The Monthly Struggle This morning was Heartworm Pill Day ā and if you think that sounds simple, you clearly donāt live with Stanley. Heās adorable, snuggly, and smartā¦ and somehow also a pill-detecting genius.
Too Big to Swallow, Too Smart to Trick The heartworm pill is a big chewable, which means I canāt just sneak it down his throat like a smaller tablet. So, I got creative:
First attempt: hide it in sliced turkey. Rejected.
Second attempt: cut it into quarters. Still no.
Third attempt: roll the pieces into American cheese balls. He unrolled them like a pro and left the medicine behind.
Desperation Tactics Eventually, I had to crush the pill completely, mash the bits into tiny globs of cheese, and serve it on a plate like some sad little charcuterie board of trickery. That finally worked ā I think he got all of it, but honestly, who knows with this guy?
Note to Self: Liquid Next Time Next time I order meds, Iām definitely asking if thereās a liquid option. Or at least something smaller and easier to disguise. I want to make sure he gets every bit of his dose, and Iām not convinced a battle of wills every month is sustainable.
Other pets are all doing well. Bean the Maine Coon desperately needs a good grooming after my travels earlier this month. Hector is sassy as ever, and the Dragon is doing well although she has decided that meal worms and super worms are the only bugs she wants to eat anymore.
I’m traveling this week, and Stanley is staying with my daughter. I always worry he might be a little high-maintenance, but it sounds like sheās enjoying the extra snuggles. When I first got Stanley, I promised myself I wouldnāt baby him and that Iād stay committed to training. I’ve stuck with some of thatā¦ but letās be honest ā Iāve definitely babied him too.
Heās a smart little guy, but I really need to get tougher about not letting him get away with things ā especially this habit he has of pooping in his crate instead of outside. I have no idea why that’s still happening, but it’s something I need to figure out.
He Loves Being Outside and Doesn’t Mind the HeatStanley Recently Spent the Night at a Kennel and Hid in the Corner of the Outside Pen so he Wouldn’t have to go Inside.
On the health front, Stanleyās Giardia seems to be clearing up, which is a relief. Just before I left town, I got a message from the vet saying theyād like to test another stool sample, so Iāll take care of that once Iām back. I know Giardia can be really stubborn, and Iām hoping that the second round of meds we just finished has finally done the trick.
With summer being so unpredictable, our routineās been all over the place. Iād really like to get us back into a training class this fall. The structure is good for both of us and helps keep us consistent. On a lighter note, Stanleyās new Bark Box is on the way! Iāll be sure to share an update once it arrives. Last monthās box ended up being a bigger hit than I expected ā especially the āOrange Sodaā toy, which he ignored at first but eventually warmed up to. The cheeseburger was the clear favorite, but honestly, heās gotten good at playing with all of them.
This week Iām in Philadelphia and was hoping to visit the zoo, but with this heat wave, I might have to save it for another trip. Walking around in 95Ā° humidity doesn’t sound like much fun for me or the animals.
Puck and Bean decided to Pose for a Photo. Both are Doing Well!
Manners Class: āļø Potty Training: š¬ Stanley wrapped up his āMannersā class like a champ ā but the diploma hasnāt magically stopped the occasional surprise poop on the living room floor. Some mornings, we do the āin and outā dance over and over, only for him to sneak away and do his business where he definitely shouldnāt. Itās a good thing heās so snuggly and cute.
Definitely not a cat…..
Small Wins (and Nighttime Poop Hunts) Last night, though, he ran to the door to go out during playtime. Huge win! He did his business like a pro. The only challenge? Trying to locate dog poop in the dark ā basically a blindfolded Easter egg hunt, minus the chocolate.
Gut Check: Literally Iāve noticed it sometimes takes him a while to go, and his poop has been runny (fun stuff). After two rounds of Giardia treatment, I think his tummy’s still recovering. I started him on a probiotic to help get things back in balance. Early signs are promising!
Getting spoiled with breakfast outdoors in the beautiful weatherPuck wondering why Stanley is so crazy!
