A dog's development is much like a child's. When he starts out, he's really cute and you willingly overlook the fact that he is pooping and peeing on everything you own. As he gets older, it becomes increasingly obvious that you really have to give your puppy some boundaries regarding these things. (Example: On my shoes, never. On Papa's shoes, whenever necessary.)
The chewing issue was also high on our "to do" list. With the kids, we didn't care too much about what they chewed. It's always fun to look at an old belt or book, sigh and say: "Remember when Emma found this on the floor and chewed on it all day? I miss those days!" Unfortunately, we cannot do the same for our Wheaten Terrier. Yes, things are still chewed up. Yes, we know that our dog did it. Yes, we still sigh...heavily. However, there is not as much sentimentality involved when we are looking sadly at our rocking chair (minus one rocker), our whisk (formerly our broom but now deprived of a handle) or the entire railing around our deck.
Thankfully, Toby is moving out of that stage and is pressing on to manhood. I know this because I recognize the tell-tale signs which apply to males across the board:
1. Growls at any sign of danger. This could be a headlight in our driveway or someone flushing the toilet. You can never be too safe.
2. Loves to wrestle. Perhaps uses his teeth more than most, but would certainly still qualify for the WWE.
3. Bravely guards his food. This trait was learned out of necessity. Toby is the only member of our family to get a treat every day as well as his fill of bacon. Yes, bacon! Those tasty morsels that any man will go to the ends of the earth (and the downstairs doggy bowl) to retrieve. It's not fair and now the dog is too smart for the old "what's behind you??" trick.
4. Loves to pee outside! Nothing says "I'm a guy" more than the sudden realization that the world is his bathroom.
Walking my dog has taken on an entirely new meaning now that he sees every vertical structure as his own urinal. The worst thing is that I am forced to shorten my three kilometer walk in order to protect him from dehydration. The boy shows no planning skills whatsoever. See a tree? Gotta pee! That's his motto. Signs! Posts! Tall, slow men! You name it, he marks it. And by the time we get to the end, he's no longer peeing at all but instead is "misting" on his target as if he were sharing cologne or air brushing some dog graffiti.
In a few more months I'll have him trained just like my two boys: Stick to the tree in the back yard...and Papa's shoes.
Mark Thrice is the Ethan Award (tm) winning author of Halfway to Crazy, available at amazon.com and at fine bookstores everywhere.
Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers Limited at 238 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada N9V 1W4
