We are dog people. We don’t just have dogs, they have us, too. Since I can remember, we’ve always had two German Shepherds: one male and one female. Their job is homeland security–and they know every inch of their property. There is always one Watch Dog and one Guard Dog per pair, each with their own unique personality.
At the beginning of the summer, we had to say an unexpected and early goodbye to Terah, my sweet little Love Muffin. She had only just turned 10, and should have had a few more years with us. Zeke will be 11 soon, and he’s never not had a dog. Even while grieving the Frisky Biscuit we needed to consider him. Miraculously, we were able to find a female puppy that same weekend.
Hallie Josephine joined our family at 4 months old.
Now, it’s been ten years since the last time we puppied. But you remember in a hurry to put every thing on the ceiling, become detached from things in the flower beds, and not worry about setting an alarm clock on the weekend. Sadly, puppies are not respecters of sleeping in days. {sigh}
A few months in, and we’re figuring things out. She likes her belly rubbed and exploring her back field. She enjoys bug stalking vs hunting: she catches the fly, but then just plays with it. {eyeroll}
She loves, Loves, LOVES water. Hose. Kid pool. Sprinklers. All the water.
She does NOT approve of birds on her lawn, and lets them know in no uncertain terms. Since I’m not a great fan of pigeons squatting under the feeder out front, I endorse this behavior; the robins and chickadees not so much, but they’ll be OK. The killdeer and jays just scold her back from the top of the fence. And the swallows dive bomb her.
Watching her grow up (even if her actual growing is a bit imperceptible) I’ve noticed a few things:
Play hard. Rest Hard.
Zeke is super patient with her and is mostly tolerant of her shenanigans. He’ll put her back in place if she gets a little too spicey. A few years ago, he’d have given her a run for her money in Dodge Dog. Now, though, he can stand and watch her, sometimes making a small lunge when she rockets past him. She utterly adores her dog and is unphased even when being scolded.
When is watering flowers, not? When you have a German (Shepherd) with the zoomies.
The hose is one of her favorite things. A sopping wet Hallie is a happy happy Hallie.
Play hard, crash out. Her rest has quality to it–she totally commits. Grab a snack and go again.
Be curious about everything.
She is a very busy dog, on the move, all the time, ‘vestigating. She inherited Watch Dog from Terah, and she understands her assignment. She’s aware of everything in her environment, especially if it doesn’t belong.
One evening while sitting on the back patio just enjoying the night, she noticed an airplane taking off from the local airport … two miles away. If I get up to go to another room, she wants to know what I’m doing.
Don’t worry about anything outside the gate.
We have an electric fence around 99.5% of the property (the rest is gates). Each new pup has had to learn the property lines, often the hard way. But it only takes hitting the fence once. Our Mobile Security Units patrol regularly (we call it going on a ‘rim check) and while they are aware of what’s happening at the neighbors, they heavily monitor what’s in bounds. Random squirrel that’s breached the perimeter? Better be a track star.
I know she’ll grow out of puppyhood soon enough and I should enjoy it while I can, but I’m looking forward to leaving shoes on the floor again.
Points to ponder: consider how hard you puppy.
Do you play enough?
Are you fretting over something outside your gate?
Actionable application: If you haven’t yet, define what “play” looks like for you.
Hallie suggests bumble hunting or Chuck It! if you need a recommendation. And she’s available to hire out if you need an accountability partner 😉
Bonus: Give yourself permission to stop focusing on that thing outside your sphere of influence or control. Write yourself an actual permission slip if you need it.