A week from Friday, Leroy comes home, the end of his eighth week of life. We went to see him again this morning, Robin Gibbons, his very conscientious breeder, is always gracious about letting us see him. She says we can get him next Friday if we’re ready. We will be ready.
Maria and I had a puppy planning meeting tonight, we are both excited about Leroy. He is a bit of an old soul, loving, curious, but also fairly calm, especially in relationship to his hellion sisters, both remind me of Fate. Leroy is a bit Lab like, he is in no great hurry and seems quite secure. Both of his sisters beat up on him almost continuously while we were there, he will be ready for Fate.
He came up to us both this morning, he licked me on the neck a few times and nuzzled happily with Maria. He fended off his sisters and then took a nap for a few minutes. I like his style.
His face and body are filling out, but he is still quite small. This is the time for us to get ready for him. I’ve done this many times, fortunately, so I think I know what we need.
We have two crates for Leroy, one for the bedroom, one for downstairs near the door – very handy for housebreaking. He will eventually get upstairs, as all of our dogs do at night, but not for months. The first night or two, he will be yowling when left alone in his crate in the dining room (Fate still has a crate there, she is in it whenever we leave the house.) No separation anxiety, no chewed up furniture, no garbage on the floor when we come home.
For me, crates are a battle that must be won.
They are essential to housebreaking, calming training and grounding. Dogs are pack animals, they appreciate confinement as well as freedom. Dogs must learn how to be still within themselves, how to be quiet and alone, how to do nothing. We have lots of stuff for Leroy to do, on the farm and off.
Usually, it takes me two days to housebreak a dog, Leroy might be longer, he is young and with a very small bladder. Whatever it takes, we will do it.
Leroy will rarely be alone. We have two other dogs and both of us work at home, but he must be at ease in the crate. We will feed him there, put toys and treats inside, block off half of it until he grows. We will make it a welcoming and safe place. There, he can escape the big people and big dogs and have his own secure space. He can listen to himself, something all the great dogs learn how to do.
I am always sad to hear people tell me they can’t bear the thought of crates, that they are cruel. This is much like saying it is cruel for carriage horses to pull carriages in Central Park, or for border collies to herd sheep.
There can be no greater favor I can give a dog that showing him to be comfortable within him or herself, and not be a loud and intrusive and needy animal. For his sake and ours.
We will get him some appropriate hard chew bones and soft toys, I don’t permit balls and throwing in the house, but I want him to have some toys always available wherever he goes. That way, he will focus on chewing on his stuff, not mine or Maria’s. I will feed him in the crate, wait 10 minutes and take him out on a leash. When he eliminates, praise and a treat. He will not run loose in the house until he is housebroken.
He will not move freely in the pasture for months, until we know all the animals recognize him and know he is a part of our lives.
As soon as he gets his shots, he’ll start his therapy work training, and also meet the donkeys and sheep and barn cats in a safe and controlled way. I wish for him to be a therapy dog, but also a farm dog.
We have the crates and some puppy chow. Today I ordered a steel pen for outdoors, we’ll put it in the back kennel area. Maria and I will go shopping together for some more toys and training treats this weekend.
We are very drawn to this puppy, he is a gentleman with a big heart. I think we need him here in odd ways that have not revealed themselves. I am eager to share this trip, my first venture into the world of the Small Dog.