In an attempt to socialize our new hairy edition to the family, we have been taking him to festivals. It still amazes me after a month of this, but almost everyone reacts to a puppy. Even big, burly, biker-type guys buckle at the knees to bend to pet him saying how beautiful he is, (words I never thought I’d hear from these guys!)
If you are single, this is the greatest way to meet people, if you are there to really walk around and see things- forget it! You can barely take one step before someone else stops you! If you try to keep moving, people follow you and call out to have you stop. Maybe this is how a celebrity feels when they go out. Since the attention was not on me, I guess I really can’t say, but it can be a bit frustrating trying to get anywhere. Although it may sound like it, I really am not complaining, and realize I have to relish it while it lasts. When he gets to be the 150# he is projected to be, everyone will be running the other way!
Speaking of taking advantage of the time that is here and now, I have to admit (well, I don’t have to, but I will) that there are several things that all the books and videos have never told me about being a new puppy parent. One, puppies get hiccups. Now it may not seem like anything to you the reader, but any parent of an infant child knows how distressing hiccups can be (as well as for adults), so my heart goes out to my poor guy every time I see his little body convulse with the gassy bubbles. Yes, (here’s the confession part), I have put him over my shoulder and burped him. I know, he is a dog, not a person; I will not fall into that false sense of reality, but it is not something either of us dislikes, and although he does not burp, it makes us both feel better (well, me at least for saying I tried to help.) But alas, those days are rapidly disappearing since he is already 35# and only 3 1/2 months old!
So, for all those people this weekend that claimed that “had to get a puppy” once they saw ours, I offer the following advice to do BEFORE you run out and get one:
Watch training videos and read books.
Ask yourself, “Can you really do this?” First, spend time with someone who has a brand new puppy –when it is awake!
How much time you will realistically have to be with the puppy and to train him/her? Now multiply that by 5- that is a bit more realistic on what it will really take.
Ask owners, and breeders’ lots of questions, and find out from trainers what questions to ask.
Make sure you understand the breed you think you want; they are all different in needs, personality, and size.
Discuss with all members of the family their part in taking care of the puppy. Everyone has to be on the same page as the person training him/her. There can be no slackers! Many times I felt as though I was training my husband more than the dog!
I’m sure there is more than these few suggestions, and I am no expert in this area, but seeing and hearing all the “I want” comments, made me wonder how many just might. There are way too many great dogs at shelters because of uninformed people making quick decisions. My heart goes out to those dogs.
For me, the hard work is paying off, and we are all becoming happier and comfortable with each other. It is a joy I would not have missed for all the pee puddles in the world. So, “sit!” and “stay!”(sorry, it just comes naturally now) tuned, for more puppy sagas to come.