From Puppy to Adult

Tweet

Today is little Roxy's birthday, her third birthday. Over the past few months especially, I have noticed some real changes in her. I am wondering for other dog owners, if you have noted any noticeable differences in your dogs behavior when they make the big leap from two years old to their official "now a dog" age of three? My baby is no longer a puppy. Approximately six months ago, Roxy's ears stopped smelling like puppy. Mmm, puppy. So sweet. Within the past year the hair on the tip of her ears has gotten really long. When I first got her, there was just short regular puppy fuzz ear hair. See the pic below for the before pic and the (last Two) now picture. Her ear hairs have really grown. Beautifully! The long black wisps I have been told will never grow back should they ever be cut. Yorkies typically get the tips of their ear hair trimmed when they are clipped. Roxy will not be clipped so will always enjoy those long beautiful wispy hairs. Since getting Roxy in August 2008, she has learned a lot. Obedience, basic good behavior and some tricks. having been somewhat neglected and a bit abused before that, she has gained much confidence too. A joy to see. I think she is just grateful to have a forever loving home now, that she somehow knows that she can trust to be able to comfortably settle into and accounts, partially, for her very good behavior. I have noticed that when we walk in the forest, off leash she follows me but tends to wander only slightly, enough to show her ability to be independent. The other day I swear she was playing hide-n-go-seek. We were walking along nicely but when I turned to see her beside me, at least close behind me, she wasn't there. Going back a few steps, she was standing behind a tree, close to the stump, looking up at me. When I seen here I said hey you playing hide-n-go-seek and she proceeded to run around the tree back onto the trail we were following. When she has to stay home, I have found that she now just goes and lays down on the mat in our bedroom, right near the front door. No longer does she follow me around, right up to when I am going out the door as if to say she is coming too. Overtime she is understanding and tolerating, but without satisfaction when an outing can not include her. Otherwise she comes everywhere with me. What has been most noticeable in the past few months, is when we are walking she will suddenly stop, head in air and sniffing. Chest out and head still up with her nose in the air, off she goes, as if she is tracking a scent of who knows. Could be another dog or a squirrel, a bird, raccoon or some other forest dweller. It is a sight to see in my otherwise little baby girl. It is times such as those that I realize she is becoming a dog and no longer just a curious puppy. Are there noticeable changes that you can recall seeing in your dog as they make the transition from puppy to dog? Care to share?