The Brat Files
Part 1
My gorgeous
puppy has gone through several phases already and she is just 7 months old!
As Ehren was so
ill when we she came to live with us, our first couple of weeks, although
fraught with worry and fear that we might lose her, were relatively easy in the realms of new
puppy ownership. She slept well and was
happy to amuse herself with her toys, her energy levels were lower but as the
medication took effect and her health improved so the other dogs began to play
with her. She was clean and we only had
the odd accident, going through the night from day one.
Then came the
crocodile puppy or velociraptor, take your pick of terms, we sure did! At this stage we had a puppy that was
constantly biting and biting and biting some more. I had toys and treats everywhere, my house
looked more like a pet shop than usual and I was not averse to giving her the
socks off of my feet if she was not to be distracted from attacking them.
This lasted
about 2 weeks and with every day the play biting got less and the sock removal
was a thing of the past. I could walk
through the house without a puppy attached to my leg and where we had worked on
her sit from the outset she had learned what it meant and when asked, even if
the teeth were half way to the foot, calf or hand, she would sit and wait for
her toy or her treat or whatever reward we had to hand.
Ehren was a bit
later than normal puppies getting out in to the big wide world as her
vaccinations couldn’t be given until her immune system had started to behave
normally and even then we had to wait 2 weeks after the final vaccination to
make sure she had actually built an immunity.
This meant more energy in the house as we couldn’t walk her or start to
expand her world. She had to be content
with playing with the other dogs and us at home, going for rides in the van,
visiting friends and going to the centre and she had a couple of play dates
with other puppies which helped to socialise her. The constant vet and specialist visits gave
her lots of rides in the car too.
As often
happens, once we were able to take her on walks and to play off lead with other
pups and of course the rest of the gang, we enjoyed lots of peace and quiet as
she processed the new sights, sounds and experiences of the world. She is a
clever girl and sailed through her puppy and beginners obedience with Jim at
the other end of the lead and her recall and control of lead is extremely good
thanks to my efforts.
We were
enjoying the wonders of an easy puppy.
And then it changed. Hesitations when asking her to sit or lie down,
recall is still good but ranging out at a distance that I am not happy
with. Barking at everything. Destroying her toys, even her favourite
little bear that she has slept with since the second day we had her. Terrorising the other dogs and refusing to
have her nails cut or be brushed. And
now my sweet little PigWit puppy has become a BRAT!!
My puppy is a
BRAT!!
Now I know that
this stage won’t last long. That with
patience, consistency and lots of praise and reward (and alcohol for me), we
will get through this and she will settle down and stop being a BRAT. Well, for a little while at least. But it’s hard work!! Again, I know this. I help people deal with the different life
stages of their dogs and the trials they bring every day, it’s my job and I
guess I just wanted you all to know that we all go through it, even me.
So if I look a
little tired, seem a little more worn down than normal, you now know the
reason. My puppy is a BRAT!!!
