The title of the blog is a direct quote from the human belonging to one of my patients. This gentleman was delirious at the prospect of the new fluff ball with puppy breath about to come into his life. The family already included a very sociable, well-mannered adult dog and they thought this dog would like a canine little brother, hence the new puppy.
Over the years, I have discovered pet owners develop a selective memory about the effort involved in raising a new puppy. Somehow, all the family can remember are the cute antics, the playful exuberance, and the fun associated with a new furry family member. The lack of sleep, the mess and damage inflicted by those razor sharp puppy teeth fades quickly from their minds once the puppy grows up and I often hear lamentations about the work of having a new puppy.
Sleep?
Jake arrived for his first examination and did not disappoint. Simply said, the puppy was darling and very peppy. His human was not so peppy. Housebreaking and training a puppy requires time and dedication 24/7 and the lack of sleep was taking its toll on the human, but it did not dampen his enthusiasm and delight with the puppy scampering around my exam room.
A clean house?
With any puppy, accidents will happen. Be prepared with an odor neutralizing cleaner, a carpet cleaner formulated for pet accidents, and an extra shipment of paper towels. Making clean up quick and easy gives you more time to throw that ball and give treats for its return.
Perfect furniture?
The family of another one of my patients swore their new puppy was not a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but a dog-beaver mix. Coco chewed her way through just about anything she could put her mouth on: the other dog’s ears, shoes and the legs of the kitchen chairs. Chewing is normal for teething puppies. Baby teeth start to fall out at about four months of age and the permanent teeth are all in by about 6 months or so. During this time, it is critical to protect important objects and divert your puppy’s chewing to appropriate toys. The Animal Medical Center’s dentists say no to furry tennis balls, nylon bones, real bones, and hooves because of their tooth-damaging properties. They recommend sturdy cloth, rope and rubber chew toys.
A crate, lots of chew toys and another dog?
In addition to the chew toys, a crate is an invaluable puppy accoutrement. The crate provides your puppy with a space to call their own and keeps them safe while you run to the store or jump in the shower. Most puppies prefer not to eliminate where they sleep, so the crate also facilitates housebreaking. Jake was a lucky puppy, with an older brother to show him the ropes. The humans in Jake’s family were grateful for the efforts of their older dog who helped to diffuse some of Jake’s boundless puppy energy allowing them to revel in the camaraderie of their furry family members.
So in the end, maybe selective memory happens because sleep, a clean house, and perfect furniture don’t really matter because NOTHING is better than a puppy!