Budde the Puppy is 13 Weeks Old

Proof, He Sits!

Three months and one week.

This makes Budde our new live in buddy for six weeks now and times been flying past. Budde is officially, if he wasn't already, part of the family. My dad is in love with him. It was a slower start then some people with puppies, because my dad missed his beloved late dog Poncho. Budde had some big paws to fill. My dad is seeing now that he is smart and very trainable. I think he's finally realizing on his own, since he wouldn't listen to me, that a dog is how you raise them. Sure sometimes there are other factors, I can train Blind Louie all I want but I cannot train him to see. I can however, train Louie how to be a very high functioning blind dog, as I have and then we really don't even notice anymore that he is different from the rest of us.







Everyday it's a little easier to pet Budde with out getting your hand chewed on. I ask him to sit for petting. If he gets up before I start to touch him we start over. As soon as his mouth touches my hand I yelp and move away. We start over again. Someday he'll get a really good massage without biting and having to stop and he'll realize what he's been missing all along. He's getting there.

Budde is getting big. He's eating more and having less in door accidents. The moments of quiet cuddle time with Louie are getting more frequent. Budde knows very well that he's not allowed to eat out of the dishes of the big dogs while they are eating. He happily bounds over but puts on the breaks a foot or so behind them and sits. He watches them eat. He waits. When they are done devouring their meal he scours their bowls for them, making sure they are nice and clean for their next meal. What a good boy he is doing the dishes.

Budde truly is a bundle of energy, but also a bundle of joy. So much love and devotion in a small package. He is clearly still learning. He's still learning where we draw the line, how to hold himself, how to ask for help and how to play nice with others. It takes constant attention and gentle correction for him to understand. We cannot give up, we cannot leave him home and head out. Budde needs us around all the time, just like a baby. If we don't teach him now, he will not know how to act. Then soon enough he will be a big dog with bad manners and that is much harder to accept or ignore than it is in a puppy. So all day everyday, someone is with him. We take turns. He comes over and plays with us in the evening when my husband and I are home from work. My dad as him all day when we are gone. Dad also looks after Snorp and Louie so Budde has the big dogs for baby sitter's too.

Budde is lucky, we are lucky that we are in a position to give him so much attention. We know that is what it takes to make a great dog, and then he will pay us back in love and obedience ten fold. We thought ahead, what would it be like to get a puppy? We planned. We decided we had time, money, resources enough to take care of one and we had more than enough love. Then we adopted. I hope everyone who is thinking about getting a puppy takes this first part seriously. There are plenty of older, calmer, partially trained dogs that are up for adoption. They need loving homes too. So if the full time job of puppy rearing isn't for you, consider a more mature mate and adopt and adult dog. There is no shame in that at all, knowing your limits. We all know you can fall in love just the same.

Budde is taking his cues from the big dogs. When I ask Louie to sit, Budde looks over to Louie, watches him and copies him. He stays seated looking at Louie to wait for what's next. Louie doesn't know he's being watched, he doesn't know he's setting a good example. He can't see! He's just a darn good dog. Budde has some great teachers.

Snorp is the more patient and tolerant teacher. He will let Budde wrestle with him where Louie will not. Snorp doesn't mind letting Budde think he's winning for a while before he decides to quickly pin him to the ground. Good boy Snorp.

The three amigos! Snorp, Budde and Blind Louie