What The Pup

Have you ever heard of the expression, “having a puppy is like having a baby?” There definitely is some truth to that. Having a puppy requires much more than just finding the cutest one or the most playful, the one with a curly tail. It is a huge responsibility that many overlook when
considering getting a puppy. After having so many puppies and hearing about my family member’s experience with theirs, there was a common comparison. You find the right puppy, the breed you have been wanting since you were little, the one with a coat color that matches your hair color, and everything is perfect. Everything is so exciting and new. Once you take the little one home things shift and become more real, more permanent. All of a sudden it is time for you to go to sleep because you have an early morning ahead of you and your puppy starts crying. The puppy is hungry and wants to be fed. After you finish up, you turn around to see that your puppy has made themselves at home by creating their own toilet on your floor. You cannot just ignore it so you start cleaning up. The hours escape you, but you can finally rest. As you are comfy and warm in your bed, you found the best position to lay in, the puppy starts to whimper. The whimpering becomes more shrill as you now start to toss in bed. That is when reality sets in and you now experience what caring for a puppy is like.

It was not exactly what you had imagined, right? At one point my puppy became more of a headache than caring for my own human child! Human children, by the way, do require so much more. They just make a really great comparison because it truly is very similar. They need guidance, stimulation, and nurturing to really thrive and grow just like humans. Without proper attention, your puppy will surely let you know! You might notice that your shoes are all torn, your couch has a hole where they chewed through, or just a pile of waste in the middle of the floor. These are signs your puppy is not getting all the stimulation they are requiring. Animals’ behaviors can indicate what they need, if there is any lack and it is important to pick up on these very blatant signs. Feel lucky if you are able to identify any areas in which your puppy needs more assistance because that means you can correct it before it becomes a permanent behavior. The same way you can accustom your child to bad behaviors is the same way you can accustom your puppy to bad behaviors. You are literally raising a living being! Before jumping into “doghood” and becoming responsible for a living, breathing soul that depends on you more than you could imagine, consider everything I just described. You are all your puppy will know so make sure they get to know someone ready to tackle the load of “doghood” because much like parenthood, it respectfully is not for everyone. The same way you would try to prevent bringing a life into the world too soon is the same way you should view getting a puppy because it is a huge load to carry. Once you are ready, you will find the perfect pup to nurture and love! It will all be easier, more natural than forced.