Today we ramped up the clicker training. I’m trying something a little different with this litter by introducing the clicker, games, and barrier challenges just a bit later than I have in the past. My thought process is that waiting until they’re a little more developmentally ready may help them catch on faster, and so far, that seems to be the case. We’ve still been doing plenty of desensitization and exposure, but the more structured learning pieces are starting slightly la

They are just starting to step into that playful stage. They are not quite as bold and interactive as the older litter yet since they are about a week behind, but you can see it coming. They are beginning to run to greet us, soaking up attention, and engaging more with each other. It is such a sweet, in-between phase where their personalities are starting to peek through.

We had a strong thunderstorm roll through today, so just like our other litter, we opened the windows and let these puppies experience it all. The thunder, rain, and shifting sounds become part of their normal environment. Even though this litter is a week younger, this is still a valuable part of their early socialization. They may not be as interactive yet, but their brains are still taking everything in. During this stage, we are very intentional about exposing them to rea