Puppies: What the Training Manuals Don’t Say

Friday, January 13th, 2012

The author has found "Sprig," an English cocker spaniel, to be heckuva lot of work and a heckuva lot of joy.

“Is a puppy more work than you thought it’d be?” This is the most-asked question of me since “Sprig” arrived in my household one month ago.

I’d read the books on puppies and watched some videos, but in hindsight, they’re remarkably desensitized. A few examples:

The manual said: Pup may whine his first night or first few nights away from his littermates.
In reality: Bellying her size, pup will let out primordial death howls. She will not sleep, nor will you, and you’ll wonder about the sincerity of neighbors who say they “didn’t hear a thing.”

The manual said: Encourage pup to play with his own toys.
In reality: You will go to the pet store and spend $50 on toys. Pup will spend five minutes playing with each, a buck per minute per toy. Pup will find socks, stocking caps and empty yogurt containers much more to her liking. Pup will not reimburse you the $50.

The manual said: Pup may nip hands and fingers as he’s teething and learning to control the power of his jaws.
In reality: Reality bites, and there will be blood (it will not be pup’s… )

The manual said: Pup may “eliminate” on the carpet. They don’t yet have the ability to hold it.
In reality: Your carpet will be eliminated. You didn’t need that security deposit anyways, right?

So is a puppy more work than I’d originally thought? Yes.

But would I trade it for anything? No.

Previous “My First Bird Dog” posts:

• Introducing “My First Bird Dog”
• What I’m Looking For
• Gun Dog Experts’ #1 Piece of Advice
• Just Show Me the DOGFAX
• Why Attend a Hunt Test or Field Trial?
• What Was Your First Bird Dog?
• Stuck Between Two Litters
• Rationalizing the Sticker Shock
• Best Bird Dogs for an Apartment
• When everyone’s a Dog Expert
• Meet My First Bird Dog!

Anthony’s Antics Afield is written by Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever’s Online Editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.