Letter From Your Puppy
 

I am your puppy and I will love you forever, but please know a few things about me.

I am a puppy.   I will chew on EVERYTHING I can get my mouth on.  This is how I explore!! Please take things from me that I can not have, but in return replace it with something I can have. 

I am a puppy.  I cannot hold my bladder for more than 1-2 hours.  I cannot “feel” that I have to poop until it is beginning to come out.  I do not know how to tell you that I need to go outside.  My bladder and bowel does not have full control until 6-9 months of age.  Therefore, DO NOT punish me if you do not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle.  IT IS YOUR FAULT, NOT MINE.  As I grow I will be able to hold my bladder for extended periods of time.

I am a puppy, please remember to take me out to go potty after eating, sleeping, playing, drinking.  In addition, please take me out every 2-3 hours.  At first, maybe every hour.  Please put me in a pen with a den, it will help me learn to housebreak easier, and it will avoid  problems with you getting mad at me.

I am a puppy.  I like to play.  I will run around, chase your feet, “attack you”, and chase fuzzballs, other pets, and small kids.  It is play. It is what I do.  Do not be mad at me or sedate me to make me sleep all day.  If  I am too active, then please consider an adult dog instead of me.  Please give me chew sticks and puppy toys.  If  I nip you, please tell me no and re direct me with something that I can chew on.  Sometimes if you yelp like a puppy, I will know it hurts you.  Therefore, I will get the message. 

 I  am a puppy.  DO NOT YELL AT, HIT, STRIKE, KICK OR BEAT ME.  You would not beat a 6 month old human infant so please do not beat me.  I am delicate and very impressionable.  Please guide me with encouragement and wisdom. Please re-direct me when I am doing something wrong.  For example, if I am chewing on something I should not have, say, “no chew” and give me something I can chew on.  Better yet, pick up everything off of the floor that I am not supposed to have.  Just like an infant, I will pick up anything I can.  I do not want to choke, and I do not want to get yelled at.  So please avoid the problem altogether.  I can not tell the difference between your old socks and your new ones.   I can not tell the difference between your old sneakers and your $200 Nikes.  Therefore, only allow me to chew  on “safe”  puppy toys. 

I am a puppy with feelings just like you.  I am not a robot that will instantly obey your every whim.  I truly want to please you, and be a part of your family, and your life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving friend and companion, so do not relegate me to the backyard when I get bigger.  Do not judge me harshly, but instead treat me with gentleness.   Train me to be the kind of family member you want me to be. 

I am a puppy, I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either.  I love you anyway.  So please love me the same.  Learn everything you can about training and caring for me.  You can ask your vet, buy books, go to the library, or surf the internet.  It is very important that I have my puppy shots and annual booster shots.  I also need a monthly preventative against heart worm and other parasites.  Please do not neglect me.  If  you cannot provide the proper care for me, please wait until a better time when you will be able to accommodate my needs.  Please teach me love, patience and the right way to behave.  If you need help training me, please take me to obedience class.  It will give me a chance to socialize and spend quality time with you. It will be fun!! 

I AM A PUPPY, AND I WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING TO LOVE YOU, TO BE WITH YOU, AND TO PLEASE YOU.  WON’T YOU PLEASE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW I WORK?  WE ARE THE SAME YOU AND I, IN THAT WE BOTH FEEL HUNGER, PAIN, THIRST, DISCOMFORT, FEAR AND WE  ARE ALSO VERY DIFFERENT AND MUST WORK TO UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER'S LANGUAGE, BODY SIGNALS, WANTS AND NEEDS.  SOME DAY I WILL BE A HANDSOME DOG, HOPEFULLY ONE YOU CAN BE PROUD OF AND ONE THAT YOU WILL LOVE AS MUCH AS I LOVE YOU.

                                               Love,

                                          Your puppy

 *Author Unknown 

 This version has been changed and modified slightly