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I am Your Puppy

 Iam your Puppy, and I will love you until the end of the Earth, but please know a few things about me. I am a Puppy; this means that my intelligence and capacity for learning are the same as an 8-month-old child. I am a Puppy; I will chew EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on.

This is how I explore and learn about the world.  Even HUMAN children put things in their mouths. It's up to you to guide me to what is mine to chew and what is not.  I am a Puppy; I cannot hold my bladder for longer than 1 - 2 hours. I cannot "feel" that I need to poop until it is actually beginning to come out. I cannot vocalize nor tell you that I need to go, and I cannot have "bladder and bowel control" until 6 - 9 months.  

Do not punish me if you have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your fault. As a Puppy, it is wise to remember that I NEED to go potty after: Eating, Sleeping, playing,

Drinking and around every 2 - 3 hours in addition. If you want me to sleep through the night, then do not give me water after 7 or 8 p.m. A crate will help me learn to housebreak easier, and will avoid you being mad at me. I am a Puppy, accidents WILL happen, please be patient with me! In time I will learn. I am a Puppy, I like to play. I will run around, and chase imaginary monsters, and chase your feet and your toes and 'attack' you, and chase fuzz balls, other pets, and small kids. It is play; it's what I do.

 Do not be mad at me or expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day. If my high energy level is too much for you, maybe you could consider an older rescue from a shelter or Rescue group. My play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide me in my play with appropriate toys, and activities like chasing a rolling ball, or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys for me. If I nip you too hard, talk to me in "dog talk", by giving a loud YELP, I will usually get the message, as this is how dogs communicate with one another. If I get too rough, simply ignore me for a few moments, or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew toy.   

Iam a Puppy; hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat a 6-month-old human infant, so please do not do the same to me. I am delicate, and also very impressionable. If you treat me harshly now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked, kicked or beat. Instead, please guide me with encouragement and wisdom.

For instance, if I am chewing something wrong, say, "No chew!" and hand me a toy I CAN chew.  Better yet, pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to get into. I can't tell the difference between your old sock and your new sock, or an old sneaker and your $200 Nikes.

 Iam a Puppy, and I am a creature with feelings and drives much like your own, but yet also very different. Although I am NOT a human in a dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO want to please you, and be a part of your family, and your life.

You got me (I hope) because you want a loving partner and companion, so do not relegate me to the backyard when I get bigger, do not judge me harshly but instead mold me with gentleness and guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to be. 

 I am a Puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either.  I love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about training, and puppy behaviors and caring for me from your Veterinarian, books on dog care and even researching on the computer! Learn about my particular breed and it's "characteristics", it will give you understanding and insight into WHY I do all the things I do. Please teach me with love, patience, the right way to behave and socialize me with training in a puppy class or obedience class, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.  I am a Puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with you, and to please you.

 Won't you please take time to understand how I work? We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst, discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different and must work to understand one another's language, body signals, wants and needs. Some day I will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.

 Love,

Your Puppy

The Ten Commandments of a Dog

My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years.
Any separation from you will be painful for me.
Remember that before you buy me.
Give me time to understand
what you want of me.
Place your trust in me --
it's crucial for my well being.
Don't be angry at me for long and don't lock
me up as punishment.
You have your work, your entertainment,
and your friends.
I only have you.
Talk to me sometimes. Even though I don't
understand your words I understand your voice
when it's speaking to me.
Be aware that however you treat me,
I will not forget.
Remember before you hit me hat I have teeth
that could easily crush the bones of your hand
but that I choose not to bite you.
Before you scold me, for being "uncooperative"
or "obstinate" or "lazy", ask yourself
if something might be bothering me.
Perhaps I am not getting the right food,
or I've been out in the sun too long,
or my heart is getting old and weak.
Take care of me when I get old;
you, too, will grow old.
Go with me on difficult journeys.
Never say "I can't bear to watch" or
"Let it happen in my absence".
Everything is easier for me if you are there.

-author unknown-

Do I Go Home Today?

My family brought me home
cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me
and said I was full of charm.
They played with me and laughed with me
and showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family, especially
the little girls and boys.
The children loved to feed me;
they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them -
all snuggled in the sheets.
I used to go for walks,
often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash,
I'm very proud to say.
These are the things I'll not forget -
a cherished memory.
I now live in the shelter - without my family.
They used to laugh and praise me
when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn't know the difference
between the old one and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag,
for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing when
I chewed the bedroom rug.
They said that I was out of control and
would have to live outside.
This I didn't understand,
although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one;
they said they hadn't time.
I wish that I could change things;
I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely in the backyard,
on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long
to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to the shelter
but were embarrassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy,
and then they each kissed me goodbye.
If I'd only had some training as a little pup.
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle
when I was all grown up.
"You only have one day left",
I heard the worker say.
Does that mean I have a second chance?
Do I go home today?

The Spirit of
A German Shepherd Dog

I was standing on a hillside.
In a field of blowing wheat
And the spirit of a German Shepherd Dog
Was lying at my feet.
He looked at me with kind dark eyes
An ancient wisdom shining through
And in the essence of his being
I saw love there too.
His mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day
And he told me of this story
About a place so far away.
I stood upon that hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And in a twinkling of a second
His spirit left my feet.
His tale did put my heart at ease
My fears did fade away
About what lay ahead of me
On another distant day.
“I live among God’s creatures now
In the heavens of your mind
So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.
My collar is a rainbow’s hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.
There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God’s heavens
Among my Shepherd kind.
I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me
And dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be.
The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
And Milkbones line the walkways
Just waiting to be found.
There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed.
For we’re all winners in this place
We have no faults, you see
And God passes out those ribbons
To each one, even me.
I drink from waters laced with gold
My world a beauty to behold
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side.
At night I sleep in an angel’s arms
Her wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.
So when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven’s gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait.