be learning in the class, but I was really hoping that everyone at puppy class saw it too.  I was also interested to see how he would do with the other dogs in the class.

You guys, he was such a champ.  He greeted every dog personally and happily with a wagging tail but he was also calm and respectful.  During the class, the teacher started at the VERY beginning of clicking and treating and then clicking and treating when Ludo would look at me (rather than the other dogs in the class).  The dogs were going wild and jumping around and barking and trying to play... not Ludo.  He sat in front of me and stared at me once he realized that it was freeze dried liver coming out of my pocket.  He did everything he was supposed to and the trainer (who knew him from preschool as well) seemed to be really impressed with what he knew.  

The one thing I kind of adjusted for him is laying down.  We were supposed to lure the puppies to a laying down position with no vocal command... well, over the last month, I've been working on separating Ludo from the lure/ hand signal and to have him respond to voice commands.  He can only do it for sit and down, but I didn't want to work backwards and go back to a lure for something that we've actively been working on to get over.  It was no problem and he, again, was a total pro which I thought was great because the room was very distracting with the other puppies and noise and smells.

Ludo meets again with the private trainer this week and I'm hoping that we're up to snuff.  I need to revisit walking in the neighborhood because I don't think we've done it once since he's started daycare-- I like to take him to nature-y places instead because he enjoys it so much more (and so do I) and because we've had such nice weather, it's possible to do those things.  I'd like to be able to report back on his progress though, so I'll take him before his session on Wednesday.

I'm also interested to see what she adds to or improves on his skill set.  

Time really does fly and I've seen some really cool changes and growth in him.  To be completely honest, a lot of Ludo's success so far comes directly from the knowledge I've gained here on DK.  I feel like it has helped me, personally, to be a better and more responsible pet owner-- I'm really grateful to be part of it.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Happy5 month Birthday Ludo....I love it when your Mom shares "your story" with us.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

What a sweetheart! Your updates make me smile! You have given him such a great start and it shows!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Happy Days for you and Ludo.   He is becoming the dog you wanted from the outset - outgoing, friendly, well-behaved, welcome anywhere. You have earned his wonderful behavior with your hard work.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Kaitlin,Happy Thursday! I am enjoying your blogs on raising Ludo - especially the part where you discovered your shared bond for real.  Each of our doodles has their own personality which is part of the fun.  Raising a doodle in a family with children has its own set of challenges while being a single owns presents others.  I've had many different types of dogs - and my experience is that raising a doodle is not for the faint of heart. But when you put your heart into the work and keep finding new experiences for Ludo like you are doing, you'll be rewarded many times over. You're doing a great job. He's such a cute, smart guy. Keep enjoying your journey together (and keep blogging)! 

[Nancy & Echo]

It is so heartwarming for me to hear how much you love each other.  With all your hard work, it sounds like you are shaping his character to be a loving, gentle, confident dog, confident with both humans and dogs.  Your blogs just lift my heart.  Thank you so much!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Katlin ~ it is so fun to read your blogs on your progress with little Ludo.  I cannot believe he is 5 mos already - it seems like just yesterday you were preparing for his homecoming.  You are doing a great job training and socializing this cute and Ludo is responding beautifully.  Keep up the good work!