This is the consequence of raising puppies with a constant series of novel and easily mastered challenges. Sapphire chose to do the teeter that while flat, just has a bit of a drop/bang. Both puppies do this with no concerns.
They have confidence in their competence — so important.
Capella then gave them a lesson in how much fun it is to play fetch.
Capella is a REALLY good mother. She is still choosing to nurse these puppies multiple times a day. I want puppies nursed for at least eight weeks but then I let the mom decide when to close the milk bar.
This morning a puppy must have used teeth when nursing. Capella did what she has done many times before — she growled a bit at nobody in particular and walked away.
THAT is what mother dogs do — they walk away. Disengage. Remove what the puppy wants. And that is what humans should do. Just walk away. With puppies and some people, now that I think of it.
Puppies at this age are also easily distracted, and that is another strategy for managing undesired behavior. For example, the puppies are wild biters, and even the kids know how to handle this — yelp/say ouch and grab a toy for the puppy. Distraction almost always works (unless the puppy needs a nap).
Something else I have been teaching the kids — we do not say “no” to puppies. That is an unhelpful word. Instead, I am helping the kids find ways to get to “yes” when they are with the puppies. So instead of “no” when a puppy is biting (which is, of course, in the Puppy Job Description as a mandatory activity), we distract and substitute so we can say “yes” to the desired behavior (chewing a toy).
Mother Dogs do not “show a puppy who is boss.” They don’t need to, and neither do we.
Unless, of course, a person feels powerless in the world and needs to have dominance over something — but in that case, I recommend a good therapist and not a puppy 🤷🏼♀️
(Later)
My mom was fond of telling us that, “life is not fair.” This was usually because I pointed out that something was not fair, which happened a lot in our chaotic household (five kids in just over four years — and no twins, unless you count Irish Twins).
I have never outgrown my moral outrage at things I perceive as unfair. I am still shocked and indignant — okay, angry — when things are unfair. What the heck, Universe?!
But yes, in my heart I know my mom was right — life is not fair. That knowledge, however, doesn’t actually help when the unfair thing happens. Which it has.
For now, let’s rest our minds on this beautiful, calm, peaceful photo of healthy, happy, smart Jasper living his best Gem life.
💙💙💙🩷
