The "puppy blues" are the overwhelming emotions that a person who brings home a new puppy often feels. There’s that tiny, adorable being that’s full of energy and doesn’t always take to training right away. Finding the right balance isn’t always easy.
Growing up with dogs, I knew how to train a dog (for the most part). I am not a professional by any means, but the basics, such as potty training and basic commands, I could do with no guidance.
My boyfriend decided I needed a companion. I wanted a kitten; somehow, I left the shelter with a super cute lab mix puppy. She was already mostly potty trained, with only a few accidents here and there. Within a few months, she had a bladder of steel. The few times she did go were from excitement—as a puppy with a small bladder, it can be upsetting when it happens frequently, but they’re just little babies. A few times, she would be so excited outside that the second she came in, she would go again. Those times were SUPER upsetting. We would take her out every 20-30 minutes, slowly extending the time between trips as days went on. If we were leaving for a while, she would go for a long walk to go potty before we put her into her crate.
She hated her crate. She would bark until she fell asleep… I’ll be honest, she still hates her crate.
She is food-motivated and willing to please—two great qualities for a dog! Headstrong and clever, however, is not a trait that makes it easy for the first puppy you’re trying to train on your own. We did the puppy classes, and she figured out that when she barked in class, we would redirect her to a trick, and she would get a treat. Cue her constant barking, knowing she could do a trick to get a treat. She would have to go down an aisle to be fully distracted and away from the other dogs.
I would compare her to other dogs and their owners. Why is she pulling so much? Why does she not want to listen to me? There were times after the classes when I was so frustrated I would cry because I felt like I was failing her.
"Reactive" is something that can go both ways. She is all love and excitement—the energizer bunny, if you will. She just wants to meet every single dog she can, even if they are not very friendly. She loves to pull on her leash and leap at other dogs to try and play. And you won’t get a second glance from her… unless you have treats. If I forget the treat pouch, it is game over.
At the ripe age of 2, she still pulls on her leash, knowing that she will get put into a heel and receive a treat. You figure out the balance, and I see it as, at least, she knows how to heel.
Energy is what all puppies are full of. She loves to retrieve! Fetch is her game. She beats a duck dog every time. Playing fetch gives her the exercise and enrichment she needs, along with a supplemental walk most evenings. This allows dogs to smell the smells, see the sights, and have more enrichment.
There are good days and bad days still, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
