Photo by The Professor
It has been one week since Clyde found me and decided that he was here to stay.
One week.
It's also, just so we're all clear, been three weeks since Stella graduated and it's still less than a year since Buddha also graduated and so, well, my heart is kind of mixed up about all of this loss and gain and dogs crossing over and back again.
However, I must admit I am the luckiest dogma in the entire world. Clyde is, truly, the blessing I needed most right this second and I'm so grateful for all his puppy energy and that he chose to find his way to me.
When he arrived last week he was 10 months old of unbridled untrained Labrador insanity.
I'm happy to tell you that he is also incredibly smart and compliant and remembers everything you teach him, pretty much on the first try.
Labradors, like most dogs, are dogs that thrive on routine. And consistency. And lots and lots of love. I'm big on love.
Clyde has learned lots of manners in his first week. He had a vet visit on Monday, was neutered on Tuesday, has had to stay *quiet* and adjust to his crate for parts of each day the rest of this week and he's managed all of it without any real fuss. He's figured out that we only go to the bathroom outside and how to tell me when he needs to go, he's learned how to walk nicely on a leash (thank you HALTI) and to wait at every crosswalk and corner before we cross and also to allow all people to go in and out of doors before he does.
Honestly, in one week this is a lot of learning for a puppy. I'm hoping he'll continue all of this so he can be a truly good canine citizen.
Those of us who love our dogs, really LOVE our dogs. We're sometimes quick to make excuses for their bad behaviour. However, dogs with bad behaviour are not just a problem not just for their owners, but for our whole society. They give all the dogs a bad rep. Then again, we all know what it is really about is how well the dogs have trained their humans. All the very BEST dogs know that if they've done their job right, they've got a good human trained to fluff the pillows just so, make certain their beds are all exactly how they like them, cook them delicious breakfasts and dinners, serve a tennis ball in just the right way across a long empty field and always a pocket full of the very best treats. These dogs have trained their humans to share the couch, share the bed, but most of all share their hearts unconditionally. Those are the very best dog citizens.
It's just been one week. So far, Clyde is doing well to show up and be the very best dog he possibly can.
