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Hello
New Parents-to-be
When I come home to you I will be your special Bulldog and I will be
with you forever, but before you come to collect me from my kennel there
are a few things you should try to understand about me first.
I am only a young Bulldog puppy
and have the same
capacity to learn as an 8 month old baby human. Because I am so
young, I will chew at everything I can get my teeth into. This is how I
explore and learn about everything. Even HUMAN
children put things into their mouths. It's up to you, my new parents,
to guide me to what is mine to chew and what is not.
Also, I
cannot hold my bladder for longer than 1 - 2 hours. I cannot "feel" that
I need to make a Pancake until it is actually beginning to come out. I
cannot tell you that I need to go because I have not yet been trained
how to, so I don’t know what to say - and I won’t have full "bladder and
bowel control" until I am 6 to 9 months old.
Please
don’t punish me, if you have not let me out for 3 hours and
I pee or Pancake on your best Carpet. It’s
your fault!.
As a Bulldog Puppy, it is wise to remember that I NEED to go outside after:
eating, sleeping, playing, drinking and
around every 2 - 3 hours as well.
A newspaper slowly moved to the backdoor and then placed outside in the
garden will help me learn where to go much easier, and will avoid you
being mad at me.
I am still a Bulldog Puppy, and sometimes accidents
WILL happen, so please, please, please be patient with me! In time I
will learn.
I am a Puppy and I like to play. I will run
around, and chase imaginary things especially torch lights, and chase
your feet and your toes and 'attack' you, and chase balls, other pets,
and small kids. It is play; it's what I do. Do not be mad at me or
expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day.
If my high
energy level is too much for you, maybe you should consider an older dog
from a shelter or animal rescue group. My play is beneficial, use your
wisdom to guide me in my play with the right kind of toys, and activities like
chasing a rolling ball, or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys for
me. If I nip you too hard, talk to me in "doggy language", by giving
a loud YELP like I do when something hurts me, I will usually get the
message, as this is how dogs communicate with one another. If I get
too rough, simply ignore me for a few moments, or put me in my
place (bed)
with a rubber bone or something.
I am a Puppy; hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat
a 6-month-old human infant, so please do not do the same to me. I am delicate,
and as a Bulldog I get very nervous with Human children. They make lots
of noises that I don’t understand and they frighten me very much. If
you treat me harshly now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit,
spanked, kicked or beaten.
Instead,
please guide me with encouragement and wisdom. For instance, if I am
chewing something wrong, say, "No chew!" and hand me a toy I CAN chew.
Better yet, pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to get into. I can't
tell the difference between your old sock and your new sock, or an old
shoe and your brand new trainers.
I am a
Bulldog puppy, and I am a creature with feelings and
drives much like your own, but yet also very different. Although
I am NOT a human in a dog suit, neither am I
an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO
want to please you, and be a part of your family, and your life.
You got me
(I hope) because you want a loving partner and companion, so do not
relegate me to the backyard or a dog cage when I get bigger, do not
judge me harshly but instead mold me with gentleness and give me
guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to be.
I am a Puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either.
I love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about training and puppy
behaviors and caring for me, from my Kennel and your Veterinarian, books
on dog care and even researching on the computer! Learn about my particular
breed and it's "characteristics", it will give you understanding and
insight into WHY I do all the things I do. Please teach me with love and
patience, the right way to behave and socialize me with training in a
puppy class or obedience class, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.
I am a
Bulldog Puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with you, and
to please you. Won't you please take time to understand how I work? We
are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst,
discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different and must work to
understand one another's language, body language, wants and needs.
Some day I
will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be proud of and one that
you will love as much as I love you.
Love,
Your
affectionate Bulldog
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