Week three of life with a new puppy and I think I have finally got it. She has most-certainly been a chaotic, energetic tour de force and I spent the first week shell-shocked.
She’s adorable and definitely a life-enriching addition to my house if not also a chewing fiend.
Not to go all “Cesar Millan” on you but the books all emphasise the importance of being pack-leader and consistency in puppy training. Yes that’s right. Books. I’m that type of person. Get a puppy, read a book and make a spreadsheet for good measure * wink *. Keep things organised, focussed and follow a plan.
Puppies don’t do plans.
Georgie’s following a more laissez-faire approach. Her aim is to bring a whole-new-sense of chaos to my world and find a way for me to embrace it.
It’s easy to list everything wonderful about life with a puppy – most of which can be summed up in eight words: cutest thing on the face of the planet!
The not-so-wonderful part has been sleeping. Or specifically the lack of sleeping at night. Three weeks in and up to last night, I was running on fumes, getting about 3 hours sleep a night (I’ll pause momentarily so new mothers to babies are free to poo-poo me, roll their eyes and mutter “if only she knew what tired was”).
The evil books of puppydom all said she must sleep in your room, crated or in a pen. So it is said, it will be done.
Good God. This has to be the worst piece of advice ever given. Literally the worst piece of advice.
After three weeks of cajoling, begging, ignoring and pleading, Georgie – the world’s most tenacious Shih Tzu – remained victorious and I would have said sleep deprived if she didn’t catch up during the day while I’m at work!
But the tide would turn last night. My inner Pack Leader would emerge. She now sleeps in the kitchen. Oh she wailed, barked, cried and moaned but she also slept and so did I! Hurrah!
The other part of the night involved me going without dinner and Georgie becoming an Oompa Loompa. Instead of sitting at the table (I was asking for trouble), I balanced my beef hotpot on my lap, got a playful but incredibly painful and unexpected bite from Georgie and tipped my dinner all over her and my white rug. Georgie became that browny-orange colour that happens when hotpot/Bolognese-type sauce hits Shih Tzu. I managed to clean the puppy but my rug has seen better days.
In short, three weeks in and we have found our balance. I can’t imagine or remember life before Georgie and I know before today is out, she will once again make me laugh and thank the stars she’s mine.
