Now officially 9 months old (in April), Smaug is walking that fine line between lanky goofball and budding professional. The legs? Long. The attention span? Improving. The charm? Off the charts. I swear he grows every night in his sleep—and somehow wakes up even more expressive than the day before.
This April, we’ve been focusing on some big developmental goals, and I’m thrilled to say he’s really stepping into them—figuratively and, sometimes, dramatically. A major win this month has been his body handling. Smaug is getting quite comfortable lying on his side for grooming, future check-ups, and all the things he’ll need to handle with confidence. Where he once would wriggle, he now exhales and settles. It’s turning his old “flop and chill” into an art form.
We’ve also been building his off-switch—and yes, it’s as magical as it sounds. His duration holds in a settled position is showing more and more improvement and ability to stay in the moment without needing to pop up every few seconds. He’s learning that calm is a job—and he’s getting good at it.
His structured outings continue to expand—he’s visited stores, cafes, and navigated crowded sidewalks like a pro. Distractions like loud carts, flappy signs, and rogue human food are no problem. He’s still curious (who wouldn’t be?), but now I’m seeing a beautiful pattern: pause, think, choose to engage with me, and move on. That’s the kind of decision-making we love to see.
Smaug is on his way to becoming someone’s steady, confident, life-changing partner—and I couldn’t be more proud.
Until next time,
Smaug and Shelton🐾
Submitted by: Shelton
