Two weeks ago, in typical Mackender fashion, my mom spent more than six hours trying to wrangle a stray dog that had fallen asleep at the entrance to our neighborhood. This isn't unusual for her. Ever since I can remember, my mom would pull the car over whenever she saw a stray dog on the side of the road so I wasn't surprised when I got the call that she had been sitting in the grass for hours calling to the dog like the dog-whisperer she is. However, what I was surprised to hear is that this dog was not buying it. Finally, with the help of animal control, the one-year old dachshund mix was taken to Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, Colorado. Just a few days later, my parents told me that they intended to adopt the puppy later that week, meaning we would now have three dogs living in our house. Although I was only going to be home for about ten days before going back to Texas for the summer, I couldn't wait to play with the new puppy.
Meet Winnie:
I know, she has the face of an angel and I instantly fell in love. We adopted our last puppy when I was very young so, needless to say, I wasn't completely aware of what it means to have a new dog. During my 10 days at home, I learned it's not always kisses and cuddles. I learned the real truth of adopting a puppy the hard way.
1. Puppies smell.
Look at this precious little fluff-ball. Well, guess what! I bet he smells like trash. And the worst part is if your dog was fixed, which is always a wise idea, you can't give them a bath for up to ten days.
2. Puppies poop everywhere. Literally, everywhere.
See this sweet marshmallow playing with her darling little duck toy? It's cute until she pees on it promptly 10 seconds later. I will vouch for Winnie, though, because she knows not to poop on carpet and saves it for the hardwood.
3. Puppies are capable of amazing feats.
What a doll. Wait until it somehow opens a closed door and goes into your room and destroys all your socks. Winnie managed to get out of a cage that was both locked and bungeed shut. That's right, my dog, whose legs are four inches long, jumped a 4 foot cage while we were out running errands.
4. They make the most atrocious sounds.
If you thought barking was bad, you're in for a treat. Sure, this howling husky looks cute. But wait until you hear the yelping and crying sound your puppy makes when you leave the room. It actually made me cry and I'm not being hyperbolic, it's the worst sound in the world.
5. Puppies are in constant need of attention.
Surely when you adopt a puppy you understand that it's a huge commitment. But I was not expecting just how much attention puppies need. I swear I turned my back for a second, and when I turned back around I found Winnie licking a knife covered in Nutella. Tip: If you can't hear the patter of your puppy's feet, that's probably not a good sign. Silence means they got into trouble.
Being responsible for a new puppy was very eye opening and confirmed to me that I am definitely not ready for one of my own. I actually forgot to feed myself today, so I shouldn't be in charge of another living creature. However, despite all the challenges that come along with adopting a puppy, there is one final thing you learn when you adopt a dog.
6. Dogs really are man's best friend.
I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I was frustrated by Winnie last week. She is scared of everything yet oddly aggressive and will only eat every other peanut butter treat you give her. She is loud and stinky and it's impossible to figure out what she wants but I've never loved anything more. When she finally gets tired and cuddles up next to me on the couch, I realize that there is nothing better than cuddling a puppy after a long day of chasing them around. I'm not ready for the responsibility of having a dog of my own, yet, but I'm sure when I am I'll have a bunch of Winnies to drive me insane and love me unconditionally.
