Four weeks
Sophy has now decided that if Freddy plays tug she will too - but only with me and never with him. I don't think it will be long, though - she is very tolerant of him out on walks, ignoring the jumps at her face and ears and teaching him about interesting smells and places. Seeing him sniffing carefully beside her, then trotting beside her to the next lesson is quite charming - when Poppy joined us the dogs were so close in age that Sophy played rather than mentored, so this is my first real experience of puppy and older adult together.
Poppy mostly ignores him as long as he doesn't push her too far. He is learning that tolerance levels fall all round in the evening - behaviour that the dogs would ignore at midday gets a snarl when they are settled down for the evening. In fact I have copied Sophy and use a low throat rumble to mean cease and desist with a sharp bark if it is ignored, which is proving unexpectedly effective. I gather my accent is terrible, but the message is understood.
We are still working on communication and manners rather than "obedience" and verbal cues. He is very good about being picked up - doesn't always want to, especially when it means time for a nap, but most of the time waits nicely and has started to position himself to make scooping up easier. Unless he is tired he waits to have his leash put on before we go out, and again to have it unclipped, and he has grasped that mealtimes mean his will be in his pen in a minute or two, so don't bother trying to steal from the adults. He sits very nicely for treats, and waits his turn (even getting better when the treat is toothpaste, which he loves). The leash is not his favourite thing, but the Follow me! game is working, and we do brief spells of loose leash walking in between letting him sniff and noodle at his own pace (and if I get odd looks for striding along singing "Freddy puppy follow me, I am the leader!" to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down, too bad!). Recall is improving - flying towards me while I leap around like a maniac with my arms spread is a fun game - but I am careful not to call when he is too focussed on something else.
First puppy class is on Sunday, weather permitting. The instructor says it is a gentle introduction and he should manage the full hour, but I intend to take the small crate for him with rugs and hot water bottles for both of us, plus coffee for me and soft treats for Freddy. On past experience an hour will be far too much, and he will need a nap, so might as well be prepared.