When we finally agreed to meet a dog that was in need of a new home, we liked that he was nearly a year old. We didn’t want to deal with puppy training, and I have to admit I felt bad for him. We already envisioned walking with our dogs to the coffee shop, playing fetch with them, both of them having a companion to play and run, etc. We should have known better - the mixture of anticipation and excitement can be quite deceiving! Welcoming any new dog, puppy or adult, turns everyone’s life upside-down.
We did end up having to deal with puppy ‘stuff’! Of course, it went by faster than it would have with a younger puppy, nevertheless at times I questioned (tearfully) our decision. I had something like buyer’s remorse. We did overcome that obstacle once we stopped babying him and feeling sorry for him. We explained to him the rules of our house and that there were no freebies. As he is not paying our mortgage he has to earn his treats, our affection, privileges (e.g. freedom around the house) and food with good behavior. Besides the mental part we also provided him with plenty of exercise – as we all know, a tired dog is a good dog. At last, everyone is happy!
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