This post is part of our weekly series on raising our Vizsla puppy, Zooka.  You can use our posts as a guide to help raise your own puppy, regardless of breed. Keep in mind that different breeds might develop at different rates, so while you can do these things with any breed, your breed might need certain things at slightly different stages or ages.  Click here to see our list of all updates.

Notes from Week 26:

• Continue training
  • continuing with everything we've been doing so far
    • Name, Sit, Down, Stand, Sleep, Touch, Watch Me, Wait, Stay, LLW, Heel, Front, Swing, Finish, Come, Lift, Bring It, Drop It, Leave It, Chin, Kennel Up, Night Night, Back Up
    • some of these he knows the verbal cue
    • some of these he knows a hand signal
    • some of these he knows get rewarded but we do not have a Cue attached yet
  • continuing work toward a reliable retrieve/fetch
    • though not reliable yet
    • he will grip/pick up the object
    • sometimes will bring it a step or a few steps to me
    • sometimes will pick up but drops before bringing it closer
• Continue with group training classes
  • finished up current round of Polite Pooches Class
  • Dogs Unleashed Class did not meet this week due to weather
• Snow – more snow and cold weather this week
  • Zooka seems to like the snow
  • likes walking in it, playing in it, and sometimes eating it!
  • have to watch how his feet handle the cold/icy/snowy ground
    • if we see him lifting his feet, we need to get him back inside quickly
    • we are careful not to have him out for long if the temp is low
    • we will be getting him used to a winter coat when needed, but have not used it yet
    • debating whether to acclimate him to boots for the winter when it's really cold
• Fear period/sensitive phase
  • though not thoroughly documented, lots of dog experts believe dogs can go through “fear periods” or sensitive periods
  • continuing with this more sensitive period and being careful to help him work through things that worry him
  • still seems to be somewhat in this phase, we continue to work through it
• Continue walks on property trails
• Continue to work on allowing more access in the house
• Field trips
  • vet office
    • we did another  “happy visit” this week
  • Polite Pooches Class
    • local outlet mall
    • been here before on our own
    • much busier this time on a Saturday afternoon
  • Murdoch's in Castle Rock
    • been here before
    • lots of chances to greet people, mostly employees
    • got a few cookies from an employee who was good about asking him to Sit or Down before getting a cookie
  • Home Depot
    • have NOT been here before
    • entered through the lumber area which was quite LOUD and busy
    • he was a little overwhelmed at first
    • not able to listen because of above
    • once we moved to back of store and found a quieter place, he did much better
    • got a chance to greet several people
    • was NOT a big fan of the Halloween witch sitting in a chair, apparently staring at him
      • barked at it
      • avoided close contact but did not flee or panic
      • gradually worked up to being able to get him to sit for a photo with it
      • gradually worked up to nibbling at her fingers to see what she was all about
• Play Dates
  • male Aussie about a month older than Zooka
    • have played before
    • both tend to like to play rough and wild
      • had to take more breaks with these guys than with some of our other play dates
    • but mostly they play well together
    • lots of wrestling
    • a bit of running/racing around
  • no other play dates this week 🙁

Videos

Here is a quick clip of Zooka meeting a witch at a local retailer on a field trip.

Photos