Living With Noodles
I’ve had the cutest little Cocker puppy living with me for the past two weeks. Looking at her fills most people with marshmallow thoughts and pillow soft emotions. She’s the kind of puppy you just want to hug and cuddle and pet and hold and kiss and hug and love, love, love.
Two weeks ago, you wouldn’t have been able to do that. Today, you have a much better chance.
Noodles is just reaching the age of 5 months and was afraid of just about everything when she came to stay with me. Her reaction to other dogs was a high-pitched scream, teeth and snapping. Her reaction to people was barking and backing up. The first time I tried to remove a piece of paper from her mouth, I ended up with two tiny, but painful, puppy teeth punctures in my thumb.
Today, Noodles is a bit different. She knows sit, down, stand, leave it and wait. She has been living with five other dogs and four cats. She has been to Home Depot, Petco, a few smaller pet stores, dog daycare, several group classes (including a puppy class with 9 pups and about 15 people), and to a couple of grooming places for happy visits.
How did we achieve this success? Well, I didn’t show Noodles who was boss. I didn’t force her into situations that made her uncomfortable or shush her when she needed to scream, growl or bark. In fact, she’s still a bit of a cocky little Cocker…as a Cocker should be, in my opinion. I’m convinced that she thinks of herself as in charge of her own world and everything around her, and that’s fine with me.
In fact, she has figured out that she can make me give her liver treats if she sniffs another dog’s butt. She’s learned that she can make other dogs leave her alone by sitting quietly and looking away instead of screaming and running. She forced my husband to give her a piece of hot dog by dropping the toy she had been playing with when he asked her to.
This little princess also figured out that if she barks at a stranger, it will make me turn around and walk in the other direction. On the other hand, if she sniffs the stranger and let’s them pet her, she can make me hand over little pieces of cheese.
This little dog is a master manipulator. She has me under her spell. She is thinking up all kinds of new ways to get food, attention, play, walks and access to the outdoors. Her old ways were great for stirring up drama and getting dogs and people to stay away from her. But this new way of doing things brings her much bigger rewards!
I have been honored to serve Noodles over the past couple of weeks, and I look forward to finding out what she will teach me next.
