I remain hopeful most of Samantha’s bad behavior is well over 1/2 way through. Given she’s now closing in on fourteen months it seems we’re on the downhill side of most of it. Winter’s almost over, it’s time to start planting and I still see vivid images of about 1/2 the bushes being systematically chewed up and dragged around the yard all last fall. I still have bottles of cleaner stashed around the house to cover any excited piddles she’d leave….pretty much whenever she was excited.
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| Why Does She Hug?!? |
Stuffed toys shredded, newly planted grass dug up, dents and dings in the floors, constant smudges and the occasional door scratch. All in the last six months worth of work for the young gal. Why do dogs do all that?
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| Why Won’t She Use the Bridge?!?!?! |
Consistently she wraps her oversized, rough paws around playmates as she wrestles them to the ground. Rarely have I seen the opponent match that move. She relentlessly taunts playmates of all sizes with her toys, pushing them, almost forcing them to play with her. Once they pick up one end she immediately lunges back on her haunches, tail upright and unmoving as she enters formal Tug-of-War Pose. Somehow she adapts this to opponents of all sizes. Sam is also a prolific napper. She doesn’t really sleep, she waits. She often puts herself in positions allowing for the maximum view of her field of vision; in case something (or someone) moves who might want to play.
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| Why Does She Crowd Walter When Napping? |
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| Why Does She Take Advantage of Tiny Opponents? |
Sam’s part retriever so consistently has something in her mouth. Inside or out she’ll find something to have at the ready. Ready for what we’re unsure. Whether a rubber burger outside by the fire-pit or a stick as big as she; she’ll find something. She also has a knack for messes. Be it destroying a toy down to it’s stitching, stuffing and plastic eyes (which she won’t eat) or collecting all the balls and dropping them in the only muddy spot of a park. Or intentionally avoiding the bridge, instead walking through the freezing cold stream, stopping to take a quick bath. A mess; constantly.
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| Why Does She Hug? |
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| Why Does She Collect All Balls in the Only Muddy Spot?!?! |
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| Why Does She Haul Around Sticks As Big As She Is?! |
All the downsides of the puppy in her our washed away by the entertainment of the puppy in her. I’ve been fortunate to parent three puppies and have spent time around a couple dozen more and Samantha by far is the weirdest, most entertaining of them all. As our time with Walter gradually draws to a close it’s uplifting to be able to share in the good and bad behavior of another rescue pup. I think even Walter has appreciated watching her antics; perhaps even living a big vicariously through her.
Sam’s part retriever so consistently has something in her mouth. Inside or out she’ll find something to have at the ready. Ready for what we’re unsure. Whether a rubber burger outside by the fire-pit or a stick as big as she; she’ll find something. She also has a knack for messes. Be it destroying a toy down to it’s stitching, stuffing and plastic eyes (which she won’t eat) or collecting all the balls and dropping them in the only muddy spot of a park. Or intentionally avoiding the bridge, instead walking through the freezing cold stream, stopping to take a quick bath. A mess; constantly. 
