Week Three — Kodi Finally Comes Out of His Shell

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Week three with an Akita puppy can be summed up in one word: personality. It is officially showing up.

If Week One was all about survival — getting him home, through the first vet visit, and figuring out a routine — and Week Two was about settling in, then Week Three is where Kodi started to become himself. He is bolder, busier, and significantly more opinionated than he was two weeks ago. He is also teething, which is its own adventure entirely.

Here is how our week went.

June 14 — The Akita Puppy Leash-in-the-Kitchen System

One thing I have figured out pretty quickly is that an Akita puppy left unsupervised on hardwood floors is a recipe for disaster. I work from home, and when I am at my desk, I cannot have eyes on Kodi every single second. So we landed on a simple solution that has been working really well: an 8-foot leash clipped to a fixed point in the kitchen while I am on the computer.

It keeps him close, keeps him safe, and keeps my floors dry. He has plenty of room to move around, lay down, and chew on something — he just cannot wander off to find his own entertainment in the living room. Honestly, it has been one of the most practical puppy management tricks we have used so far.

Keeping a close eye on this one while I work — the kitchen leash system is saving my floors and my sanity.

The outdoor situation has been equally impressive. Kodi now has free roam of the yard, and somewhere along the way he decided entirely on his own that the right side of the yard is the bathroom area. We did not train this specifically — he just figured it out. Every single time I let him out the back door, he heads straight to his spot and does his business. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate a dog that self-selects a bathroom corner.

June 15 — Teething Begins for the Akita puppy

The chewing has started in earnest. If it is within reach and he can get his mouth on it, he is going to try. This is completely normal for a puppy his age, but it means we needed to get him something appropriate to redirect all of that energy.

We picked up TruRanch 6″ Colla-rolls — a rawhide alternative made from collagen — and they have been a genuine lifesaver this week. Kodi loves them, they keep him occupied, and I feel better about him chewing on something that is not a chair leg or my daughter’s sneakers. If you have a teething puppy and you are nervous about traditional rawhide, these are worth looking into.

June 17 — Kodi Meets Scooby: Akita Puppy’s First Dog Introduction

This was the highlight of the week without question.

My sister brought over her Boxer, Scooby, for a visit. Scooby is full grown and a good bit bigger than Kodi, so I was curious — and honestly a little nervous — to see how our boy would handle it. Akitas can be reserved with other dogs, especially ones they do not know, so I was not sure what we were going to get.

Kodi was apprehensive at first. He held back, assessed the situation, and watched Scooby from a distance for a little while. No growling, no aggression — just a very careful, very deliberate evaluation period that felt very on-brand for the breed. And then, just like that, something clicked. He warmed up, moved in, and the two of them were playing together like they had known each other for years.

It was a really good sign. Seeing him work through his hesitation and come out the other side confident and playful was one of those small puppy milestones that feels bigger than it sounds.

The moment Kodi and Scooby decided they were going to be friends. A little slow to warm up — and then totally fine.

June 19 — Pool Introduction

My daughter decided this was the week to introduce Kodi to the pool, and she was not taking no for an answer. She took him in a few times over the course of the week, just to get him comfortable with the water and understand that it is not something to be afraid of.

She was not taking no for an answer. Kodi’s first pool experience courtesy of his very determined big sister.

He was skeptical at first — which, again, very Akita of him — but he did it. No full swimming laps yet, but the goal right now is just familiarity. We want him to know what water is, what the pool feels like, and that it is a safe place. Given that we have a pool and a curious, growing dog, getting him comfortable around it early felt important.

We will keep working on it. I have a feeling once he figures out it is fun, there will be no keeping him out.

He is louder, faster, heavier, and more confident than the fluffy little bear cub we drove home from Pennsylvania a few weeks ago. He has a bathroom routine, a kitchen leash system, a chew bone habit, a new friend named Scooby, and a very patient teenage girl who keeps trying to turn him into a swimmer.

We are figuring it out, one week at a time.

Is your dog a natural in the water or did it take some convincing? Drop your stories in the comments — I would love to hear how other people handled pool introductions with their pups.