Meet Ava
Meet the charming Miss Ava: It’s a GIRL!
Making her grand debut on October 8th, 2021, at exactly 11:13 AM, she has already captured hearts everywhere.
Weighing a petite 5.2 ounces, this tiny treasure is as delicate as she is delightful.
With a flawless all-white coat and no markings, she truly embodies pure elegance and beauty.
This is Ava's Story
Mia recently welcomed her very first litter, and to our surprise, it consisted of just one tiny puppy. This uncommon event is referred to as "Singleton Pup Syndrome." When a dog gives birth to only one puppy, the birthing process can be challenging. Often, the mother struggles to experience the necessary contractions for a natural delivery, which frequently leads to the need for a C-section. This difficulty arises because the mother’s body doesn’t produce enough estrogen to initiate labor. Sadly, studies indicate that many singleton puppies don’t survive past their first two weeks of life.
Thankfully, Mia defied the odds and amazed us all by safely delivering a beautiful and healthy little girl.
When Ava was born, she weighed just 5.2 ounces. Completely white at birth and without any markings, her unique patterns gradually emerged as she grew. She was so tiny that she fit perfectly in the palm of my hand—a precious little miracle.
So far, everything has been progressing beautifully. Both Mia and Ava are thriving. Ava is steadily gaining weight and nursing regularly, which is a wonderful sign of her growth and vitality.
Ava holds a special place in our hearts, made even more meaningful by the fact that she was lovingly named by my youngest daughter. The name suits her perfectly, mirroring the joy and light she has already brought into our family.
**Two Week Mark**
Little Miss Ava has officially reached her two-week milestone, and she’s already a master at stealing hearts! Her knack for snoozing in the most amusing and adorable poses has made naptime a daily highlight, filling our days with endless joy and laughter. While her tiny eyes are starting to flutter open, her vision is still developing, and her ears remain closed for now—but in just another week, she’ll be ready to see and hear the world around her!
This sweet little ball of energy is already on the move, wriggling and squirming as she eagerly works to get up on all fours. Her clumsy yet determined attempts, especially when she topples over onto her side, couldn’t be more endearing. Ava is the newest addition to our family and has quickly become a cherished companion for my youngest daughter. We’re absolutely smitten with her!
Ava week 3 & 4 Update!
Weeks 3 & 4
Ava’s eyes and ears are now fully open, and her curiosity about the world is growing by the day. Every sound captivates her as she eagerly explores her surroundings, soaking in all the new sights and noises.
To nurture her developing sense of hearing, we’ve started consistently calling her by name. This not only helps her recognize it early but also lays an important foundation for her learning and connection with us.
While Ava’s vision and hearing have improved significantly, they still have a few weeks to mature fully, which typically happens around the eight-week mark.
Ava’s playful personality is beginning to shine as she bonds with her mom and starts to explore toys with a bit of encouragement. She and her mom share a spacious bed originally designed for a larger litter, and Ava takes full advantage of the extra space. She zips around with boundless curiosity, often chasing the blanket—a favorite pastime! To guide her playtime positively, I gently redirect her attention to toys. This helps her form healthy habits while learning and having fun.
Raising a singleton puppy like Ava comes with its own set of unique challenges, requiring extra care and attention. Without siblings to interact with, I’ve stepped in to replicate the role of her littermates. This means closely monitoring her growth, ensuring her mom provides adequate care, and even mimicking the natural jostling of siblings during nursing by gently interrupting her feeding at times. If her mom ever stops nursing her, I’m prepared to step in with bottle feeding to ensure she continues to thrive.
Ava’s progress has been remarkable! From a tiny 5.2 ounces at birth, she’s grown into a healthy 1 pound, 2.9 ounces, thriving beautifully with each passing day.
Her mom, Mia, has been an incredible caregiver, showering Ava with love and attention and ensuring she feels safe and nurtured every step of the way.
Today was a special milestone for Ava as she embarked on her journey with solid foods—and it was a resounding success! She eagerly cleared her plate without hesitation. We even introduced some canned food, which she seemed to enjoy just as much.
Week 5 Update on Ava
November 12th: Ava’s Progress So Far
This week, Ava has been making fantastic strides! We’ve been working on name recognition and teaching her the “sit” command, both of which she’s quickly picking up. She’s also doing wonderfully with her potty training. Right now, she’s consistently using pee pads, and in just a few more weeks, she’ll start transitioning to outdoor potty training.
Even when Ava is a little distance away from the pee pads, she makes the effort to get there—and she’s successful about 90% of the time. That’s pretty impressive for a puppy her age!
Ava is full of energy, endlessly playful, and always on the go. Her lively personality keeps me constantly entertained, and it’s all a part of what makes her so special.
At night, she sleeps in a crate that I place on my bed. Since she’s a singleton pup, I like keeping her close so I can monitor her. This setup has been working perfectly—it gives her a sense of security, and it gives me peace of mind.
Because Ava is doing so well with the pee pads, I keep one in her crate. Sometimes, she’ll whine to be let out, preferring to use the pad outside her crate rather than inside—and I’m more than happy to accommodate her!
When it’s time for her to poo, Ava refuses to soil her crate completely. I let her out, give her time to do her business, and then bundle her up in her warm puppy blanket. Once she’s fast asleep, I gently place her back in the crate so she can rest peacefully for the night.
This week has also been full of fun new experiences for Ava! She shared some adorable moments with her dad and even got to meet my oldest daughter’s rabbit. It’s been such a joy watching her grow, learn, and explore the world around her.
As we enter week six on November 19th, everything is coming along beautifully. We’re building on her mastery of the "Name" and "Sit" commands while also encouraging playful engagement with her toys. Her boundless energy, vibrant personality, and undeniable spark are truly shining through!
It’s pure joy to watch her interact with her mom. She dashes off in excitement, only to race back and tumble into her with uncontainable glee. Her floppy, clumsy antics are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
She’s an endearing blend of charm, spirit, and delightful silliness!
Can you believe it? Week 7 is already here—time is flying by!
November 26th
This week, little Miss Ava has been quite the adventurer, eagerly exploring every nook and cranny she can reach. Her curiosity knows no bounds!
The moment she sees an opportunity to move, she’s off in a flash—there’s no stopping her!
One of Ava’s favorite discoveries this week has been our Rottweiler, a rescue we’ve had for a few years. Thankfully, he’s the picture of patience. He greets her with a gentle sniff and then lets her playful energy unfold without a fuss.
We’re continuing to work on commands like “Name,” “Play,” and “Sit.” Ava is making progress—slowly but surely! With consistent practice, we know she’ll master them in no time.
I’ve also been encouraging Crystal to spend more one-on-one time bonding with Ava. These moments are so important for creating a strong, lasting connection between them.
Crystal has been focusing on teaching Ava to sit and consistently follow commands. The dedication is paying off—Ava’s responses are improving each day!
Crystal began working with Ava when she was just four weeks old. While the journey has been demanding, she’s discovering how deeply rewarding it is to train and nurture a dog. The hard work is truly worth it.