23/24 weeks old (Dec 28, 2025-Jan 10, 2026)
In these weeks, we had another first. Ember got to have a playdate with our neighbour’s dog, Phoebe, who is a 3 year old that was recently adopted. They had a great time playing chase and I’m sure we’ll arrange more playdates in the future.
Ember has taken to the beach and loves running around at the end of her leash. Recently, the tide was very high and there was big waves. The dogs were sniffing by the shoreline when a wave came and got their legs wet. They both were very perturbed by this. I don’t think Ember is going to be a water loving dog either.
Of course at this time of year a walk can be quite wet and so we get “welties” (wet & sheltie combined) often. They don’t mind and end up looking pretty cute. When I was trying to get their weltie photos Ember kept photo bombing her brother. Luckily due to their coat structure they do not develop the wet dog smell. Ember loves meeting all the dogs and people on her walks. We’re working on doing a sit when commanded by others in exciting settings.
She is still teething and we found another tooth. We have one cardboard box for her that she bites on. She most often rotates from a firmer toy to playing with her softer toys although anything can be a toy (as you’ll see in the video). She is very gentle with them so she is still surprised when we squeak them as she doesn’t chew hard enough to squeak them herself.
Until Ember is 6 months old on Jan 19th she gets fed 3 times a day. When she is having her lunch Phoenix gets a bone. He has now taken to eating the bone over top of her bed. He never tries to lay on the bed or even use it as a pillow so I’m not quite sure why he does this.
At bedtime she will put herself into her enclosure. Sometimes she’ll do it earlier if she thinks her people are staying up too late.
