Puppy Woes

When I finally convinced my husband to get another dog, I had no idea how much harder it would be than in the past. Granted, we got a puppy rather than a calm, mature dog. That will go in the “live and learn” column.

We’ve had previous dogs. Two we got as puppies, a golden retriever mix (Hobie) and a border collie mix (Oreo) (both from shelters) and a third, a set-in-his-ways, twelve-year-old dachshund (Rojo) we inherited after my mother died. So, this isn’t our first canine rodeo.

We lost Rojo in 2020. He lived to be eighteen. It took a year, but my husband finally agreed, and we headed to a shelter to meet a cute little puppy described as timid on Petfinder.

When we met him, he was indeed timid and skittish around us. I figured he’d be easy to manage since they estimated his maximum weight to be around 40 lbs. Our Oreo was over 75 lbs so I figured we’d be good. Brodie is now almost 60 lbs and the word “timid” is not in his puppy vocabulary.

He now has a ferocious bark and has the energy of three dogs. Destroys every “indestructible” toy we’ve bought him, He chases squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, cats, and birds. He eats anything and everything. Mulch, grass, flowers, leaves, sticks, even rocks. Yes, rocks.

My “OMG meter” broke when he caught a chipmunk and brought it in the house, despite my screaming. In fact, it may have been because of my screams that he carried the critter up the stairs, into our bedroom, and jumped on the bed, hiding on the pillows as if I couldn’t get to him there. Another time, he brought a dead bird to the door, but that time I calmly told him to drop it and he did. Right in front of the slider. Most recently, he ate a mouse. I was so totally grossed out I couldn’t eat for a day. (A possible diet idea? No, thanks.)

Oh, and he loves to grab and run. Paper towels and tissues are his favorite go-to. But, he has eaten a few earrings and destroyed slippers, shoes, socks, a sweater, even a pair of my underwear. He is actually quite talented at balancing more than one item in his mouth at once.

His DNA (yes, we took a swab) shows he has a significant amount of an Australian shepherd in him. He is constantly on the go and tries to herd us. Saying we are overwhelmed is an understatement.

He has gotten used to my writing routine, but every once in a while he reminds me that he needs attention, too.

The problem is, when he is calm, he is the sweetest dog. And we are in love with him. When he looks at us with those big brown eyes, our hearts melt. Do I wish we had kids still at home to play with him? Yes. Do I wish he was a little older and calmer? You bet. Would I give him back? Never.

Brodie is now a member of the Stone family, for better or worse. We love the little stinker!

Brodie dislikes: Thunder storms, fireworks, his people on their phones.

Brodie likes: Pup cups at Culver’s, rides in the car, walks with his dad, new bones and hanging with his mom.