If you’re raising a puppy right now, congratulations! And if you’re raising a puppy-at-heart (aren’t all dogs, really?) you remember what those snuffling kisses, little yips, and stumbling-bumbling first explorations are like, right?
If you’re like me, having a puppy is great, but it’s a little nerve-wracking, too. I’m always worried they’ll find something to chew, fall down the stairs or off the couch, or somehow get hurt because I wasn’t watching closely enough. But after a few weeks, we fall into a rhythm and learn what’s safe and what house rules are important to follow. I spent a good portion of last year yelling, “No! Don’t eat that! Spit it out! Drop it! Leave it! Leave it!” Can you relate?
One of the best things about puppies is their endless joy over seemingly mundane things:
- a butterfly
- a lost sock behind the hamper
- a “perfect” stick in the backyard
- ice cream
- the first taste of peanut butter
- leaves blowing past the window
- tennis balls
All these things create wonder, joy, and excitement in puppies and it’s contagious. Maybe that’s why we love them so much.
