General Energy Fluff

Eleven weeks old, almost 12 now and everyone is in love with little Peaches! Without a shadow of a doubt, she is going to be a people pooch. No matter where we are her tail goes into overdrive in excitement when she sees another person come close, if they don't pay her some attention she makes herself as noticeable as possible. Living, basically, in a retirement community the people around absolutely love it! We even have a neighbor who comes by on Sundays to "borrow" her so she can take Peaches to some of the residents who have a harder time getting around for visits and kisses. Making of a therapy dog? Maybe, but we will have to see.

Bonding

As Peaches is the wife's pup I have attempted to take as much of a "back seat" as possible with the bonding process. It seems to very good effect, I might add. The bond between Peaches and my wife is palpable. Every time Peaches sees my wife the little one goes bonkers, and the joy on my wife's face fills me with so much joy. Peaches still enjoys playing with me and tolerates the training I hand out, but that bond is really set it seems.

Training

We are taking it slowly, but durned if she ain't smart as a whip. We bought a doorbell for the dogs to be able to signal when they "need" to go out. It took us about 6 times and she had it down pat, color me amazed. Now, she has found it a good way to get our attention.

Potty training is going slower though. While she was still with her litter there were towels and the like spread out for them to relieve themselves on and it appears that it has become a learned practice for her so it is slowing down the retraining, but we are getting there.

Basic commands are doing well. She has a natural sit and we are working to form that, but it is awesome to watch. She tends to walk at the heel naturally when just walking about unless she is on a lead, then she is a puling fool. But, at 11 w/o and all the new stuff around what can you expect especially when her brother is around?

Her retrieval is right on par already, Yes, she is a retriever. Right now this is natural instinct so I think it is going to be ultra-easy to form that instinct with commands. So far anything that we toss she will run, pick it up, and return it to the thrower (as long as something else does not catch her attention).