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I just want to put this out there for anyone who needs to hear it: I tolerated Peggy for much of her first year. Horrible, right? Cute little puppy, wholly dependent on me. But it’s the truth.
Between her behaviour challenges, the gaps in my poodle knowledge, and the grief I was still navigating from the loss of my last dog, that first year was all about putting one foot in front of the other and just doing what needed to be done: A lot of educating myself. A lot of time spent observing and picking the brain of a brilliant trainer. A commitment to honouring the responsibility of animal ownership and treating Peggy’s needs as my own. And soooo much Poodle Forum.
I’m typing this now with a gorgeous almost-adult poodle stretched out at my feet. Every once in a while she’ll gaze up at me and I’ll gaze right back at her. I smile. I stroke her chin and her silky ears. My heart swells and I’m pretty sure hers does, too.
Now her head’s navigated to my lap. She rests against me and I rest against her. We were always family, but we are, finally, friends.
My best advice for anyone struggling with a challenging poodle, or just feeling a normal case of the puppy blues: Play. Play every single day. And let your poodle pick the rules sometimes. They come up with some wonderful games and they’ll delight you if you let them. The fun is a welcome break from putting one foot in front of the other.
Also: Share with others as you learn. Be a sponge, but be generous with all that knowledge you’re soaking up. For every question you ask, try to help someone else find their own answers. We’re all in this poodle life together.
Between her behaviour challenges, the gaps in my poodle knowledge, and the grief I was still navigating from the loss of my last dog, that first year was all about putting one foot in front of the other and just doing what needed to be done: A lot of educating myself. A lot of time spent observing and picking the brain of a brilliant trainer. A commitment to honouring the responsibility of animal ownership and treating Peggy’s needs as my own. And soooo much Poodle Forum.
I’m typing this now with a gorgeous almost-adult poodle stretched out at my feet. Every once in a while she’ll gaze up at me and I’ll gaze right back at her. I smile. I stroke her chin and her silky ears. My heart swells and I’m pretty sure hers does, too.
Now her head’s navigated to my lap. She rests against me and I rest against her. We were always family, but we are, finally, friends.
My best advice for anyone struggling with a challenging poodle, or just feeling a normal case of the puppy blues: Play. Play every single day. And let your poodle pick the rules sometimes. They come up with some wonderful games and they’ll delight you if you let them. The fun is a welcome break from putting one foot in front of the other.
Also: Share with others as you learn. Be a sponge, but be generous with all that knowledge you’re soaking up. For every question you ask, try to help someone else find their own answers. We’re all in this poodle life together.