Retail Therapy and Teething Troubles We skipped the dog park because of rain and hit the pet store instead. Stanley proudly picked out some new chew toys. Heās still holding onto some stubborn baby teeth, so Iām hoping all the chewing helps those little guys move along before he turns into a land shark.
Dealership Dog Star Stanley tagged along to the car dealership this morning. He handled loud garage noises, traffic, and new people like a pro ā minus one overly enthusiastic nip. Still, it was a great outing, and I was proud of how well he adjusted to the chaos.
Sleepy Boy
New Trick: Crawl! Weāre working on a new trick: ācrawl.ā Itās as ridiculous and adorable as it sounds. Stanley seems to love trick training ā and Iām hoping to get him into an agility class this fall if I can find one that fits our schedule.
BarkBox BBQ Bonanza Stanleyās latest BarkBox was a big hit! This monthās BBQ theme came packed with adorable summer toys ā but his absolute favorite is the burger. Itās crinkly, squeaky, and checks all his favorite boxes.
The popsicles are super cute too, and heās been having fun with those.
The orange soda? I thought it was adorable, but Stanley apparently disagrees ā that oneās been left untouched in the toy pile. Maybe he’s more of a water guy.
Rain, Rain, Go Awayā¦ Of course, more rain is in the forecast, and Stanley isnāt thrilled. He acts like wet grass is an act of betrayal. Hereās hoping we can keep the house training on track despite soggy paws and puppy drama.
If anyone has any small dog housebreaking tips, please share! What’s your dog’s favorite toy?
I have to give a shoutout to my new DogID bagāThe Schitty Kit! This thing is a total game changer for walks with Stanley. It has a smell-proof compartment for used poop bags (yes, really!), which means I no longer have to awkwardly carry around a tied-up bag in my hand. Itās super versatile with a fully adjustable strap so I can wear it cross-body, or switch to the included waist strap. It even has belt clips if I just want to attach it to my waistband.
The bag is well-made and holds everything I needātreats, poop bags, phone, keysāwhether weāre heading out for a quick walk or a longer adventure. I originally bought the small version thinking it would be perfect for little Stanley, but ended up exchanging it for the larger size so Iād have extra room. (Shoutout to their fantastic customer service for making the swap easy and painless.) Now I kind of wish Iād kept the small one tooāitād be ideal for shorter outings.
Rubber smell-proof section
Also: I LOVE the bright pink color, but they do offer neutral options if thatās more your vibe. The bag dispenser on the back makes grabbing a poop bag effortless, and the mesh pouch on the front is perfect for treats. The washable, sealable rubber pouch for storing full bags is hands down my favorite feature. I seriously havenāt found another bag that checks all these boxes. To be honest, I also LOVE saying “Schitty Kit” and may say it a bit too often because it’s fun!
We got Stanleyās DNA test results back! I was convinced he had some Italian Greyhound in him, but nopeāunless it’s hidden somewhere in the āSupermuttā category. The great news is that nothing stood out as a red flag in the health portion of the results. Always a relief!
Unfortunately, Stanley is back on medication for Giardia. Apparently, the first round didnāt completely wipe it out. Heās now on a twice-daily pill and a dewormer. Heās not thrilled, but Iāve learned itās much easier to just give him the pill directly than try to hide it in food. Heās catching on, thoughāsmart little guy. Iāve been a bit lazy about training lately and need to get back into the habit. Stanley had his last playgroup of the session this week. Honestly, Iām not too sad to be switching groups. The dogs in his current group didnāt match his energy level. He worked hard trying to get someone to play, but it was a struggle. Fingers crossed the new group next week has more playful pups!
I was out for several hours last night and didnāt want to leave Stanley alone, so I asked a neighbor to check in. I wasnāt sure how it would go since he can be shy, but they said it only took about 15 minutes for him to warm up. After that, he was all cuddles and playtime. They even stayed for about an hour. Lucky pup! Housebreaking is going really well! The weather has been beautiful, and Stanley has been loving itāsometimes a little too much. Getting him to actually do his business outside instead of just sprawling in the sun can be a challenge! Heās starting to bark at the door when he wants to go out, which is great progress. I picked up some bells to hang on the door, but he finds them terrifying at the moment. Hopefully, he gets over that and learns to ring them soon.
Stanley is still really pick about treats. Trader Joes are actually his favorites! he likes the freeze dried Just Chicken, and the dried salmon skin. The dried fish skin is kinda gross. It is very flaky, and it stinks, but he loves it. I save it for training class and outdoor training. We’ve been good about not letting him have human food, except for Pup Cups. Stan and I love to visit Starbucks and get a Pup cup and a coffee!
The rest of the pets are doing great. Our dragon finally finished shedding. Hector has been loving the sounds of birds through the open windows, and the cats are slowly adjusting to life with Stanley. Puck and Stanley even play sometimesāwell, Puck whacks Stanley on the head, and Stanley thinks it’s the best game ever. He gets all excited and zooms around like a maniac. It’s actually pretty adorable.
š Training Classā¦ Kinda? Weāre in the middle of our āteen mannersā training class, and honestly… not loving it. I signed up hoping to work on practical basics like:
Down Off Leave it Stay Leash walking
Instead, the class is mostly about understanding the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence in dogs and how to redirect their energy. Thatās helpful in theory, and I do see how some of it applies to Stanley, but itās not what I was really hoping for. That said, Iām sticking with it and focusing on the parts that matter most for us.
ā¬ļø The Elusive “Down” My biggest struggle? Teaching ādown.ā Stanley just doesnāt lie down naturally unless heās in a lap or curled up in his crate. Luring him with a treat doesnāt work well because heās so small ā he just stretches his head down and grabs it without dropping his body.
Definitely a work in progress, and I might check in with our trainer again to see if she has other strategies. For now, weāre just doing what we can.
š¶ Playgroup, Visitors, andā¦ Marking?
Weāve got another series of small dog playgroup scheduled next month, and while Iām holding off on signing up for another class until fall, Iām toying with the idea of agility ā I think Stanley would love it once we nail down the basics.
Last weekend, Stanley came with me to visit my dad and his two Portuguese Water Dogs. Despite the size difference, Stanley played really well, especially with the one-year-old pup. I was so proud of him!
Less exciting? He peed on a couple of dog beds and a chair while we were there. Iām guessing it was marking behavior triggered by the other dogs. Definitely something we need to work on before our next house guest moment.
He also spent a few hours at my daughterās apartment recently when I went out for the evening. He played hard, had a blast, and eventually crashed in their laps for a nap. He did have one small accident ā he peed on a towel that was on the floor ā but my daughter took the blame for that one. She realized afterward that heād been sniffing around and probably thought the towel was a potty pad. All things considered, not too bad!
šŖ A Potty Training Breakthrough! Big news: Stanley has started going to the door and barking to go out! It feels like a huge leap forward.
This morningās routine looked like this:
Out first thing ā Pee ā Breakfast ā Done Then? He barked at the door, ran out, and pooped right away. Weāre finally finding our rhythm at home, and he seems to be really settling into the routine.
š Big Wins (and BarkBox Joy) Stanley continues to be obsessed with fetch and BarkBox toys ā I think weāve officially found our favorites. Heās still enjoying the Ollie food, but honestly, the frozen format is more trouble than itās worth. The food container and scoop were nice, but I wonāt keep it going.
His Embark DNA test is currently being processed, and Iām so excited to get those results back. I canāt wait to learn more about our mystery mutt!
š” Trusting Him Off-Leash (A Little) Another HUGE step: Iāve started letting Stanley off-leash in our yard. So far, he runs around, does his business, and then comes straight back to the door. I donāt fully trust him yet ā if something scared him, Iām afraid heād bolt ā but weāre making steady progress. Baby steps!
