The good and the bad
There’s the good and the bad of bringing up a puppy. Let’s start with the bad. Pebbles is hard work. I’m jealous and playing up. She is slow to learn her toilet training. However, there’s also the good. Pebbles is very bright and learning fast. She is doing so well with her sit and even comes to Mum and sits nicely in the hope of a treat – I don’t. Pebbles is now learning to stay for a second or two. She can build up from there. That was something I was always good at and I’m sure Pebbles will be too.
Ways I can help
I’ve found one way I can help. I know when Pebbles needs a poo. That means I can bark at Mum to get her to take Pebbles out in time. Now I need to remember to stop barking. I’m also helping with exercising Pebbles. I don’t cope yet playing with her inside the pen. That’s all a bit much. However, I’m very happy to run around the outside of the pen while Pebbles does laps of the inside. Mum only lets me do that for relatively short periods of time, not just because we don’t want Pebbles to overdo it, but because I bark and she doesn’t want me upsetting the neighbours!
Car travel
There are ways in which Pebbles is unlike any of the Entlebuchers Mum has brought up so far. Pebbles does not like going in the car. She whines. Oh boy does she whine. Mum is now taking her out for a short drive every day to try to get her used to it. She’s also building in brief stops where Pebbles stays in the car while Mum leaves her and walks away for a few minutes. Leaving her is going fine. It seems to be only when the engine is running that Pebbles isn’t keen. I hope she gets used to it quickly or journeys with her are going to be hard work.
Out and about
Mum wanted to take Pebbles out in the pet carrier. She hasn’t used it for a few days as a lot of the socialising Pebbles has been doing has been people and dogs coming here. Anyway, Pebbles has grown – a lot! She doesn’t fit in the carrier. She’d go in if she didn’t wriggle, but the size she is if she wriggles she’d just flop straight out. Mum even tried her in the canvas carrier she’s got, which is supposed to be ok for dogs up to 15kg. Oh boy it was funny. Mum had rested the carrier on the kitchen table to make it easier to then lift it with Pebbles inside. Cue Pebbles running across the kitchen table and Mum only just catching her.
Not to be thwarted Mum has decided that it’s time to have a pet stroller again. We had one years ago for Aristotle, but it didn’t fold down and was close to impossible to use as it wouldn’t go in the car. Mum sold that one. Now we’re getting one to share. I can use it on long walks if my arthritis is bad and Pebbles can use it while she’s a pup. It’s one which folds down to easily go in the car. I’m quite excited about it and will try it out when it arrives.
Love and woofs
Wilma
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