Moonshadow Merlin finishes his week at Camp Kaibab today and has been a perfect camper during his stay.
Moonshadow Merlin, Sparkle, Pozy
Merlin shares so many traits with his littermate, Maple, who has also spent time at Camp Kaibab. Both puppies are wildly happy, and express this with their bodies. They are waggy, wiggly, and just exude joy about basically everything.
Since I have had the chance to spend time with various puppies as they have gotten older, and because owners are great about keeping me updated (thank you), I am able to observe some interesting differences between the two litters. These differences cannot be because of how they were raised — they are a week apart and were raised in identical ways.
Bright Star Sage
The puppies are all smart and food motivated. I have no concerns or criticisms about either “flavor” of puppy — both have their advantages.
Moonshadows are busy and emotive.
Bright Stars are self-possessed and analytic.
Moonshadows FEEL.
Bright Stars THINK.
Moonshadow Obie at class
I have observed differences between the litters since they were tiny — and I believe those differences persists today. It is as if the Moonshadows are primarily extroverts and the Bright Stars are more on the introverted side of things. Neither is wrong or bad — it is just helpful to recognize the tendencies.
The extroverted puppies need help managing their enthusiasm and tendency to — literally, at times — crash through life. The introverted puppies need time and space to process things.
I love Thinkers and Feelers — and all the flavors in between.
Moonshadow Porter
Moonshadow Merlin pushes through barriers that Capella would not dream of touching, has zero personal space, happily shares his things, rushes doors, and could not be any sweeter or kinder. Pete, however, has found Merlin’s exuberance too much to bear on more than one occasion and let’s just say Merlin has a very healthy respect for the Chief of the Fun Police now (Pete’s nails are kept trimmed — don’t worry!)
Merlin always comes happily when called, and just emotes cooperation and joy at all times. He is a happy burst of sunshine.
Capella does not always come when she is called — she is busy considering things. If she isn’t sure what is going on or what is expected, she stops and observes. Where Merlin charges right on in, Capella is measured. Not shy, not disengaged — measured. Thoughtful. Gentle. Sensitive.
The two flavors of puppies require different things in training. One size never fits all in training dogs or humans, but seeing the differences in these two litters has really amplified this for me.
A loud voice or cross word with a Moonshadow is going to land very differently with a Bright Star. The Moonshadows are likely to be quite forgiving of human mistakes and imperfections — the Bright Star will remember.
All puppies deserve smart, adaptable, and patient trainers — the Bright Stars require such a person.
I absolutely adore my thoughtful Bright Star, Capella. She is not overstimulated by the external world and her gentle, kind nature is charming and easy. She is friendly to all without being overwhelming — that is part of being measured.
When we are pregnant, we dream of our child. We create an image of who and what they are, and then they are born and they are somebody else and we have to grieve the child we had imagined and grown to love. It can happen in an instant or take time, but all of us need to let go of who we expected and embrace the one who arrived.
It is the same with a puppy. They cannot be exactly what we imagined — they can only be who and what they are. Our task is letting go of our imagined puppy/dog — that was never real — and appreciating the gift sitting right in front us.