HOWL with Amy

Q: Dear Amy, 

After singlehandedly raising two amazing children (college graduates, fully employed and living on their own), I am now an empty nester. I am also ready to get and raise my first ever puppy. HELP, I am a nervous wreck and she arrives in three weeks!

A: Dear Nervous Wreck,

Relax, if you can raise two amazing children on your own, raising a puppy will be a walk in the park! Tap into your early mother mode because raising a puppy is just like raising any baby, just accelerated. Most dogs reach maturity by the age of two.

Like raising your children you need to start with a clear plan of what you want from them (behaviors and obedience). Then you need to be consistent in all your messaging; be patient and positive throughout the process; and be both strict and loving as you teach. Set boundaries and enforce rules.

Remember, you always have two choices when you get a dog:

1. You can change how you live to accommodate their behaviors, or

2. You can invest your time to teach them how you would like them to live in your world.

Please do not get confused and think being strict means you don’t love them or that they will not love you. Their first Mom ran a very tight ship so they could survive the first four weeks of their lives. They are used to it and will love you even more if they respect you and see you as their leader/mom. Dogs are pack animals and need a leader to feel safe at home and in the world.

Seeing how this is your first entry into the dog world, I recommend you engage the services of a professional trainer to help guide you. Ask your friends who have well-mannered/trained dogs who they used.

Get ready for the BEST experience of your life… unconditional, never faltering love!!  

Have something to HOWL about? Please send your dog questions to Amy at [email protected]

Amy Peer