Let’s talk puppies, shall we?
I could watch a litter of the little buggers play all day. Adorable with a capital A. Nothing is cuter than puppies rolling and romping and playing. And I love when they start sniping at each other. Just like human siblings. Reminds me of growing up with my brother and sister. Heh.
Everything about them is just too cute – from their little faces to their sweet little paws. Puppies are the highlight of my days sometimes. We had four absolutely adorable puppies at the shelter recently that were so cute, it was painful.
Here’s the thing, though. That level of adorable dims slightly when trying to get puppies to go to the bathroom where they should.
I knew a lady who would walk and walk and walk her puppy outside her house, for what added up to hours in a day. She would actually be in tears while the time for one walk stretched to 45 minutes in the yard. She eventually did get the pup house-trained, but oh my stars, it took a while.
One of my favorite stories to tell school kids when I talk to classes is the one about the little lab puppy I took to a nursing home. This was years ago by now but really illustrates the point.
As expected, the staff at the nursing home went bonkers over the little guy. We were there for two hours cuddling and frolicking and prancing, and the puppy hadn’t done a thing on the floor. He hadn’t gone to the bathroom at all.
I had driven him over in my car, and I knew, just knew, that he had to go to the bathroom. We stood out in front of the building in a little piece of grass. Well, the puppy thought the grass was the neatest thing he had experienced. He rolled around and chewed it up and had a grand old time.
Not doing what I wanted him to do.
I tried to coax and cajole and persuade in any way I could to get him to potty. I was singing made up songs, dancing around, pretty much begging outright for him to just tinkle so we could go.
Eventually, I convinced myself that the trip back to the shelter wasn’t all that long, and the pup would be okay – after all, maybe he really didn’t have to go.
Yeah, we didn’t make it to the stop sign at the end of the road before he left a nice liquid puddle on the back seat of my car. I had to drive one-handed while I mopped up the mess with the other (the puppy decided we were playing a game with the paper towel).
Thinking I was good to go, I continued down the road, only to be ambushed by an odor that seemed more fitting to a farm than inside a car.
Oh yep. Number two. In the back seat. Of my car.
I had a puppy just today walk across a blanket to talk to me – tinkling as he moved. No kidding. He didn’t even stop.
So puppies, for all of their delightfulness, can be a bit of a trial, especially considering they are not housebroken.
And don’t get me started on those puppy teeth. The last car I owned had little puppy teeth marks on the gearshift because one of the stinkers used that as a chew toy instead of the actual squeaky I brought along to keep him occupied.
I’m sure there are some of you at this moment thinking, “Well, duh. Puppies aren’t potty trained. This isn’t exactly news.”
You’re right. It’s not. But it seems almost every time we have a litter of puppies at the shelter, we will inevitably have someone adopt one, only to return him a few days later saying, “This dog’s going to the bathroom everywhere and chewing everything up. I can’t have that.”
What might seem obvious to some folks isn’t necessarily as apparent to others.
So please, when you see the charming little puppies in commercials or at the shelter and convince yourself you need one, take a minute to think what you’re introducing into your life and the time and patience it will take to turn him or her into an awesome four-legged friend.
I think that having a puppy grow up in your house with you really is one of the best experiences you can have. You just need to make sure you’re in it for the long haul from the start, and know what’s involved, so the little squirt can be a part of the family for the duration of his or her life.
That guarantees a happy ending for everyone involved.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the public relations coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, readers may call the shelter at 263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. You can help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store.