š¬ Got Tips? Weāve come a long way, but thereās still so much to learn. If anyone has tips for teaching ādownā to a tiny dog ā or managing marking in new places ā Iād love to hear them. Drop a comment and letās share the wisdom! And if you have a treat that your dog LOVES, let me know. Stanley is super picky about his treats.
š¾ Stanley Update: Loving Life and Learning Slowly Stanley is doing great ā heās such a little love! His perfect day includes running wild playing fetch, and then curling up in someoneās lap like the worldās tiniest weighted blanket. He spent a few hours with my daughter and her partner last night while I was out, and he loved it. After zooming around their living room, he curled up on the couch like he owned the place.
Outside “Potty Pen”
šŖ Potty Progress: Outside Only! Potty training is still a work in progress, but weāre moving in the right direction. Iāve officially taken away his indoor potty pads ā itās outdoor-only from here on out. Heās starting to understand what heās supposed to do outside, but… he gets distracted. Easily.
Sometimes itās a two-round process:
Take him out, let him sniff and explore. Bring him back in. Wait for him to start sniffing inside. Back out we go. Itās time-consuming, but I think itās finally starting to click.
Post Playgroup – Exhausted Stanley!
š¶ Playgroup and Puppy Energy Stanley loves his weekly dog playgroup. I do wish there was another puppy in the mix ā the other dogs are lovely, but none of them match his endless energy. Heāll play with one until they get tired, then bounce over to the next. Itās actually been great for him socially ā heās learning to read dog body language and back off when someoneās had enough. Big win!
š Training Class Challenges Training class has been… okay. Itās focused a lot on helping excitable adolescent dogs calm down, which is useful, but I was hoping for more basics like sit, stay, etc.
The biggest challenge? Lay down. Stanley doesnāt do it. At all. Iāve tried luring with treats, but heās so tiny that he just stretches his neck instead of lowering his body. Iāve also tried waiting and rewarding the behavior when he does it naturally ā but the only time he really lays down is in someoneās lap or locked in his crate.
Iām going to email the trainer and see if she has other ideas. Itās tough to teach ārelax on your matā when he doesnāt actually lay down on the floor. If you have tips, please send them my way!
That said, heās doing great with:
Coming when called Sit Touch Leave it āOKā release cue And heās becoming an excellent walker ā he walked over a mile each way to and from our favorite local restaurant last weekend!
šāāļø Agility on the Horizon? Iām thinking about signing him up for a beginner agility class. With how much he loves running, jumping, and weaving through furniture, I think heād have a blast. Plus, I suspect it would help him burn off some of that teenage dog energy in a positive way.
š The Rest of the Crew While Stanley may be hogging the spotlight, the rest of the pets are doing well:
Beauty Bath
The Dragon (our bearded dragon) just had a beautiful full-body shed and a nice bath. Her tail is the only bit left to finish up.
Hector the Parrot is thriving in her usual way ā shredding every bit of cardboard she can find.
Martin on top, Puck under him, and Martha on the Side
š Back to Class Tomorrow! Weāre back at training class in the morning ā wish us luck! And seriously, if anyone out there has advice on how to teach a tiny dog to lay down, Iām all ears. Drop your tips in the comments!
š Sweet, Cuddly, and… Exhausting I love Stanley ā heās affectionate, playful, and loves to snuggle. But wow, some days are just a lot.
Lately, Iāve been finding myself frustrated by the end of the day. Heās deep in that “teenage puppy” phase, and even though I know itās normal, it can feel like weāre going backward instead of making progress.
šŖ The Potty Training Struggle The housebreaking journey has been… slow. I keep working on getting him to go outside, but weāre not quite there yet.
Today was a good example:
He went outside twice ā long walks, lots of time in the woods. Nothing. Five minutes after coming inside? He goes on his puppy pad. Iām super grateful he used the pad (thankfully heās good about that), but I just canāt figure out whatās holding him back from going outside. Iām trying to stay patient, but itās tough.
