This is Ava's Story

**Two Week Mark**

Ava week 3 & 4 Update!

Weeks 3 & 4

Ava’s eyes and ears are now fully open, and her curiosity about the world is growing by the day. Every sound captivates her as she eagerly explores her surroundings, soaking in all the new sights and noises.

To nurture her developing sense of hearing, we’ve started consistently calling her by name. This not only helps her recognize it early but also lays an important foundation for her learning and connection with us.

While Ava’s vision and hearing have improved significantly, they still have a few weeks to mature fully, which typically happens around the eight-week mark.

Ava’s playful personality is beginning to shine as she bonds with her mom and starts to explore toys with a bit of encouragement. She and her mom share a spacious bed originally designed for a larger litter, and Ava takes full advantage of the extra space. She zips around with boundless curiosity, often chasing the blanket—a favorite pastime! To guide her playtime positively, I gently redirect her attention to toys. This helps her form healthy habits while learning and having fun.

Raising a singleton puppy like Ava comes with its own set of unique challenges, requiring extra care and attention. Without siblings to interact with, I’ve stepped in to replicate the role of her littermates. This means closely monitoring her growth, ensuring her mom provides adequate care, and even mimicking the natural jostling of siblings during nursing by gently interrupting her feeding at times. If her mom ever stops nursing her, I’m prepared to step in with bottle feeding to ensure she continues to thrive.

Ava’s progress has been remarkable! From a tiny 5.2 ounces at birth, she’s grown into a healthy 1 pound, 2.9 ounces, thriving beautifully with each passing day.

Her mom, Mia, has been an incredible caregiver, showering Ava with love and attention and ensuring she feels safe and nurtured every step of the way.

Today was a special milestone for Ava as she embarked on her journey with solid foods—and it was a resounding success! She eagerly cleared her plate without hesitation. We even introduced some canned food, which she seemed to enjoy just as much.

As we enter week six on November 19th, everything is coming along beautifully. We’re building on her mastery of the "Name" and "Sit" commands while also encouraging playful engagement with her toys. Her boundless energy, vibrant personality, and undeniable spark are truly shining through! 

It’s pure joy to watch her interact with her mom. She dashes off in excitement, only to race back and tumble into her with uncontainable glee. Her floppy, clumsy antics are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face. 

She’s an endearing blend of charm, spirit, and delightful silliness! 

Can you believe it? Week 7 is already here—time is flying by!

November 26th

This week, little Miss Ava has been quite the adventurer, eagerly exploring every nook and cranny she can reach. Her curiosity knows no bounds!

The moment she sees an opportunity to move, she’s off in a flash—there’s no stopping her!

One of Ava’s favorite discoveries this week has been our Rottweiler, a rescue we’ve had for a few years. Thankfully, he’s the picture of patience. He greets her with a gentle sniff and then lets her playful energy unfold without a fuss.

We’re continuing to work on commands like “Name,” “Play,” and “Sit.” Ava is making progress—slowly but surely! With consistent practice, we know she’ll master them in no time.

I’ve also been encouraging Crystal to spend more one-on-one time bonding with Ava. These moments are so important for creating a strong, lasting connection between them.

Crystal has been focusing on teaching Ava to sit and consistently follow commands. The dedication is paying off—Ava’s responses are improving each day!

Crystal began working with Ava since she was just four weeks old. While the journey has been demanding, she’s discovering how deeply rewarding it is to train and nurture a dog. The hard work is truly worth it.

Training a dog demands considerable effort, and Crystal is about to experience this firsthand. While she may feel a bit frustrated now, it’s essential for her to understand that patience is vital; the hard work will ultimately yield great rewards. By the end of this journey, she will be grateful for the dedication and perseverance she invested in her furry companion.

Yesterday, on November 28th, I took Ava and Mia to visit my grandmother. Little Ava, however, decided she wanted to go outside and started crying at the door. I agreed, as the weather wasn’t too cold. After circling around for a bit, she bravely stepped outside for the first time—yes, she went for a poop! I encouraged her enthusiastically, and her tail was wagging with joy. While she may not fully grasp what just happened, that’s perfectly fine. In just a few days, Ava will go to the vet for her first vaccinations, deworming, and microchipping. Excitingly, she will turn 8 weeks old this Friday.

December 4th, 2021

As of December 4th, Ava celebrated her 8-week milestone yesterday! Since Wednesday, December 1st, she has been settling into a travel crate at the foot of Crystal's bed. I made sure to remind Crystal to take Ava outside before bedtime to avoid any accidents.

I also explained that when Ava cries, it's typically a signal that she needs a potty break. Rest assured, I will be waking up during the night to let her out when necessary.

Ava is always on the move, mastering the pee pads with only a few minor accidents around the house. Her playful nature shines through as she loves to run and chase after Mom and Dad. While Dad still occasionally runs from her, it's likely that as she matures, he may become more comfortable.

As Ava is a singleton pup, Mia frequently steps in to join her for playtime. Single pups often miss out on the social interactions that help them learn boundaries. When playing with Mom, Ava can be quite exuberant and tends to bite a little too hard, but Mia takes it all in stride. Without siblings, there's limited opportunity for Ava to learn these lessons, so I must take on that role. I need to intervene during playtime, breaking up her feedings as if a sibling were nudging her away to claim a spot.

Ava is eating solid food completely, no more using water to soften it, she loves bananas already, not too keen on the lettuce, and she loves the can food and treats. 

At just 8 weeks old, Ava has already mastered the commands "follow," "sit," and "lay down." Crystal is currently working on the "wait" command, and with time and patience, we're confident she'll get there.

I didn’t start training Mia until she was 10 weeks old. I wanted to give her some extra time to adjust, rather than sticking to the typical 72-hour rule. My initial focus was on potty training and helping her recognize her name. I incorporated a ball into the process—tossing it while calling her name and rewarding her with treats upon her return. Consistency is key; repetition truly matters, and daily practice makes a significant difference.

Currently, whenever Ava wakes up, Crystal takes her out for potty breaks. During playtime, Ava often walks over to her pee pad. However, excitement sometimes gets the better of her, and she doesn’t always make it. But that’s perfectly fine—training is all about learning. We are encouraging Crystal to take Ava outside more often, but with winter upon us, there are days when it’s too cold for her to go out. Being tiny, we need to be cautious about exposing her to low temperatures.

December 8, 2021

Ava has hit the 9-week mark! This week, we’ve continued to focus on her name and have been taking her outside more often. She adores following her mom wherever she goes. Ever since she discovered that snow is tasty, Ava can’t resist munching on it during potty breaks!

Crystal is diligently teaching Ava basic obedience skills, particularly the "sit" command. Remarkably, when her name is called, she comes running and sits immediately—what a clever girl! We’re also enhancing her playtime by tossing toys and encouraging her to fetch and drop them back. Ava has mastered climbing the stairs by herself over the past few days, although she’s still learning how to come down. That milestone is just around the corner!

We are also focusing on strengthening Ava's bond with her mom, Crystal. Building a connection with your puppy is crucial. Ava loves to cuddle and often falls asleep in your arms. She enjoys being wrapped in blankets to stay warm and craves attention. But then again, she is a Jack Russell!