Weeks 4 Through 6 — Watch Kodi Grow Fast and Settle In

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Kodi is growing so fast it is almost hard to keep up. The little bear cub we drove home from Pennsylvania is turning into something bigger, bolder, and significantly more sure of himself with every passing week. Akita puppy weeks 4 through 6 brought something we hadn’t seen yet — a puppy becoming a dog right before our eyes. Here is where we have been.

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June 22 — Vet Visit: Vaccines and Prevention

Week four brought another vet visit and this one was a big one on the medical side. Kodi weighed in at 23.6 pounds and got a full round of vaccines — DHLPP, Lyme, and influenza — all in one appointment. He handled it like a champ, which at this point I have come to expect from him. He is not a dramatic dog.

We also started him on two preventatives that I feel really good about. The first is Proheart 12, a once-a-year heartworm injection that eliminates the need to remember a monthly pill — for a busy household this is genuinely a game changer. The second is Bravecto, a chew that provides flea and tick protection for three months at a time. Both were recommended by our vet and I cannot say enough about the peace of mind that comes with knowing he is covered.

For anyone with a new puppy, getting ahead of heartworm and parasite prevention early is one of the most important things you can do. Do not wait on this one.

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Weeks 4 and 5 — The Great Chew Experiment

The teething is still very much in full swing, and at this point we have turned it into something of a taste test. We have been working our way through a lineup of rawhide alternatives and treats to see what Kodi loves, what he tolerates, and what he walks away from.

Here is what we have been trying:

TruRanch Large Colla-Rolls — We graduated from the 6″ size to the large Colla-Rolls, now in both Bully + Collagen and Chicken + Collagen varieties. Still a household staple and still his go-to when he really needs to settle in and chew something.

Wild Eats +Collagen Collagen + Duck Sticks — Another rawhide alternative, high in protein and made with duck. These have been a hit.

Holistix Dental Chews — Sweet Potato and Mint, made without fillers or dyes. These do double duty — they satisfy the chewing urge and help with dental health at the same time.

Breton Farms Duck Jerky — Soft premium treats, great for hips and joints. Good for rewarding good behavior without going overboard on calories.

Butcher’s Naturals Pork Jerky with Real Bacon — Made in Germany with 75% meat. Let’s just say these did not last long.

Blue Wilderness Wild Bits Salmon Recipe — Small training treats that are easy to use for positive reinforcement throughout the day.

We will do a deeper dive on each of these in a dedicated chews and treats post coming soon — but for now, the short version is that Kodi has not met a chew he did not like. He is nothing if not enthusiastic.

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Weeks 5 and 6 — The Pool Is His Happy Place

Remember when we were gently coaxing Kodi into the pool a few weeks ago, hoping he would just tolerate the water? That phase is over.

He loves the pool now. He has figured out the steps, he knows how to get in and out, and he has started doing something that I find absolutely hilarious — on warm afternoons he will walk down and just sit on the top step by himself to cool off. Nobody asked him to. Nobody carried him in. He just decided the step was his spot and that is where he goes.

There is something very Akita about that. Very self-directed, very unbothered, very much on his own terms.

My daughter has been in the pool with him constantly and watching the two of them together is one of my favorite things about this summer. He follows her around the yard and then the two of them end up poolside, just hanging out. It is the kind of thing you cannot plan — it just happens.

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Week 6 — The Cat Situation Is Evolving

This is the update I know a lot of you have been waiting for.

When Kodi first came home, our two cats — Stinky and Hemi — wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. Stinky is our male and Hemi is our female, and their reactions have been completely different from the start.

Stinky has come around in a big way. He will walk up to Kodi now, sniff him, and rub up against him like it is the most normal thing in the world. They have even had some back and forth that I can only describe as playing — and we caught it on video. Watching a cat willingly engage with an Akita puppy is not something I ever expected to happen this quickly, but here we are. If you want to see it for yourself, I will be posting the clip over on Instagram shortly.

Hemi is not there yet. She keeps her distance, watches from a safe perch, and makes it very clear that she is observing the situation on her own timeline and will engage when she is ready — or possibly never, and she is fine with that too. We are not pushing it. You cannot rush a cat and you certainly cannot rush a female cat who has decided she is in charge.

The fact that Stinky has fully accepted him at this point is a really encouraging sign. These things take time and every animal adjusts at their own pace.

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July 13 — Akita Puppy Weeks 4 Through 6 Vet Update: 33.5 Pounds and 5 Cups a Day

By the July 13 visit, Kodi had grown to 33.5 pounds. Let that sink in for a moment — from 16 pounds at his first visit to 33.5 pounds in roughly six weeks. This is what Akita ownership looks like. They grow fast, they grow big, and they do not stop.

We bumped his Fromm Large Breed Puppy food up to 5 cups per day to keep pace with all that growing. The vet is pleased with how he is developing and so are we.

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Kodi at Six Weeks

He sprawls out on the kitchen floor like he owns the place — because at this point, he kind of does. He has a pool step that is his, a cat friend in Stinky, a teenage girl who is completely devoted to him, and a Highland cow stuffed animal that he takes very seriously.

We are figuring out this Akita life one week at a time, and honestly? It keeps getting better.

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Are your cats and dogs friends or sworn enemies? Drop your stories in the comments — I would love to hear how other multi-pet households have navigated the introduction.