carolina crabapple roots: shirley's chapter: 16 weeks

tomorrow shirley turns 16 weeks old (4 months already!) and is really growing on us. as you can see from the first picture, she is now 23" high from feet to head (18" to her spine), whereas when we first got her she was 18" tall just to her head...she currently weighs 26 pounds (which is actually still on the skinny side) and gaining...we have had her for a little over a month now and her growth rate has been clocked at about 1 inch per week in height! she recently was switched for the third and hopefully last time over to an adult dog food that more specifically caters to her growing needs based on her breed cateogory (giant). luckily the transition went well and she scarfs down her food (lamb, yum!) at mealtime.

we have come to realize that shirley LOVES car rides! every time we take her out to go potty she keeps one eye on the cars with hope that we will by chance open the door for her to jump in for a quick cruise. so far she fits just right in the front seat but soon she'll need to move to the back. another discovery is how excellent of a walker she is when focused and not distracted by other dogs walking alongside her. we have been following a do-it-yourself puppy training book religiously but plan to enroll her in puppy/beginner classes to supplement and highlight the dog socialization aspect of the training. shirley is a very intelligent puppy but DEFINITELY has a tidbit of stubbornness in her. as puppy parents we like to brag that she is completely housebroken, actually likes her crate, and enjoys playing catch with ducky, chicky, squeaky, any of mike's socks, and frisbee.