It’s become a classic on the internet for first time puppy owners,
courtesy of J. Ellis.  I thought you might enjoy this:
I am your Puppy, and I will love you until the end of the Earth,
but please know a few things about me.

I am a Puppy, this means that my intelligence and capacity for
learning are the same as an 8-month-old child. I am a Puppy; I will
chew EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on. This is how I explore and
learn about the world. Even HUMAN children put things in their
mouths. It’s up to you to guide me to what is mine to chew and what
is not.

I am a Puppy; I cannot hold my bladder for longer than 1 – 2 hours.
I cannot “feel” that I need to poop until it is actually beginning
to come out. I cannot vocalize nor tell you that I need to go, and
I cannot have “bladder and bowel control” until 6 – 9 months. Do
not punish me if you have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle.
It is your fault. As a Puppy, it is wise to remember that I NEED to
go potty after: Eating, Sleeping, playing, Drinking and around
every 2 – 3 hours in addition. If you want me to sleep through the
night, then do not give me water after 8 p.m. A crate will help me
learn to housebreak easier, and will avoid you being mad at me.

I am a Puppy, accidents WILL happen, please be patient with me! In
time I will learn.

I am a Puppy, I like to play. I will run around, and chase
imaginary monsters, and chase your feet and your toes and ‘attack’
you, and chase fuzz balls, other pets, and small kids. It is play;
it’s what I do. Do not be mad at me or expect me to be sedate,
mellow and sleep all day. If my high energy level is too much for
you, maybe you could consider an older rescue from a shelter or
Rescue group. My play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide me in
my play with appropriate toys, and activities like chasing a
rolling ball, or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys for me.
If I nip you too hard, talk to me in “dog talk”, by giving a loud
YELP, I will usually get the message, as this is how dogs
communicate with one another. If I get too rough, simply ignore me
for a few moments, or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew
toy.

I am a Puppy; hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or
beat a 6-month-old human infant, so please do not do the same to
me. I am delicate, and also very impressionable. If you treat me
harshly now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked,
kicked or beat. Instead, please guide me with encouragement and
wisdom. For instance, if I am chewing something wrong, say, “No
chew!” and hand me a toy I CAN chew. Better yet, pick up ANYTHING
that you do not want me to get into. I can’t tell the difference
between your old sock and your new sock, or an old sneaker and your
$200 Nikes.

I am a Puppy, and I am a creature with feelings and drives much
like your own, but yet also very different. Although I am NOT a
human in a dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can
instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO want to please you, and
be a part of your family, and your life. You got me (I hope)
because you want a loving partner and companion, so do not relegate
me to the backyard when I get bigger, do not judge me harshly but
instead mold me with gentleness and guidelines and training into
the kind of family member you want me to be here.

I am a Puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect
either. I love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about
training, and puppy behaviors and caring for me from your
Veterinarian, books on dog care and even researching on the
computer! Learn about my particular breed and it’s
“characteristics”, it will give you understanding and insight into
WHY I do all the things I do. Please teach me with love, patience,
the right way to behave and socialize me with training in a puppy
class or obedience class, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.

I am a Puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with
you, and to please you. Won’t you please take time to understand
how I work? We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger,
pain, thirst, discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different
and must work to understand one another language, body signals,
wants and needs.

Some day I will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.

Love, Your Puppy

Copyright 2000, by J. Ellis – Southern Shadows Rottweilers.

I'm watching you!