💛 Sweet, Cuddly, and… Exhausting
I love Stanley — he’s affectionate, playful, and loves to snuggle. But wow, some days are just a lot.
Lately, I’ve been finding myself frustrated by the end of the day. He’s deep in that “teenage puppy” phase, and even though I know it’s normal, it can feel like we’re going backward instead of making progress.
🚪 The Potty Training Struggle
The housebreaking journey has been… slow. I keep working on getting him to go outside, but we’re not quite there yet.
Today was a good example:
He went outside twice — long walks, lots of time in the woods.
Nothing.
Five minutes after coming inside? He goes on his puppy pad.
I’m super grateful he used the pad (thankfully he’s good about that), but I just can’t figure out what’s holding him back from going outside. I’m trying to stay patient, but it’s tough.
⏳ Chugging Along
Some days I feel like I’m failing him — like I’m 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 I’m holding onto the little wins and reminding myself that this takes time.
I’m 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, we’ll make some real progress soon.
🥣 Food Update: A Clear Favorite
On the upside, I’ve finally found a dog food that really works for both Stanley and me: Top Shelf Dog. He’s eating it consistently, it’s easy to serve, and it turns out to be the most cost-effective option I’ve tried.
Bonus: ordering it from Amazon is actually cheaper than buying directly from their website.
I also couldn’t resist a deal from Ollie — half off the first shipment and a free dog DNA test? Yes, please. That’s on the way, and I’ll report back once we try it.
🐕 First Small Dog Playgroup
This afternoon, Stanley has his first small dog playgroup! I’m hopeful he’ll do well — fingers crossed he makes some new friends and gets a little more confident around other dogs.
🐾 TL;DR: Puppies are hard. Stanley is adorable. I’m tired. But we’re 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.