...And we call it "Puppy Love"

Sometimes we wonder why. They bite, they chew, they pee, they poop, they cry.  In short, they can be a genuine source of destruction and frustration until they are trained.
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Bringing home a new puppy can be as rewarding and as time-consuming as bringing home a new baby. They require constant care and watching over.

Puppies are teething and they chew on whatever they can.  It might be the leg of an expensive table or antique chair. It is up to you as the “parent” to make sure the puppy is not destroying a prize possession or chewing something that is harmful to the pup. It’s like watching over a toddler.  

Until potty trained, a puppy will pee wherever it happens to be.  “Not on the rug” doesn’t mean a thing to a pup! They go about every 20 minutes when they are awake and always after eating, napping or playing. You must be consistent when potty training which means someone will need to be home with the puppy to be successful at training them to potty outside. 

American Kennel Club has a helpful article online for tips on training>> Puppy Potty Training Schedule: A Timeline For Housebreaking Your Puppy (akc.org) 

Perhaps you have just settled in for eight hours of blissful sleep and you are awakened by the cries and whines of the puppy. Remember, they have likely just left the warmth and security of their mom and littermates and they are in new surroundings. They may be cold, need to potty or just need reassurance, but patience on your part is required.

You will need to puppy proof your home and garage just as you would child proof it for the safety of a toddler. Make sure there are no wires for chewing within the pup’s reach, rid your home and yard of poisonous plants, keep cleaning supplies and pesticides out of their reach and make sure there are no chemicals in the garage that they can ingest.  Anti-freeze is deadly. You will also need to learn what human foods are off-limits for canine tolerance. For instance, the Easter Basket full of chocolate eggs and bunnies may be unwanted calories to you but fatal to a pup.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has compiled a list of toxic and non-toxic plants>> Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Dogs | ASPCA

Puppies are a lot of work. Some people do not have the patience or the time to devote to a new puppy.  There is no shame in that!  The shame is taking on the responsibility of a puppy without being aware or willing to do what is necessary to make it a successful member of your household, often resulting in “getting rid of” or banning the pet to a lonely life in the back yard. If that is the case, perhaps choosing an older dog who has already “gone through” the puppy stage may be a better option for you.

Others may take the challenge in stride, knowing that it is worth it when we cuddle the furry little body, kiss its soft muzzle and inhale the heady scent of puppy breath. 

​We call it puppy love!
     

Shelia Huffman, Contributor
Shelia recently moved to the Greenwood community of Midland from Dallas where she was a staff writer for White Rock Lake Weekly and a columnist for Bubblelife Media.  A retired travel agent and event planner, she has  been an animal activist her entire life.  Shelia  has a daughter and son-in-law in Midland, a grandson in Dallas and a granddaughter at Texas Tech. She lists cooking and writing about food, and,  of course, playing with her Terrier Mix rescue, Penelope, as some of her favorite things.