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 27:

• Turned SIX MONTHS OLD this week!
• 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
  • started working on differentiating his RIGHT paw since he tends to always use his left paw for things
    • started with a short stool set up so it's easier to reach with his right paw instead of his left
    • clicked and rewarded ONLY when he stepped up on it with his right paw and not his left
  • first time practicing COME off leash in our field/on our property outside of our fenced “back yard” dog yard
    • did awesome!
    • I made sure to have plenty of cheese on hand – only gets it for COME and nothing else
    • did not over-use it, I called maybe 3 to 5 times during entire play date and that was it
• Continue walks on property trails
• Field trips
  • vet office
    • actual vet visit this week
    • our vet is wonderful at taking things slowly and allowing Zooka to get to know her and the vet tech
    • they have toys in the exam room for puppies to play with
    • lots of treats for cooperating and doing things like Sit or Down
    • got his rabies vaccination (we always do it at six months for our puppies – not any sooner)
    • was getting treats from the vet tech when the vet gave the vaccine – never even flinched!Murdoch's in Castle Rock
  • Friend's house for play date
    • have not been here before
    • live in suburbs, as most of our play dates away from home have been which is always different for Zooka who has only ever lived out in the country!
  • local park
    • new park, we've never been there before
    • met up with a new friend (see play date below w adult greyhound)
    • lots of large rocks and equipment to climb on
    • got him to go down a very small playground slide
      • he clearly was not worried about the slippery surface as he tried a few times to climb back UP the slide!
    • climbed up a very large boulder (did it as we walked past and was up it before I knew what he was doing!)
• Play Dates
  • adolescent Finnish Lapphund
    • have not played before
    • other dog jumped him from the get-go, so it did NOT start well
    • had to try over a few times
    • played a bit, but was easily overwhelmed
    • when Zooka gets nervous or overwhelmed his does his air-snapping to tell the other dog to give him space
    • this particular dog did not back off but went after Zooka more than once
    • I ended the play session – this dog was not socially appropriate with Zooka and I didn't want him being traumatized by a dog with poor social skills
    • the other dog went inside and we played a bit in the back yard with toys and without other dogs so that we could end on a positive note and have a somewhat good experience
    • we will not be having any more play dates with this particular dog
  • male Aussie and female Border Collie/Aussie mix
    • they have played with Zooka several times before
    • they have stayed with us as well
    • this week's play date was out in our field
    • Zooka's first time OFF LEASH in our field (with gates closed!)
    • he loved it!
    • lots of running and playing
    • chance to practice our COME off leash
      • he did AWESOME!
  • a young adult female Greyhound
    • never met before
    • we met at a local park on leash for a walk
    • we did allow them to play a bit on leash and they both loved it!
    • good chance to learn to walk with another dog and learn how to stay (mostly) focused on the person holding the leash and not on the other dog