ā³ Chugging Along Some days I feel like Iām failing him ā like Iām not training him well enough, or not doing something right. But I keep trying. He did go outside twice today, and we had some nice walks. So Iām holding onto the little wins and reminding myself that this takes time.
Iām also nervous about traveling this summer and leaving him with someone else. I want him to be a bit more predictable and easier to care for by then. Hopefully, weāll make some real progress soon.
š„£ Food Update: A Clear Favorite On the upside, Iāve finally found a dog food that really works for both Stanley and me: Top Shelf Dog. Heās eating it consistently, itās easy to serve, and it turns out to be the most cost-effective option Iāve tried.
Bonus: ordering it from Amazon is actually cheaper than buying directly from their website.
I also couldnāt resist a deal from Ollie ā half off the first shipment and a free dog DNA test? Yes, please. Thatās on the way, and Iāll report back once we try it.
š First Small Dog Playgroup This afternoon, Stanley has his first small dog playgroup! Iām hopeful heāll do well ā fingers crossed he makes some new friends and gets a little more confident around other dogs.
š¾ TL;DR: Puppies are hard. Stanley is adorable. Iām tired. But weāre figuring things out.
Any other puppy parents out there dealing with the same rollercoaster? Share your training wins (or fails!) and drop any playgroup or travel tips in the comments.
Stanley is doing pretty well overall ā some days Iām convinced heās completely housebroken, and then, out of nowhere, heāll have an accident. Itās a journey.
Heās still not a fan of the outdoors. If itās over 65Ā° and sunny, he loves it and doesn’t want to come back in. But anything cooler, rainy, or even slightly cloudy? No thank you. Even with little jackets, heāll turn around and bolt right back up the stairs to the door.
For now, weāre still using puppy pads in the house. Thankfully, he mostly uses them consistently.
š Starting Dog Training Class
We start āTeenage Mannersā class tomorrow! Fingers crossed heās not the only tiny dog ā itād be nice for him to have a little buddy. He also starts Small Dog Playgroup next week, so weāll see how that goes.
Some of the things Iām hoping to work on in class:
Better potty training habits Reducing nipping Food aggression Chasing the cats And I still canāt figure out how to teach him ālie downā ā heās so small itās tough to lure him with a treat!
š¶ Evening Play & Snuggles
Stanley is a total love. He still gets crated during our dinner to prevent chaos with the cats, but once weāre done eating, we let him out and he gets super playful.
We sit on the floor and play fetch, and the cats even seem to enjoy the action. After that, Stanley crashes ā we all move to the couch, and he curls up in someoneās lap and snoozes. Itās honestly my favorite time of day.
š¦ BarkBox Review: 10/10, No Notes
I mentioned in a previous post that I ordered some BarkBox toys, and this week, Stanley got two boxes!
I saw an ad with some adorable toys that were only available to subscribers, so I signed up for a 6-month subscription. Letās be real ā 6 months’ worth of toys will probably last Stanley a lifetime. I opened the extra box of toys I picked out myself, and I have to say: these toys are awesome.
Theyāre: adorable, well made, and full of variety ā squeakers, crinkles, textures, etc.
Stanley prefers plush toys, so thatās what I went with, and he genuinely loves every single one. His current favorite is a fried chicken bucket toy ā it makes crinkly sounds, and he loves to chew it and carry it around. I need to get a better picture of him with his whole head in the bucket (which happens a lot).
The Chicken Bucket!
This sloth is almost as big as Stanley, but he loves it!
He also thinks the box that everything came in is pretty great!
The second box is our official BarkBox, which includes themed toys and treats. I got a bonus offer when signing up, so our first box has double toys and treats ā canāt wait to open it this weekend, or as soon as I clean out the dog toy box and make room!
š£ Got Class Tips? Weāll see how Stanley does in manners class this weekend ā hereās hoping he doesnāt try to boss around the big dogs. š
If youāve got any dog training class stories or tips for tiny dogs, Iād love to hear them! Letās swap some puppy tales in the comments.
