Kids and puppies

Puppies and kids, kids and puppies, their relationship is one that I will never understand. It's fantastic, but it's an unspoken bond that adults will never figure out.

Our new mudpuppy is doing pretty well. He's being less of a pain in the ass but still getting into trouble on a regular basis. 

He still tries unsuccessfully to get on the couch, it's not going to be long before he can jump up there, which will really suck.

He still chews anything and everything despite having the entire puppy chew toy selection at our house.

He still doesn't completely like his crate and being left alone. Big C is back to work this week so we've got someone coming in 3 times a day for play time and potty breaks so he's not crated too long. But I'm thinking it will be a month or so before he gets completely used to the process.

He still is full of puppy spunk and craziness. I can see why they say that you should never get a puppy at Christmas time. That would be nuts, just nuts.

My own public service message…no matter how much your kids beg and plead, never ever get a puppy for them for Christmas. They are too much work, too needy, too much of everything to be involved in the chaos of the season.

If they really want a puppy, wait. Yes, wait. Wait till after the holidays, I'd even advise waiting until spring if you live in a cold snowy area. Wait until you are really, really prepared for this new little living thing to enter your lives.

Because if you wait you won't regret it. Kids and puppies are about the sweetest combination you'd ever want to come across.

Our mudpup is infatuated with Miss K. No matter what he is in the middle of, he stops when he hears her voice. He goes nuts when he's upstairs and she comes home and he can't see her. He sits longingly at the gate in our living room when he hears her in the morning, anxious for her to emerge from her room.

Miss K is not much better. She usually bolts out of bed eager to go see her puppy. She typically won't go pee, get dressed or anything else practical till she sees him too.

Let me be clear, our mudpup thinks she's another dog. He wants nothing but to roughhouse, nip and wrestle with her if he could. We've even witnessed a couple running pounces in attempts to get her to play "puppy"

There have been tears because he's nipped her with his sharp puppy teeth or scratched her with his paws. She hides up on a kitchen chair at times when he just won't leave her alone.

No amount of "NO" or ear pinches or distractions will deter him some days, but he's getting better.

You'd think she'd be scared. You'd think she would want him to go away. 

It's just the opposite. 5 minutes after he's scratched her, she's back giving him hugs and kisses. Miss K loves this dog, unconditionally and fully. 

She never asked for another dog after our first Mudpuppy passed away. She still mentions her everyday and will always love her but she never asked to get another dog. I believe she hoped we would, but she never requested one.

That was our choice to get another dog. And I'm glad we did. He's a pain in the ass and we're not getting nearly enough sleep, but he's good for the soul. 

Life just seems more relaxing and comfortable with a dog.

He is a handsome little fellow, he is learning some stuff very quickly and I hope will be a fantastic retriever as well as a family companion.

So, if you are thinking about getting a dog…think really hard, really really hard. They are a ton of work and I mean a ton, but if you want to reap some big rewards and give your kids a buddy that will love them just as fully as they do, you might be doing a good thing

Til next time…think about adopting a rescue dog or from the local humane society