I Am Your Puppy

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 about 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 one to two 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 six to nine months. Do not punish me if you have not let me out for three 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 two to three hours in addition. If you want me to sleep through the night, do not give me water after 8 p.m. A crate will make housebreaking easier, and will help keep you from 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, 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 dog 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. 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 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 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 am allowed to 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 the characteristics of my particular breed (or mix) - that will give you understanding and insight into why I do all the things I do. Please teach me with love, 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.

Slightly edited for this publication - bold instead of caps which always look awful, minor punctuation buggies and a word or three changed around ...

Of course I can, I just did - because I can. Lots of people have basically good ideas, not everyone is an editor.
Please see http://www.therealmartha.com/editingetc/index.htm for several tips on common mistakes and easy fixes - if you need more help, you can pay me.

Please circulate or make your own copy of this page, graphics too if you like. This is the kind of understanding people need before taking responsibility for any animal and to avoid choosing the wrong one. Too many end up neglected or thrown away after the novelty wears off, or they become more than a handful due to size or temperament. Yes it's true, those precious little furballs do grow up.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sochow2.html - "Puppies go thorough a critical period of socialization between eight and 16 weeks of age. During this period of time they mature very rapidly. If isolated from external stimuli and not exposed to the outside world, they can grow up to be fearful adult dogs."

"It wasn't me! ... I've been framed" ... UMMMMM ...what else? ... oh yeah ... look cute!! ... "But Mom!!!!"

SophTP.JPG (11784 bytes)

"Oh and the nibble marks on the door frame ... I don't know anything about that either Mom ... I think it must have been my Evil Twin!"

That innocent, puppy cute is what saves them when we really want to wring their little necks. TP gal did make it into refined young ladyhood, so much so, she's a cover girl now:

http://www.therealmartha.com/patriotcritters/index.htm ~ Special celebration for and by our four-legged family members http://www.therealmartha.com/Smile/index.htm ~ Name that smile ... friendliest, most beautiful, goo-fi-est, mischievous

Needless to say she is all wet in this pic ... why one ear is laid back. Enya is a busy body.

Thanks to Marie for sharing - and Layla on Smile page (link above). I admit I'm prejudiced ... still, hard to top a Boston pup for pure adorable. And they stay that way, almost impossible to look at 'em without smiling, and most likely break into a genuine LOL.

Pour cold apple juice on the carpet in several places and walk around barefoot in the dark.

Throw a few socks in the blender to shred the toes.

Wake an hour before your normal time. Stand outside in the rain and dark saying, "Be a good puppy, go potty now - hurry up - come on, let's go!"

Cover all your best clothes with hair. Dark clothes must use white hair, light clothes must use dark.

Leave your underwear on the living room floor because that's where the puppy will drag it anyway ... especially when company is coming.

Jump out of your chair right before the end of your favorite TV program and run to the door shouting, "No, No!! Do that outside!"

Put chocolate pudding on the carpet in the morning. Don't try to clean it up until evening.

Take a warm and cuddly blanket out of the dryer and wrap it around yourself. This is the feeling you will get when your puppy falls asleep on your lap.

Touch me with your voice as a puppy young and new,
And let me know my presence is what is pleasing you.

Touch me with your spirit, for I was sent to you,
To teach you of that precious bond known by the choicest few.

Touch me with your hands as I grow tall and strong,
I need you as my mentor throughout my whole life long.

Touch me with your lips, and brush them softly on my brow,
Please kiss away the fears that I am feeling now.

Touch me with your eyes as I become full grown,
To validate unspoken love that we have always known.

Touch me with your heart as our bond keeps growing stronger,
Words need not be used in our language any longer.

Touch me with your breath, so soft and warm upon my face,
As I try to bring you comfort in life's never-ending race.

Touch me with your love when my muzzle turns to gray,
I live my life to please you, each and every single day.

Touch me with your scent when age has dimmed my sight,
To reassure me always that you will be my light.

Touch me with your face when your tears are meant for me,
So I may bear your pain and let your heart be free.

Touch me with remembrance when I have traveled on,
I will hold your heart in mine forever when I'm gone.

Found pic posted on a list right after I finished this page, had to add it. Please notify me if credit is known. Friends came up with a few captions.

Songs come to mind: Sweet Baby James, "When you're down and troubled ..., etc., you've got a friend," and "Lean on Me" - Lael

Helen and Rexanne also suggested "Lean on Me" and "I'll stand by you ... " and "I'll be there ... "

More from Rexanne:
I'm so glad you're my Mom!
Are you tired, Mom?
Just one more time ... pleeeeease!

From Sue:
Mom. Mom? Mom!! Are you awake?
Yup! Snuggly soft ... just like I thought!
Hey Mom ... I wanna tell ya a secret.

Haha, somebody finally saw what I saw: The momma seems to be making some kind of an annoyance face. - Linz

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full - we are lost but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!!

But now we sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew -
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.

So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children, don't come when they call,"
we "bark when they leave us, climb over the wall.

We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors they made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew ...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.

We were left in the backyard, or worse - let to roam,
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye,
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."

So now here we are, all confused and alone
in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat.

They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer,
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.

Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears -
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.
If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the inn -
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?

We count on your kindness each day of the year -
can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat,
and help get us something special to eat.

The people who care for us want us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.