The Puppy

Our family has a new bundle of joy – a 7-month-old black lab mix we named Rocky. He’s been here for just under a week, and the similarities to adding a new baby to the family are unmistakable.

We’re happy to have him; he’s added a new dimension to our lives, and we’re learning along with him, eager to see the world from a puppy’s point of view. We can envision many years together, and are considering all of the fun things we’re going to do.

On the other hand, he’s certainly cost us a lot of money for a “free” puppy. Food, bedding, bowls, treats and toys were purchased before we even brought him home. He needed a vet exam, shots, de-worming, and flea treatment and will need to visit the vet again in two days, and eight more times in the next four months. We bought him a cage, which is HUGE and takes up a great deal of space in my home office. He likes it, though, and it’s necessary to successful dog ownership.

Friends of ours recently reported adopting a Coonhound puppy that tore their couch apart while they were at work. The cage/crate is for everyone’s protection. I’m home most of the time, though I do leave for social appointments, business meetings, errands, and family outings. Rocky has a safe spot to take naps and to sleep overnight while nobody’s watching him. And while we’re away, he can’t get in trouble or do anything that might hurt him. When we come home, he’ll get plenty of exercise and affection. What more could any pup want?

I’m learning as I go. I admit, up till recently I didn’t like dogs. The dog we had when I was a kid was a mean ol’ gal. She was a miniature poodle, but was never trained properly and had a lot of bad habits. She bit my toes and stole my toys, and only really liked my grandma. I am determined not to have another “Tinkerbell.”

My goal for Rocky is to teach him every common command – heel, sit, stay, down. I also want to teach him fun commands, like fetch and shake. There’s a “Good Canine Citizen” test – I want him to pass. Labs are supposed to be very smart and easy to train, so I want to take full advantage of that trait. I’ve already taught him “sit.”

Of course, Rocky is not a purebred lab. He may be part Boxer, or part “Village Dog” – who knows? All I know right now is this – he’s good natured, mostly housebroken at 7 weeks of age, and pretty smart. It’s looking good so far.