Sometimes, it takes an 8-week-old foster puppy to remind you of how to live life and what’s really important.
First, let’s set the scene. In what some might deem as a temporary loss of my common sense, my home-from-college daughter convinced me to foster one of about a dozen puppies the local animal shelter was trying to find temporary homes for. I was swayed by the idea that it would “be for only two weeks” until he was eligible for his neuter and subsequent adoption availability.
It’s been a hot minute since we’ve had a puppy, so (much like with infants) I’d forgotten just how much work went into having them and sleep came out of having them. Before thinking it completely through, I agreed.
So she and I headed to the shelter, reviewed all the puppies, oohed and aahed over them, reviewed them again, and then were left at an impasse. How do you even choose which one to “save,” even if just temporarily? Luckily, the rescue coordinator chose for us. And we were handed Piglet (his brothers were Tigger and Pooh, of course), some food, and some pee pads.
And our adventure began.
It’s only been three days, but Piglet has been busy learning how to be a puppy — and teaching us some important things along the way.
1. Sometimes, You Have to Learn By Leaping
At just 6 pounds, there’s not much to Piglet. He’s gangly and awkward but a heck of a lot tougher than he seems. And he (for better or for worse) has little fear. He likes to walk along the top of our stone retaining wall when we let him outside. When he gets to the end, he has a choice to make: Take a small step down to his left into the grass or continue full steam ahead and leap off the edge and risk the 12” drop into the grass. Which to choose?
You guessed it: The leap. Almost every time. It’s high enough to get airborne for a second but not so high there’s a huge threat of injury.
He loves it. Taking flight, his little ears flap in the breeze. Descending, sometimes he lands solidly. Other times, he misjudges the landing and grunts and rolls a little before regaining his footing. But he loves the adventure. The next time, you better believe he’s back on the retaining wall, ready to take flight again.
The unknown makes him braver. The repetition gives him confidence.
Sometimes I need to remember that risks I take aren’t always as big as they feel. Sure, the outcome is unknown. But what’s the worst that can happen? And how likely, really, is “the worst”?
Taking chances can have some big payoffs. What would you try if you knew you’d succeed? How high might you fly?
2. You’re Mightier Than You Think
I would’ve thought it’s got to be pretty intimidating to be this tiny little puppy in this new world of four giants who tower above him and try to control his every move. He can barely climb a step, so going upstairs for a round of Fortnite is out of the question, and the couch where all the big people seem to hang is completely inaccessible.
Yet even though we’re dozens of times bigger than him, he’s not scared of or intimidated by us (unless we have a vacuum cleaner in hand). He holds his own — or tries to. We redirect him away from the shoes, and he goes right back to them. We strip the bottom row of the Christmas tree of its ornaments, and he just tries to eat the branches. He’s surprisingly strong, remarkably clever (generally), and a fast learner.
Just because you’re small or inexperienced doesn’t mean that you don’t have something to contribute. In fact, your perspective from 6 inches above the ground can prove invaluable. A tiny puppy has forced me to keep things tidier … to vacuum under the couches … to be more mindful of where I walk (we now call it the “puppy shuffle” so we won’t step ON him, just maybe slide INTO him at worst). And yes, sometimes we acquiesce to his wishes. I mean, how can we not?
3. There’s Always A Solution, Even if It Doesn’t Seem Like It
Problems sometimes seem insurmountable. They’re all you can think about. And when you get so laser-focused on the problem, the solution can be nearly impossible to see at first.
Like when all you want to do is GO outside and you can very clearly SEE outside, it’s hard to understand why you just can’t make that happen. Instead, a nose print-filled pane of glass seems to stop you.
But if you stop and think — and maybe even really LOOK at the problem — you might find that the solution is staring you right in the face. And maybe the problem wasn’t so insurmountable after all.
And hopefully, the next time, the problem won’t be as hard to solve.
4. You Catch More Flies With Honey Than You Do With Vinegar
Puppy teeth are sharp. And my husband referred to Piglet’s nails as “bear claws.” He’s not wrong. Very quickly, our couch, the dog bed, my pants, and even my shoes had telltale snags from a curious puppy. As we try to teach him right from wrong (you’re welcome, future owners) that generates a lot of stern “No’s” from us. While he’s overall a pretty good (and totally normal) puppy, it seems like every evening around 6 p.m., he becomes full of, excuse the saying, piss and vinegar. (Sometimes quite literally the former.)
So we’re trying to reinforce the idea that being nice instead of nibbly (although we understand that puppies are inherently nibbly) will score him some serious brownie points and far more attention and snuggles.
During a time when TikTok feeds are filled with “Karen” videos and it seems easier to complain than to praise, never underestimate the power of a kind word. No matter how old we are or how bad (or good) our day has been, it doesn’t cost anything but a moment of our time to be kind.
5. Learn From Your Mistakes
It’s easy to think we have all the answers. That we know what we’re doing. That those who are cautioning us “just don’t understand.” Eating a little bit of mulch is NBD, right? Even when someone warns you (looking at you, Piglet) it’s not going to end well. After all, it’s just some wood, right? Fiber, even? Isn’t that good for you? Not when it comes back up at 3:15 in the morning because your stomach is upset from that little bit of mulch you ate the last 47 times you went outside.
We’ve always got something to learn from the people and places around us, no matter how worldly we think we are. (Not to bring up TikTok again, but I have learned SO MUCH from that app since lockdown — from covering the gray in my eyebrows with Just for Men to cleaning hacks to get rid of mildew.) And isn’t that awesome that we have so much capability for growth — if we’re just willing to do a little bit of work?
Even if it feels cringe to do so, listening to those who are more experienced than us — or who simply have a different perspective — just might help us avoid discomfort.
6. Let Your Voice Be Heard
If you know what you want — whether that’s the previously mentioned mulch, a shoelace, treats, or just someone to play with — don’t be afraid to ask for it. We didn’t hear much from Piglet the first two days he was here, but as he starts to settle in, his confidence and voice are coming out. From playful growls to miniature barks, he’s starting to communicate in his own way. And that helps him get what he needs from us.
And don’t we all want that, too? To become effective communicators and to feel comfortable and confident enough for your voice to be heard? If Piglet can do it, we can, too.
7. But Know It’s OK to Back Down
Tenacity is great (see “You’re Mightier Than You Think” above). Awesome, even. But know when to keep going and when to let go. It’s a fine line that’s constantly moving, and you don’t want to drown out others’ voices just so you can hear yours.
Piglet is starting to (sometimes) understand when we’ve had enough. And we’re learning the best ways to tell him when things are going too far.
8. Have Fun Along the Way
It’s super-cliche to say, but life can change in an instant. One minute you’re huddled with your brothers in a cage at the shelter, and the next, you’re being spoiled with treats and walks and a brand-new bed and all the hugs and snuggles you can stand. And in two weeks, you’ll find yourself away from that bed and at the vet getting your bajingles … well, you get the picture.
Enjoy what you have, for as long as you have it. Wag your tail. Enjoy the sunshine. Eat just a little mulch. (Seriously, though, just a little. Like, hardly any.) Go somewhere you feel safe and take a nap.
You can learn a lot from an 8-week-old pup. And I’m pretty sure he’s learned some things along the way from us, too. We won’t forget him, and we sure hope he won’t forget us.
Four Birds 