Mar 09, 2009 12:35
Stitch is growing quickly, and at nearly four months now, is rapidly approaching that dreaded phase known as "adolescence." The warning signs are starting to rear their ugly heads: he's much more hyper, doesn't need as much sleep, and he's beginning to bark when things don't go his way. His old toys don't interest him much anymore, he'd rather chew on books, or shoes, or shelves, or sofas, or anything other than his toys. He's much harder to tire out; we went for a 45 minute walk, just so I could get some work done without him eating the house, and it barely fazed him.
Still, I have to say this is probably the smartest dog I've ever trained, and that's counting all the dogs I've worked with as a trainer, and my own Australian Shepherd. He's lightning smart, so much it worries me sometimes. Will this last through adolescence into adulthood? Is this just a fluke? This afternoon, I took him to Petsmart to practice his Stays, and he stayed firmly planted as I walked around the isles and out of sight. There was a dog treat on the floor, and when I told him Leave It, he leaped back, and wouldn't go near it even when we walked past several times.
Come to think of it, its not that he's super intelligent, its that he's more willing to work with me than any dog I've seen. At Stitch's age, Dodger was very smart, but he was more interested in the world around him. But even when we're out, Stitch is always checking in with me, and I can get his attention with a single word. I've never had a dog this in tune with me, this eager to learn. Are all papillons like this? Or will this fade when he becomes a teenager? Guess I'll find out soon.
But now I have to go rescue my computer case from puppy jaws. Some things never change.
puppy training,
adolescence