Puppy post

In a further imitation of my favorite president-elect, my housemate and I got a puppy this weekend. It wasn’t really in the plan; we had idly discussed getting a guard dog and were hoping that a friend’s dogs might have puppies soon. On the way back from the market on Saturday, however, everything changed.

On the way to the market, we had seen some puppies for sale by the side of the road. A collective, high-pitched awh arose from the car, but we continued onward. On our return trip, one puppy (and a few kittens) remained. A brief conference was held: Should we stop? Well, we’re here, so we might as well. But we’re not buying a puppy, just looking.  Just looking!  (That was my housemate. I had no such expectations.)

The sellers assured us it was a good dog and showed us its ears and teeth. We inquired into their days of business, vaguely remembering that we weren’t planning to come home with a dog, and the price dropped as we began to hesitate. Then the dog curled up at my housemate’s feet and he was sold. Money exchanged hands, and the puppy was quickly packed into a box and shuffled into the car.

Though he spent the car ride trying to climb out of the box, once at the house, the puppy settled into a long sleep – so long, in fact, we were afraid something was wrong with him. We gave him a bath, and he went to sleep again. Only after we brought out the food could The Dude (as he had been named) be bothered to wake. Subsequent playtime suggested that our worries were somewhat unfounded. The Dude bounded across the yard.

Since we’ve only had The Dude for two days (and were gone much of yesterday), it’s a little difficult to judge his adjustment. He’s young; the sellers told us 3 months, but I’d guess he’s closer to 5 or 6 weeks. He’s a bit of a whiner when he’s tired, and has a penchant for chewing on toes, pant legs, and shoes. (These habits will have to be eradicated sooner rather than later.) He only barks in his sleep, and he likes to be snuggle up to people if he’s not busy sniffing other things.

My housemate has never had a dog, and anyone who knows Libby (my parents’ dog at home) knows how well my previous training efforts have worked out, so if you know anything about doggie discipline, contact me now.  Or, for now, just revel in The Dude’s cuteness: