This week I finally found the 12 week puppy training / socialization plan for Shih Tzu puppies. It is actually quite helpful. I thought the potty training and feeding times would be included, but not so much. So far I think we are doing okay..

A couple of weeks ago I wrote out a two hour increments schedule for the puppy, but he was still on four meals a day. The first week to 10 days I did a free feed on the recommended amount for his weight. Then I moved to four meals with the food in a plastic storage for the day. At four weeks I moved him to three times a day so the potty breaks would be more consistent. Kona has really been such a good little dog. he only has greeting pee accidents on occasion.

Kona has the first nine words learned quite well. Sit, Go Potty, Down, Look-At-Me, Stay, Please, Paw, Roll Over, and Leave It. I’m sure Okay is also one of them, as it is our “release” cue for getting up from his position for meal consumption. These words could be put into a weekly training list. But really Sit/Stay is the most important outside of whatever one uses for potty break. I have never had a puppy that did stay so well the first two weeks into training. We use his meal time as rehearsals. And then he gets to show off for new people all the time.

This weekend we took our first road trip with just Kona. We left Charlie home as always. But this time Honey stayed home also. Our visiting event was an indoor reception so I felt Honey would be cooped up too long in the pickup. My daughter was able to come up and let her out for a play session half way thru the day. She was just fine, but a little cold when we got home that evening. And surprising to me was that she did not get full of burs and such.

Kona attended his first little kid birthday party on Sunday. He was very good with all the petting and greeting. And his tail wagged a little “you did it!” When a six month old little boy rolled over. It was fun to watch him “applaud” the baby with a tail wag. The little kids are the best social experience for him. And watching the ones that were once afraid of dogs learn to interact is a joy. Of course, confession time, is that I lost track of his next potty break and he had a greeting accident because I left the room. Oh, well. I’ll try to do better.

What else have I learned this week?

Family begins to loose their communication lines when distance is allowed to become a factor. I am still surprised at how my family does not choose to rejoice in each other’s happenings. It’s rather painful. I guess maybe I want everyone to be included in celebrations and such. Yet the family lines are drawn and each chooses to share only what they so choose. Sometimes divorce plays a large role in all of this talk / share. Sometimes it is the lifestyle choices of others.

And then when I think maybe my family might be dysfunctional, I find out someone else’s is far worse. So I guess I can be super happy that we were all together for a common cause and got to have a siblings picture taken at the occasion. And we have all been blessed with health until this writing anyways.

Not exactly Black vs. White but the contrast between my two softies is so interesting. My love for the larger has waned some. Not that I want to be rid of her, it’s just that her “hyper” has never really settled enough for me. And her aptitude to run off and be independent always throws me off a bit. She just is not singular in her affection to me either. Nevertheless she is a good girl. And quite easy care at minimal attention except for when there is someone else around. I guess maybe i learned that the top quality of a dog for me should be loyalty, then friendliness. Friendliness first leads to difficulty in obedience training.

Charlie is so independent that I can’t get any loyal obedience out of him. He has been a bit snarky at delivery people. And that might prove to be an issue. We might have to put up a sign for them to greet him by by name with enthusiasm, so he thinks that they know him. Anyone in the family he meets is greeting forthcoming with much joy. So we’ll see how the future shapes him.

Kona is quite loyal to the point of separation anxiety. I’m trying not to creat a co-dependent puppy. But when all he has is me… and the hand that feeds him… well that’s just how the kibbles roll. Will have to start letting my husband feed him supper I suppose.

And one final note on this past week, Kona got his first “pathetic” haircut. Yeah, I know I did not do the best job, But he can see, I can see his face, and he’s easier to comb thru and clean up. So there. On we go into the next week.