My First Dog Was Never THIS Bad!

In between periods of being totally smitten and total exasperation, the behavior of this tiny energetic pee machine with razor sharp teeth may occasionally make you question WHY you ever decided to get a puppy! This too shall pass. One day, when this pup is older or has left this world, you'll miss the puppy he once was. You'll long for another whiff of puppy breath and you will invest your heart and soul into a new furry family member. When you do, it's inevitable that you will look down at the new pup's impish face and announce, "Sport was never like this!"

Puppy teeth snag your pant legs and puncture your hands. The little monster shreds and chews and barks and gets into things. Like human children, some are potty trained sooner, some take longer to sleep through the night. Some are more investigative than others, some have more challenging "terrible two's" than others. Each is unique in their own special way.

"My first dog was never THIS bad!"

Indeed, he probably was. It's a bit like child birth - you forget how bad he really was because it's so worth the pain and frustration once they are well-raised adult dogs!

As long as it doesn't become a way of life (i.e. you teach him a better way to use his energy and joi de vive!) he will settle down with age and careful guidance. As with human children, adolescence is the worst - it gets better with maturity.

Remember, between 7-9 months of age a middle school kid, between a year and a year and a half he'll be a rowdy college frat boy - and then it will get much, much better.

Puppyhood is fleeting. He goes from puff ball to leggy teenager to a more sensible adult version of himself in a matter of weeks and months. He knows your pattern and falls into step. He's like a familiar dance partner who reads your thoughts and flows with you through life. Then all too soon, his muzzle greys, his eyes become cloudy with age. He acquires a sense of dignity. You wish you could re-live his puppy days.

Enjoy his puppyhood - in the bigger scheme of things, his life is all too short!

This handout may be reprinted in its entirety for distribution free of charge and with full credit given:
© CAROL A. BYRNES "DIAMONDS IN THE RUFF" Training for Dogs & Their People -
ditr_training @ hotmail.com - http://www.diamondsintheruff.com