š¾ Puppy Love Is Real What can I say about Stanley? I love him SO much! I just want to spend all my time with him ā and honestly, I kind of do. He’s doing so well. Potty training isnāt perfect, but Iām really happy with his progress. He consistently uses his indoor potty pads, and now that the weather is warming up, heās starting to get more comfortable going outside too.
Nighttime outdoor potty trips are still a work in progress, but weāre easing into it little by little.
š Our Daily Routine Stanleyās settled nicely into a routine. Mornings start with a trip outside. He does his business and sniffs around, and when heās done, he runs to the stairs to head back in ā which brings me to the next pointā¦
Heāll go up the stairs, no problem. But going down? Absolutely not. We’re still working on that one.
Iāve started using a button to teach him to tell me when he wants to go out. So far, Iām the only one using it ā but hey, progress is progress!
š± Cats, Crates, and Chaos (Mostly at Dinner) Stanley is slowly learning to coexist with the cats. He still barks at them, but if I say “leave it,” heāll stop and come to me ā a big win!
Dinner time, though? Thatās another story. He gets very stressed around the cats when food is involved and turns into six pounds of snapping, growling teeth. Right now, he goes in his crate while we eat dinner. During lunch, heās calmer and usually just barks a bit, so he stays out then. Still working on it.
š Walks, Work, and Weekend Adventures He spends most of the morning in my lap while I work, then we take a mid-day walk around the yard or neighborhood ā or both, depending on the day. If work gets busy, we keep it short and go out again later.
Stanleyās still on three meals a day and staying on the slim side, so keeping him well-fed is a priority.
Tired out after his first Food Truck Trip!
This weekend, we had some fun firsts:
On Saturday, we took him to a local food truck pod for lunch. He was a little unsure of his surroundings but did great ā no barking, and he even napped on the bench while we ate. On Sunday, he went on his first hike with us. It was a short trail (about 1.5 miles), and I expected to carry him. Nope! He walked the whole way ā even jumped over a big log like a pro. He’s not totally sure about other dogs yet, but he’s learning.
š¾ Evenings and Sleepy Snuggles After dinner, we usually play fetch in the living room until he tires out. Then it’s snuggles on the couch until bedtime. Heās still sleeping in a crate at night, and thatās going smoothly, so Iām sticking with it for now.
š Training and Playgroups Coming Up In just over a week, Stanley starts his basic manners class, and heāll also be attending a small dog playgroup. May is shaping up to be a busy (and exciting!) month for him!
š½ļø Food Update: The Final Choice Iāve tested a few food brands with him, and hereās the verdict:
Sundays and Petās Table (air-dried): Total pass. Not interested. He does like the fresh/frozen Pet’s Table food, but it’s expensive, and I don’t want the hassle of frozen food.
Spot and Tango (UnKibble): Heāll snack on it occasionally but doesnāt love it.
Happy Howl: The clear winner! Itās shelf-stable, human-grade, easy to serve, and he devours it. No freezing, no fuss, and way more economical than some of the other fresh options. Another bonus is that their customer service has been outstanding!
š¦ Surprise Incoming: BarkBox! Donāt tell Stanley, but I caved and ordered him a BarkBox subscription. He loves plush toys and theirs are just too cute. Our first box (plus a few āextrasā ā oops) is already on the way. Iāll report back on how he likes it!
š Feeling Grateful Iām honestly over the stress of the puppy stage. Stanley is fitting right into our lives and routine. Heās everything I hoped for in a little dog ā sweet, playful, snuggly, adventurous. Iām so thankful this tiny guy is part of our family.
Have you been through the puppy stage recently? Got tips for managing food aggression or teaching stair confidence? Iād love to hear what worked for you ā drop your thoughts in the comments!
BarkBox BBQ Bonanza
The popsicles are super cute too, and heās been having fun with those.
The orange soda? I thought it was adorable, but Stanley apparently disagrees ā that oneās been left untouched in the toy pile. Maybe he’s more of a water guy.
