It's a  learning experience writing a blog and I find  it challenging to remember all the steps to import photos, make entries, etc. (Thank you Jeannette for your patience with all the phone calls!)  But the experts say it's a good thing to challenge our brains once in a while and, speaking of which, our new little bundle of energy has been with us almost a week now and the challenges are non stop. Before I make an entry to the blog I have to sit and give some thought as to what I will write and it's difficult to narrow it down. So many things happen every day! Because my idea of writing this blog was to share what I learn as I apply Amichien Bonding methods with Stella I will focus on that. 
Puppies, ultimately,  have to learn that the world does not revolve around them and what they want.  They don't realize they are irresistible when they come up to people wagging their tails with their ears back and that look in their eye. However, that sort of body language usually results in someone immediately showering  them with love and kisses and attention. So even though they do it as a survival technique knowing they are vulnerable and should show subservience in the presence of possible danger, it doesn't take them long to learn that it results in getting attention.  Pretty soon they are using it to demand attention if we aren't careful. I won't deny I melted every time Stella came up to me and rolled over on her back with that pink freckled belly exposed and her tail and butt waggling back and forth.  But I reserve my attention for when I call her and she comes to me.   I didn't realize I was having an affect until  she started to meet other people.  When someone would come in the door and see her for the first time the attention and gushing would begin.  About the forth or fifth visitor, I noticed that she was running up to them as soon as she heard the door open and jumping up on their legs and then rolling over on her back. The affect was immediate and consistent. Love and gush.....every time. So, even this little seven week old puppy was learning to control people.  It hurt me a little to realize she doesn't run up to me like that and do her routine, but on the other hand, if I am to establish myself as her  Alpha she would not be so brazen as to make body and eye contact uninvited.  I have made headway in showing leadership. Now, it's up to me to ask others to do the same; ignore her until she gives up the "routine"  when she does, call her to you and gush and love away. It's not easy to do, but the rewards for us is a dog that doesn't take control of visitors to the house. It's cute now when she is so little, but later on, it becomes obnoxious and demanding. And she is also learning that when she comes to me there are a lot of rewards which is helping to establish the recall.
Stella is a joy to be with and is so full of trust, enthusiasm and exhuberance. I was very happy when Kent returned yesterday from a business trip so I have someone to help me with all the exhuberance and energy. Hey, I'm not as young as I used to be and keeping up with her curiosity and sticking her nose into anything and everything takes a great deal of stamina!!  The naps are getting shorter and the exploring and playing sessions longer, but life is so much fun with her around. It's too late for her to keep me young but she keeps me on my toes both mentally and physically.