We all know the story well - a young couple falls in love, gets married, buys a house and then a few short months later have a grand announcement...they're getting a puppy. Such is the tale of my dear friend Jill and her husband Nick. Imagine my delight to hear that not only had they found their perfect pup on Petfinder.com but that it was an english setter mix! This was surprising to me as Jill loves pomeranians and Nick wanted a beagle. It seems Jill was inspired by a visit with me last March when she fell in love with our dear Fiona and her soulful eyes. Yes, the english setter spell has been cast! The sweet little male puppy is going by the name Dashel and will be transported from a foster down south to the shelter in Connecticut near their home that Jill and Nick are working with. What an exciting time that all us Dogparents can relate to...that anxious period waiting for puppy to arrive.
Jill emailed me and asked if I had any puppy pointers to share. I almost immediately emailed her back as my mind raced with a million things! Favorite dog training books, crate training tips, obedience drills, toys to buy, toys to avoid, heck I could write a short novel on nutrition alone and what foods I suggest. Then it struck me ...what mundane advice.
Here's what first time dog parents really need to know:
* You life is about to be changed forever. You will now refer to everything as "life after the dog". All life decisions will focus around the dog. Gone are the willy-nilly days of floating through life at your own pace, late dinners out and spontaneous travel. Trust me, it will become second nature when your husband suggests a romantic weekend away and your first thought is not candles and champagne but "can we get the pet sitter those dates?"
* Stop watching HGTV with a wistful eye. This will be particularly difficult for Jill who is an interior design buff. You will never have the perfect home decor you see on television. Sure it can still be gorgeous and wonderful, but all future decorating decisions will be based around the dog. You will at some point find yourself at the Home Depot pleading with the salesperson to give you a testimonial on what carpeting holds up best to a dog puking, peeing and scratching at it. (don't forget diarrhea!) You will become an ardent fan of slipcovers and you will never buy a velvet couch. You will realize that Pergo flooring is a gift from God as a dog's nails can't harm it. Your home may start to resemble one of those old abandoned haunted houses on tv shows where bed sheets cover every piece of furniture. You will find yourself at Target end caps shopping for those bed sheets on super sale for the mere function of keeping dog hair off of something. Think of me and say a silent "thank you" when this happens.
(I should add you can keep your house looking like it could be on HGTV if you ban your dog from certain rooms or don't let them on the furniture. I won't even try to delude you with that type of fantasy. If you have a dog in your life...let the dog in your life.)
* Invest in a good vacuum. (see my summer post on my full blown love affair with my Dyson)
* Buy Nature's Miracle by the gallon. You have a puppy. The small little spray bottle they sell at Petsmart if for amateurs. Chuckle at the thought of it as you heave the gallon jug into your cart.
* There will be fights between you and your husband over the dog. They could be as innocent as "why is he sitting with you instead of me?" to the very serious "did you not see the big pee spot on the living room floor - Have you let him out the 4 hours I've been gone?" When you first get the puppy you will fight over who gets to hold the leash when you walk. A few months later you will fight over who's turn it is to get up at 2:00 a.m. to put the puppy on said leash when puppy is crying to go outside. You will learn how to negotiate like never before, you are potty training a dog in winter and your bed is toasty and warm. I suggest cash or sexual favors as your bargaining chips, my husband has been known to cave for the promise of fresh baked brownies the next day.
* Your puppy is better than everybody elses puppy. You will find this smug attitude creeps upon you like a dense London fog your first day at puppy training class or the dog park. Your puppy is cuter and more charismatic and smarter than every other dog you meet. You look at other dog's like they are mere peasants and your dog like the little prince that he is. I don't care how silly this sounds, it is true and I defy any dog guardian to admit otherwise.
* You will become organized. Gone are the days of throwing your shoes on the floor or leaving your W-2 form on the coffee table. Anything of any importance will be put out of puppy reach. A tip about setters - they seem to have a desire to get things you are specifically keeping away from them. It's a game they play to show you how smart they are and how dumb you are to leave a bag with tissue paper in it where they can reach.
* Your life is about to be changed forever. You will find yourself so in love with this little bundle of fur your heart feels like it will burst sometimes. You will count his spots and marvel at his whiskers when he sleeps. He will love you no matter what you say or do, he will love you when you need love the most. He will be so happy to see you regardless of how long you have been gone - a long day at work or a trip to the mailbox he will have equal enthusiasm to greet you. He will show you a side of your husband you never knew that will make you love him even more. He will make you slow down and look at the world in a new way when you walk, to appreciate things you may have rushed by before. He is your first dog that is all your own, he will be the bar you set to compare any other creature you bring into your life down the road. You will learn patience and compassion from him and realize that no amount of dog hair is a big deal for all the gifts he gives you on a daily basis.
*Enjoy all the puppy moments because in the blink of an eye the muzzle greys and his movements slow and you ask where has the time gone? Savor this time and realize the importance you have made in this dog's life by rescuing him. Be wise enough to know he rescued you too.
