Notes from the Trolley Station

Jul. 24, 2008

Welcome, Sam

Nearly two weeks ago we brought home our new puppy, Sam. He's a chocolate lab and is now 10 weeks old. It has been a long time since I last trained a puppy, but that seems to be going well. He knows to do his business outside (just not to not go inside), to sit on command, the word "outside," the word "inside," and the command "come." He knows which toys are his (and which things are not his, although that doesn't stop him from taking them). What is not going so well is patiently teaching Keegan how to train the puppy. I just want to take over. I constantly find myself reprimanding him, and struggling with his inability to do things exactly the same as me. What is God trying to teach me here? Clearly, I must learn more patience and understanding. I must also not be so much of a perfectionist, trying to impose my ways on others. He'll get it in his own time. I have had to put a couple rules in place, though, for his safety and Sam's. No picking up the dog (he kept getting growled at for disturbing Sam in his sleep) and no laying on the floor with the dog (submissive position = very, very bad). Keegan is doing much better with training Sam to sit and has learned how to clearly communicate a command. He has done very well with keeping his many little toys (namely, Legos and model soldiers) off the floor, out of harm's way. The two have bonded quite closely. Neither can bear to sleep a night without the other's presence. Thank you, Lord, for bringing "man's best friend" into our home.

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