|
I will be your puppy and I will love you until the end of the earth, but please know a few things
about me.
I am
a PUPPY! This means that my intelligence and capacity for learning are the same as an 8
month old child. I am a PUPPY.
I will chew everything I can get my teeth on. This is how I
explore and learn about the world. Even human children put
things in their mouths. It's up to
you to guide me as to what is mine to chew and what is not.
I am a PUPPY! I cannot
hold my bladder for longer than 1-2 hours. I cannot "feel" that I need
to go, and I cannot have "bladder
and bowel control" until 6-9 months. Do not punish me if you
have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your
fault. It is wise to remember that I need
to go potty after eating, sleeping, drinking and around every 2-3 hours in addition.
If you want
me to sleep through the night, then do not give me water after 8:00 p.m. A crate will help me
learn to potty
train easier, and will avoid your being made at me.
I am a PUPPY! Accidents will happen. Please be patient with me.
In time, I will learn.
I am a PUPPY! I like to play. I will run around and chase imaginary monsters and chase your
feet
and your toes, chase fuzz balls, other pets and small kids. It is play; it's what I do. Do not be mad
at me or
expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day. If my high energy level is too much for
you, maybe you could consider
an older rescue from a shelter or Rescue group. My play is
beneficial. Use your wisdom to guide me in my play with appropriate
toys and activities (like
chasing a ball or plenty of chew toys. If I nip you too hard, talk to me in "dog talk",
by giving a loud
YELP! I will usually get the message, as this is how dogs communicate with one another. If I get
too
rough, simply ignore me for a few moments or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew toy.
I am a Puppy! I am a
creature with feelings and desires much like your own, but, yet, also very
different. Although I am not a human in a puppy
suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can
instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO want to please you and be a part
of your family and your
life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving partner and companion, so, please, mold me
with
gentleness and guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to be!
I am a PUPPY! Hopefully, you
would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat a 6 month old human infant,
so please do not do the same to me. I am deliciate,
and also very impressionable. If you treat me
harshly now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked kicked or
beat. Instead, please guide
me with encouragement and wisdom. For instance, if I am chewing something wrong, say "NO
chew!"
and hand me a toy I can chew. Better yet, pick up anything that you do not want me to get
into. I can't tell the difference
between your old sock and your new sock, or an old sneaker and our
$200 Nikes.
I am a PUPPY! And, I am not perfect,
and I know you are not perfect either. I love you, anyway.
So, please, learn all you can about training and puppy behaviors
and caring for me from your
veterinarian, books on puppy care and even research on the computer! Learn about my particular
breed
and its characteristics. It will give you understand and insight into why I do all the things I
do Please teach me with
love and patience the right way to behave and socialize me with training in
a puppy class or obedience class. We will both
have a lot of fun together.
I am a PUPPY! I want more than anything to love you, to be with you and to please you.
Won't
you, please, take time to understand how I work? We are the same - you and I - in that we both feel
hunger, pain,
thirst, discomfort, and fear. Yet, we are also very different and must work to
understand one another's language, body
signals, wants and needs. Then, some day I will be a very
obedient DOG, one you can be proud of and one that you will love
as much as I love you!
|
