Ulani at 15 Weeks: Growing Fast, Learning Lots, and Keeping Us on Our Toes

A Puppy in Fast-Forward

Ulani is now 15 weeks old — and she has more than doubled in size! Every day she looks a little bigger, and her oversized front paws have become quite the conversation starter on our walks. At just over 13kg, she’s already incredibly strong, and we’re expecting her to double in size again. She’s taller too, which means the sofas, kitchen table, and any reachable surface are becoming very tempting targets for curious paws!

Finding Our Groove: Routines and Walks

We’re finally getting into a routine that seems to help Ulani understand when it's time to play, walk, or rest. The best news? She’s sleeping through the night — though she still likes to wake us between 5:30 and 6:30am.

Her morning walk usually happens around 10am and her afternoon walk at around 3pm, and we have a handful of regular routes. Her confidence is noticeably growing, so I’m starting to expand where we go. Some of our predictable “training landmarks” include:

• The supermarket (often with a cheeky lift ride)

• The train station

• A shop or two

• The underpass and railway bridge (still a bit noisy and daunting)

• A mix of busier and quieter roads

Ulani still loves to veer off and explore every interesting smell, but she’s getting much better at staying on my left side and keeping focus for longer stretches. There’s still a long way to go — but seeing her progress is incredibly satisfying.

The People Problem (and Blessing!)

One of the loveliest — and trickiest — parts of our daily walks is the interest Ulani attracts. People are genuinely excited to meet her and often want to learn more about our role as Puppy Raisers.

But sometimes we’re mid-training, and keeping her focused is crucial. I often have to gently explain that we can’t stop because we’re working on something specific. Some people understand immediately — others walk straight up to Ulani and fuss her before I can say a word! It’s heartwarming, truly, but it can set her back in her training.

The best moments are when someone simply smiles and says, “I won’t stop you, but she’s lovely — and well done for volunteering with Guide Dogs UK.” Those little interactions make our day and fill me with pride.

Little Wins in Training

Ulani’s discipline is slowly but surely improving. She reliably sits and lies down, and she now waits at doorways and gates until I give her the “okay” cue. We’ve even reached the magical moment where I can put her food bowl on the floor and she’ll wait patiently for permission before diving in — though she still does an enthusiastic dinner dance while I’m preparing it!

A Sweet Soul With a Big Heart

Ulani is incredibly gentle-natured and affectionate. I’m convinced she can sense our emotions. I recently received some bad news and became tearful. She came over, rested her head on my leg, and stayed there quietly. It moved me so deeply and made me realise how strong our bond has already become.

She has also started teething, which means tiny baby teeth have begun falling out. We can tell she’s uncomfortable, so she’s getting plenty of ice cubes, frozen carrots, and chew toys to help soothe her gums.

Evening Struggles: Separation Challenges

One area we’re still working through is separation. Ulani doesn’t like being left alone, and our evenings are far from peaceful at the moment. We aim for an hour each evening where she stays in her crate in another room so she can get used to some quiet time away from us.

During the day, she manages a couple of one-hour sessions quite comfortably — but evenings are another story. She protests loudly! It’s a work in progress, and we’re taking small steps to help her build confidence and cope with short periods of alone time.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up this week, we’ve got two big things coming up: another training session at the National Centre and her 16-week jabs. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly — and that Ulani continues surprising us with her progress, her personality, and her very big paws!

Nicola x