~~~~ I Am Your Puppy ~~~~
I am 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 of age. 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,
and 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.
I am 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. Someday I will be a most
handsome & beautiful
dog.
And hopefully one you can be proud of and one that
you will love as much as I love you. Love,Your Puppy
(author unknown)
Updated Nov. 30, 2005--IOWA--U. S. A.
