~ I Am Your Puppy ~
(Ailea images added)
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 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 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 8 p.m. 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 fuzz balls,
other pets, and small children. It is play. It is 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 should 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 too 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 will 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, an old sneaker or a $200 Nike.
I am a puppy. 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 e 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 back yard 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. 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 and from books on dog care and from researching on your computer! Learn about my particular breed and its characteristics. It will give you understanding 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, be with you, and to please you. Won't you please take the time to understand how I work? We are the same, you and I, in that we both feel hunger and 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. Someday 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
Copyright (c) 2000 by J. Ellis - Southern Shadows Rottweilers
May be posted, re-posted,
cross-posted and used with permission as long as credit is given.
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