My New Dog is Training Me

On May 11, we welcomed a new dog into our home. Brandy is a Chihuahua mix and just turned a year old. I’ve never had a puppy before, and it has been quite an eye opener!

We got our first dog 14 years ago. Taffy was also a Chihuahua mix, but she was well out of the puppy stage. I wrote about the resulting changes to my routine in Time Is A Zero-Sum Game. But Brandy and her youthful impetuousness take things to a whole new level!

Having an energetic little imp in our home is like living with a toddler again. We have to be careful about where we put things, and we always need to be aware of where she is to make sure she isn’t getting into any mischief.

In her first few weeks with us, she chewed through a sofa throw pillow, a flip-flop, a pair of earphones, a Burt’s Bees lip balm, a comforter, and a Lands End catalog. We have had a much lower destruction count in recent weeks because we have learned how to protect our stuff from her, and how to protect her from our stuff.

We are working with a dog trainer to break her of her most mischievous habits, but we are being trained as well. We have many of our own habits that need to be broken or rearranged to keep chaos at bay.

This has required us to be mindful. Whereas I used to keep my footwear near the door, now they must go in the entryway closet. Throw pillows go back on the sofa when we sit down to watch TV or read a magazine, but then we need to remember to take them off the sofa when we are done. Nothing goes on the end tables unless we are prepared to bid it goodbye.

Breaking habits is hard. We have lived here for over 20 years and it’s jarring to have to do things differently. Having just gone through 6 months of renovation, we have already changed many of our well-worn routines. Brandy’s arrival has impelled us to change even more.

Her energy and enthusiasm have their positive sides, too. She approaches a game of fetch with such exuberance and we laugh so much as she bounces around the living room to retrieve a toy. When we least expect it, she jumps into our laps and bestows kisses.

I said to my husband recently that one day we will look at our aged dog and remember fondly when she had such youthful energy and such sharp teeth! But for now, we are staying mindful and vigilant.