Her name is Abigail, “Abby” for short, and she’s the newest addition to the McNitt family. Following almost a year and a half after losing our beloved Belle, an English pointer, to liver cancer, this pint-sized seven-week old dynamo of a German Short-haired pointer pup will undoubtedly turn our life upside down – at least for a while. But that’s okay; that’s what new puppies are for.
We picked her up in Cobleskill on Tuesday, choosing her from a liter of nine. Of course, more often than not, the pup picks you out and not visa versa. We wanted a female (I’ve always preferred females to males with bird dog breeds (sorry, guys), and since there were only two females in the liter, our work of choosing was substantially narrowed.
We looked at all the pups, small whimpering hyper-active bundles of pure energy that chewed your fingers and seemed to cry “Pick me, pick me.” But Vinnie Woessner, the kennel owner, advised that one of the females was more “laid back” than the other. A brief handling and play session seemed to bear that out, so in the carrier she went, much to the concern of her mother and siblings.
Now for the real test – the long trip home. I knew beforehand that being separated from her family and the only home she’d known in her short life would not be easy on her. No sooner had we pulled onto I-88 and the whimpering and crying began. That lasted for about half an hour, followed by a power nap in her carrier. No sooner had we exited the interstate than it began anew, in real earnest this time. That continued all the way home, and actually carried over once in the house.
Now anyone who’s ever gotten a new puppy knows (or should) that the initial relocation is a very emotional and trying time for it, as well as its new owners. Thankfully Abby had no “accidents” in the carrier en route home nor did she get car sick – both bonuses for her and us. But then there’s that initial night in a strange environment without her original family. If you haven’t gone through it, you’d best prepare for it because it’s SOP with new puppies.
Sometimes placing a windup clock and warm hot water bottle wrapped in a towel helps quiet the pups …the ticking apparently reminds the pup of a sibling of family member nearby, and the warmth from the hot water bottle further helps that impression …but not with every pup. Abby was smart enough to know we were trying to trick her into believing that. So basically she whimpered and cried most of the night. In order for us to get at least a token of “semi-quiet and sleep, we had to place her carrier in the basement for the night.
Having gone through the puppy introduction process several times in our lives, Betty and I knew the first few days (and sometimes nights) are the worst. Then, the pup begins to become acclimated and learning what brings praise and maybe a treat, and what brings a firm “NO.” Stop and consider what a pup often endures that first day or so. Accustomed to being with its own dog family, it’s suddenly isolated and alone. Kennel-reared pups aren’t house-broken and go whenever the urge strikes them.
Abby not only had to fathom a two-hour ride, but also be introduced to her very first collar and leash, sleep in her carrier alone at night, and begin to learn to “go potty” ONLY outdoors. That’s a lot to throw at a new pup all at once. Step one was the house-break training. Puppies can’t hold it for very long, and if you assume thay can, you’ll probably need new carpeting. Abby gets a trip outside after every longish nap, healthy drink of water or feeding. But we still need to watch her like a hawk. If she starts wandering around with her head lower than usual, she gets a trip outdoors. If she does it out there, she gets a small puppy treat as a reward.
Puppies should never be reprimanded for having an accident in the house. Just a sharp “NO,” grabbing its tail and trip outdoors, followed by praise and treat if they go then is the right way to house-break. Very young puppies just can’t physically hold their water or stool very long, so if you confine them in a carrier for more than a few hours, expect an accident. House-breaking usually doesn’t take all that long, but it does require attention on the pup’s owners’ part. Same goes for bad habits like chewing, and all puppies like to chew on things. Make sure the pup has a variety of chew toys to keep it occupied and away from shoes, slippers and other forbidden things.
I’ve always compared what a new pup goes through to an elementary-age youth being kidnapped and taken to a foreign-speaking nation, home and environment. Everything in their world is turned upside down, and only exposure and time will get them through the ordeal. At least in the case of puppies, they will hopefully be “kidnapped” by people who will truly care for and love them, and take the time to make sure they are able to become an integral and valuable part of the family.
Because those people not willing to do that shouldn’t own a dog to begin with.