Lessons of Puppy Parenthood

I know she's only been around for a couple of weeks, but here's a few things our little fuzz bucket has taught us already.

1. Puppies occasionally relieve themselves when scared.

2. My lap is not as comforting a place as I thought it was. (see #1)

3. Sometimes, when you clean up one mess, you turn around to find 2 more.

4. Sleepy puppies are one of the cutest things on this planet earth. Honorable mention goes to puppy hiccups.

5. Puppies are smart enough to figure out they can sometimes get an extra scoop of food because "she looks so cute!"

6. Puppies have worse separation anxiety than babies do.

7. Puppies like oranges. Who knew? Also, grapes are a no-no.

8. Praising for good behavior is far easier to do than punishing for bad. It's also a lot harder to remember to do.

9. My puppy has an attitude. She talks back. The conversation "No!" ... *defiant stare* "BARK" happens regularly at our house.

10. Housebreaking is much easier if you have a fence. Or if it's not winter. It would be easiest it the two scenarios were combined.

11. If you don't catch a bad behavior fast enough, it becomes a habit. If you catch a bad behavior too fast, it becomes a way to get attention. Distraction is really the ONLY thing that works. And it only works sometimes.

12. Puppies sometimes sleep in very weird positions.

13. Dollar toys last much longer than expensive toys. I have no idea why.

14. An old water bottle with a penny inside and a tight lid is better than 5 Walmart toys. And louder. Much, much louder.

15. Snow is fun when you're covered in fur. Puppies don't seem to have a whole lot of sympathy for the person on the other side of the surrounded-by-negative-ten-degree leash.
 

16. Hair and chew toys are indistinguishable to a puppy. This philosophy also occasionally applies to ears and toes.

17. Anti-chew sprays can be vomit-inducing. You decide which is worse.

18. Puppies can get away with murder. All it takes is one look like this one, then a quick cuddle, and it's impossible to be mad. It's even really hard to remember what mad even feels like.