Going faster than a locomotive at catching Sparky before he chews your computer chords....jumping higher than a tall building to leap over shrubs on a mission to catch a runaway Sparky as he sprints down the sidewalk...¦.with more strength than the Man Of Steel while removing an old sock from Sparkys clenched jaw....
It's Super-Mom!
You are starting to realize that this is a lot of work, this puppy raising. You did your homework before deciding upon this venture. You read all the books, visited the local shelters and breeders and finally decided on the little bundle of fun that you would raise as your best friend. Sounds picture perfect, and at the beginning it was. Now that you have cleaned up what appears to be thousands of gallons of pee, endured the digging of little teeth into your fingers for the umpteenth time and have removed those tiny feet (with sharp claws) from your counter top for the last time, you finally have a moment to stop and review the last few months of puppyhood.
We all have the notion that if we put the most amount of time and energy into our puppies, they will grow up to be the superior dog we know they are. This philosophy can backfire and we may end up exhausted trying. The Super-Mom philosophy is that to raise a pup, you need to work smart, not hard.
It is important to remember that all puppies are different. They are all born with their own unique personality and that is what is often referred to as their inherent nature. This can be frustrating if you have been showering your pup with all his needs and wants, only to find out that the puppy next door is acting like a perfect angel...and their family goes out to work!
It is best to decide upon a schedule for your puppy that reflects your lifestyle, while still providing the care that she needs. This should include time for meals, playtime, bathroom time, time-out in the crate, and time to romp safely outdoors. This does not have to include hours of chasing puppy with the laundry dangling out of her mouth. A small lightweight house lead can help in this area. Let your pup wear it while you are home and supervising her. If she gets into mischief, you can immediately step on the lead and she can't get any farther. Removal of the laundry from your pup's mouth is much easier once you have the pup.
One common misconception that new puppy owners have is that taking time off work for a couple of weeks, to get the new addition settled in, is a good idea. While this sounds great, it may backfire. Your puppy may get used to a schedule that includes you being at home and the abrupt change after those couple of weeks are over may come as a shock. The end result could be a very anxious pup. Getting your pup on a Friday and spending the weekend with them is a good option. This gives them a chance to learn about their new surroundings, and a chance to get used to being alone gradually. When Monday morning comes, the schedule should be in place.
Remember that it is quite difficult for a puppy to wait too long before a bathroom break. A good rule of thumb is 1 hour of time for every month of life plus one. This means that a 12-week-old puppy can comfortably wait for 4 hours before a break. If you can not come home on a lunch break from work, it is best to enlist some assistance. Neighbors and friends may be easily enticed to help, especially with a new puppy. Seek referral of a dog walker from your Veterinarian, or local dog trainer if necessary.
If you do not go to work, or work from home, be careful and make sure that you set up a workable schedule from the beginning. Your puppy is cute and fun at the moment, and you certainly don't mind being interrupted from your daily duties to toss a ball around, but you may be setting your dog up to be rude and pushy later on in life. Your pup should have crate time, a time to chill out and relax alone, even if you are home. This will allow your pup to get used to her crate and give you time to take a breather. If your work schedule changes and you have to be out of the home later on, you can feel more at peace if you know your dog is relaxed.
Training can also be a big issue. You have read all the training books, spoken to trainers and finally decided upon the one that you will entrust your dogs education to. You feel that the more your train her, the better she will be. This is a mistake often made by new dog and puppy owners. In order to be Super-Mom train her for the amount of time she needs to understand what you are teaching. There is simply no reason to have to devote the better part of every day to get the job done effectively.
When you drill the exercises again and again, especially with a young dog, you can turn them off learning very quickly. These dogs often grow up to be "flat" adults, they lack spark. They may do what you ask, but in a very dull manner. It is much more fun to have a dog that is not afraid to make a mistake, and will still have manners but has a sense of joy. It is best to teach in short spurts, with lots of play in-between. Show your dog that learning is part of everyday life, not just at training time. Go the park, do a stay and then play fetch. Heel on the way to and from your park and do a down everytime a bicycle rides by. This will save you some valuable time, and your dog will thank you.
Feeling guilty about it all? You bet. It is the most common emotion that new puppy and dog owners feel. You feel guilty if you don't have time for a 2-hour walk and have to make do with only 1 hour. You feel guilty if she comes and stares at you with those big brown eyes and end up interrupting what you are doing for a cuddle. You feel guilty if you have worked all day and then would like to go and see a movie, but there is no way you can leave her again.
There will come a time when her play gets pushy if you are not giving her attention when she wants it. There will be times that you simply cannot leave what you are doing to play with her. There will also come a time when you do really, really want to see that new movie out.
What you do with your pup now will set up a lifetime of reward. Give her lots of your time, but not all of it. Don't play with her every single time she brings you her ball. Try to ignore her persistence, but do remember to eventually give her some time later on when it is more convenient for you. This is very difficult to do initially, but the lesson she will learn will be very valuable later. Showing her that she can't always have her own way will ensure that she is a delightful adult, a dog that people want to have around.
Establish a routine for her that revolves around both of you. Super-Mom doesn't even attempt to do it all, she sets limits for herself and her pup. Take into consideration Sparky's favorite activities and put them on a schedule that suits you, and it will be a win-win situation. Being Super-Mom can mean that in order to have the dog you want later, you might need a bit of tough love now. Use puppy hood wisely. Use it to teach boundaries, use it to learn patience, use it to learn that it cant all be done at once and most of all...use it for cuddles, love and laughter. That is what it is all about.
