Ivy’s Transition into Adulthood

Our little girl is turning 2 in January and it’s been quite a ride! (And you know, my updates about her are some of my most popular blogs and Facebook posts.)

As you know, I wasn’t a dog mom before this; Ivy is our first family dog. We’ve been through numerous emergency vet visits (and few surgeries) thanks to her inquisitive nature and insatiable appetite for socks. And I’ve become the Crazy Dog Lady who wants to take her four-legged kids with her everywhere.

Having a puppy, and now a young adult dog, has been a huge learning experience for us. While I wouldn’t change having her, I could do without some of the vet bills!

In general, Ivy has calmed down quite a bit. She’s still getting into things that she shouldn’t, but she’s at least much more predictable. We can often head off any issues before they happen. She’s a high-energy dog who needs a lot of exercise, so that’s kept us as a family even more active than we already are.

When we first got her, she was so rambunctious and energetic that we often had to crate her when family came over. My parents especially were a bit afraid of watching her while we were out of town because of her high energy. Now that she’s mellowed down, my parents are comfortable even watching her at their own house–which is a big help for us!

I know that most puppy behaviors are because the people in the house haven’t established proper boundaries. Dog training is more about people training! Because we’re more aware of Ivy’s behaviors, like counter surfing, we do better about keeping things out of reach. This gives us more comfort and freedom, knowing our own boundaries so we can prevent trips to the doggie ER.

If you have a puppy with unmanageable behaviors, know that you’re not alone. And know that it won’t last forever. I think Ivy will always love eating socks, but it’s gotten so much better that she sometimes forgets that socks are her favorite “food.”