10 weeks-11 weeks Old
July 20-27

This week was a little different, and to be honest, a bit tough. Captain had to leave for a whole week for a planned trip she couldn’t cancel, and I missed her a lot. She’s the one who usually spends the most time with me, teaching me all sorts of important things, so without her, things felt a bit out of sync. But don’t worry—I was in good paws with Commander and Big Paw, even though it wasn’t the same.

While Captain was away, we discovered something about me: I really, really don’t like baths. I know, it’s crazy since I LOVE playing in water. But, there’s something not quite right with about a bath!

It all started with a small rash on my belly from last week’s vet visit. The vet gave me some special medicated shampoo that had to be used a few times a week. Commander and Big Paw were in charge of my baths while Captain was gone, but let’s just say the whole bath experience didn’t go too smoothly.

First, they tried giving me a bath in the stand-up shower—nope, not having it. Then they tried using the hose outside, and that was even worse! Finally, they tried the bathtub, but I was so scared I kept trying to jump out. The whole thing left me pretty shaken up.

When Captain got back, she knew she had to help me feel better about bath time. She did some reading on how to help dogs like me who are scared of baths, and boy, did it make a difference. For my next bath, Captain filled the tub with a few inches of water before bringing me in, so I didn’t have to deal with that scary faucet sound. Then, she pulled out the big guns—a tasty treat that looked like Cheese-Whiz for dogs (KONG Stuff’N Easy Treat Bacon & Cheese). She sprayed a line of it on the side of the tub, and I couldn’t resist!

While I licked up the treat, Captain gently poured water on my back using a cup. I didn’t love it, but it was a lot better than before. Captain also didn’t let any other pack members come into the bathroom, so the only energy in the room was her calm and confidence. I managed to stay calm and even got out before I started to feel too scared. Captain says we’ll keep working on this over the next few weeks, so I can get more comfortable with bath time. I know she’s got my back.

But it wasn’t all tough stuff this week! I also hit a big milestone—I made it all the way around the block on our walks without getting too tired! This was my first time doing that, and Captain was really proud. Right now, we’re doing two walks a day, and I get lots of outside time in the yard too, always with someone watching over me. I can’t wait to go on even longer walks as I get older.

Even though it was a challenging week, I’m learning and growing every day. Captain is back now, and we’re ready to tackle whatever comes next—one step (or splash) at a time!