Puppy diaries -1
Me? A puppy mom? Had I even dreamt I would become one? Not in a million years! Well this old dog is learning new tricks now. More than anything, raising a puppy has helped strengthen my spiritual practice. I thought I would write about that.
My first lesson - embracing the unknown.
Having never raised a dog, the prospect of bringing a little puppy into our world was pretty daunting. Responsibility for a life I knew nothing about. This was not a baby which could be kept in diapers and a crib. This one would race around, poo and pee everywhere, bite, scratch, chew and eat everything in sight. Besides, he was being separated from his mother and the host family which boasted 10 dogs, two bunnies, birds and lots of family members. This gave him a head start in that he was properly socialized. Who knew the first eight weeks in a puppy’s life are crucial for the development of his brain and healthy personality traits. Yes, a common puppy ailment is anxiety which could manifest in behavioural issues.
Anyway, all signs were that our puppy was a healthy creature. I started to feel the pressure to keep him that way! With a healthy dose of optimism and nerves of steel we decided to walk this unknown terrain. Luckily for us, at a time when puppies are premium and super hard to come by even for a hefty price, we landed one just 15 minutes by walk from us in London, the day after we began our search. Host mom and dad, Keeley and Paul, were absolutely lovely and reassured us that they were just a phone call away if we needed any help, 24/7. I also enrolled in an Udemy course on puppy training and arranged for live training sessions on zoom. Read a book on puppy training as well. However, none of this prepared us for the first week from hell. Refusing to sleep in his crate, he was puppy at large for two nights. We had to be up to ensure he did not wreck the place. Then came toilet training in the backyard. He is still little at 10 weeks and only due for his second vaccine at 12-14 weeks until which time it’s not advisable to take him out to public spaces except in a carry bag. Day three found us thoroughly exhausted and wondering if we would get over viewing him as a chore rather than a being to be adored.
Then it popped into my head that my tendency was always to seek comfort and security in the known. Here was a great opportunity to show up with courage and explore the unknown! So I decided to observe the resistance within me to go places I have not been in my mind, do things I had not done and confronts all my fears and anxieties around caring for a vulnerable creature, especially given the small room for error. When negative thoughts popped that second guessed my decision, I saw them for what they were. I still have a long way to go to become a good puppy pawrent. However the fodder for spiritual growth has been fished out to me in spades. As I learn and grow everyday, always taking a few steps back even as I move forward, I hope to be able to share my experiences.
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