I
am 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 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 poop until
it is actually beginning to come out. I
cannot vocalize nor tell you 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. As a Puppy it is wise to
remember that I NEED to go potty after
eating, sleeping, playing, 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 7 or
8pm. A crate will help me learn to
housebreak easier, and will avoid you
being mad 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 and 'attack' you, and chase
fuzzballs, 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 rolling ball,
or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew
toys for me. 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
to rough simply ignore me for a few
moments, or put me in my crate with an
appropriate chew toy.
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 delicate,
and also very impressionable. If you
treat me harshly now, I will grow up
learning to fear being hit, spanked,
kicked or beaten. 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 your $200
Nikes.
I am a puppy, and I am a creature
with feelings, and drives much like
your own, but yet also very different.
Although I am NOT a human in a dog
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 do not
relegate me to the backyard when I get
bigger, do not judge me harshly but
instead mold me with gentleness and
guidelines and training into the kind
of family member you want me to be.
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 dog care and
even researching on the computer! Learn
about my particular breed and it's
"characteristics" it will give you
understanding and insight into WHY I do
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 and 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,
fear, but yet we are also very
different and must work to understand
one another's language, body signals,
wants and needs. Some day I will be a
handsome dog, hopefully one you can be
proud of and one that you will love as
much as I love you.
Love,
Your Puppy
