Wow.
So I just got my 5-month-old puppy yesterday evening. I feel like we bonded almost right away. She had a lot to deal with, though - new home, new environment, new me and also, the next day (today), a full house of guests.
She was quite scared and reserved, but I assume it's normal? When guests left, she started cheering right away and started running around, etc. So i took the leash and hope i could get her outand try potty train. And we did!! She went all the way down the stairs with help of treats and we walked around the forest (outside of my house, I dont have any fende, just forest alllll the way) and she even peed!!! i was so happy.
And the leash slipped.
And she bolted. Looked back at me and just disappeared in the forest. Wow.
I remembered what I read- don't run, and after just a few initial small steps, I calmed down and started walking the territory.
I think I was a bit in shock, but I tend to keep calm in scary situations (not inside). Then I heard her howl and saw her sprinting near the river beside my house (small one). I walked behind her and tried to find/see her. There was long, long grass, basically a wild forest. I knew the place, and she didn't, so thank god she cornered herself a bit. So I walked to her very slowly and, let's be honest, begged her to come. I somehow managed to get close enough to see the leash, but she started backing up into the river, and right then I knew I had only one chance here...
I have to jump horizontally to get the leash.
So I did. And I got her.
That was wild. And I knew where I got myself into.
I hope 5 months is still a reasonable timeframe to train her well.
Although I have to say, I have only 2 days, and she already peed outside and listened to the sit command after all-day training.
She is SMART.
One thing I'm worried about: she got a ring-shaped patch, and I'm worried she has ringworm.
Have to get her to the vet. Did anyone have this issue as a puppy?