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Through Your Puppies Eyes

.. Through My Eyes By: M. Whitescarver .. Imagine if you can, a flying saucer picking you up and taking you to another plant. Well that's sort of how I feel. This is my new home but nothing is familiar to me, no smells, sights, or sounds that I recognize. Wow, what a scary place! All I have now is you. I hope you did your homework before you brought me home. Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a six week old BULLMASTIFF puppy. I have other names too; the Gamekeepers night dog and the Gentle Giant. I'm all those names and more. You fell in love with my sweet little wrinkled face but I warn you (If you don't all ready know) I will gain about three pounds a week. The changes in my body will be amazing. My life and the big dog I become will depend entirely on you. Aside from the essentials food, water and shelter I have many other needs you will have to address. Among those are love, patience, and discipline, and oh did I mention patience ?I want more than anything to please you, I just don't know how yet. I respond beast to a firm but gentle No. Don't shout, I'm not deaf and you don't want to scare me. Nothing more pitiful than a huge dog terrified of it's master. Remember I am a work in progress. Repetition is the key to success. I am very smart so you will have to be smarter. We will both make mistakes, I promise to forgive you if you forgive me. I need to learn what's mine and what's yours. I like what's yours because it smells like you. I know my sharp puppy teeth hurt. You should try having a whole mouthful of them. Chewing soothes my achy gums. Stinky shoes my not appeal to you but to me they are ambrosia. Please put them out of my reach. Have you noticed that I don't soil my kennel? That's because I want to live in a clean environment. If you do too keep, a close eye on me. My actions will tell you when I need to relieve myself. Don't play with me outside until I'm housebroken. If you do I will get confused, play outside potty inside. It's cute when I'm excited to see you and jump on you begging for attention. Don't do it !!!, the rule has to be 4 on the floor. I won't be able to make the distinction between now and when I am 130 plus pounds. I don't ever want to hurt you even by accident. Remember, no jumping EVER ! I will be stronger than you when I grow up. The trick is to never let me know it. Tug'o" War is a bad game because you may win now but the day will come when you won't. I am devoted, courageous, playful and funny. When you're sad I will make you laugh, lonely I will lay at your feet with adoring eyes. I am a descendant of noble birth. My breeder planned my birth with great care. My parents were chosen for temperament and type. I represent centuries of careful breeding. Be proud of me ! I am " Your BULLMASTIFF" and you are my master. In return, you never need be afraid if I am near. I will give my life to proect you and my home. Love, Andi..

. Through My Eyes - Part 2 .. I am still a Bullmastiff puppy but just about everything else about me has changed. I am now 13 weeks old and weigh 36 lbs. right on schedule. At first I thought my name was No No Andi ( giggle) but I was wrong, it's just Andi. I have a registered name but that's way too long for me to remember. I'm not on another planet, I am home. Did I tell you that I have a playmate that lives here too? His name is Amos and he is a 5 year old Bully. He is red with a black mask (I'm a brindle). I'm told that someday we will have a litter of puppies(yawn). I'm more interested in now. Once when we were playing Amos growled at me, he got scolded (pretty funny). Now, if I get too rough I get scolded (not so funny). When we really get wound up we sometimes move furniture, knocked a lamp off the end table (we both got scolded for that one). Not so funny and a little confusing. I've gotten more shots and had a microchip inserted under my skin. That's so if I get lost I can be returned to my master. I'm learning new things everyday. Walking on the leash was pretty easy, clipping my nails weekly, no big deal. I sit on command and take treats nicely. We are working on the down command now. I don't like that so much, it makes me feel vulnerable, but I'll get it. My crowning achievement is housebreaking. No accidents in over 3 weeks! Not biting took longer to learn. I got popped on the nose and told no in a very stern tone quite often. I'm starting to figure that one out. "4 on the floor" is a forever rule. Sometimes I get so excited to see people that I forget and am very quickly reminded. Last week we went to visit my breeder. That was fun! They are very nice people and let me get on the furniture. I'm not allowed to do that at home. My new Mom says" choosing the right breeder is very important". They must not only be people who love the breed , they must also spend time trying to produce the perfect dog. Did I tell you my biological father is from Moscow, Russia? He is very handsome and loves people. My mother is sweet and let people hold us when we were only one week old, pretty impressive. There are lots of things to learn called rules and manners, for instance no jumping, no biting, no running in the house, and no barking. I almost forgot, no chewing on anything except my own toys. We are looking for puppy obedience classes for me. There I will get to meet lots of new people and make lots of new four legged friends. With my family to love and guide me I believe life will be a grand adventure. Love, Andi

.. Through My Eyes - Part 3 Hello again, it's me Andi. I am now 18 weeks old and weigh 49 lbs. I'm a growing machine! I was right, life is a grand adventure ! My Poppa built a platform for the backseat of his truck and covered it with carpet. Now Amos and I can go riding around town with him while he runs errands. I learned quickly that when he puts on his hat that most of the time we are going for a ride, what fun. There is a big park in our town that has pond in the center. Amos and I can't go swimming because people fish there with something called hooks which could hurt us. Instead we walk the path so we can practice leash training. I'm still learning more everyday. Today I learned that I can no longer head Amos off at the pass by running under the coffee table. Ouch, that hurt! The backyard is no longer just for doing my business. After I finish going potty they let Amos out. We have so much fun running, jumping and barking that we wear each other out! Then we stretch out in the sun on the deck for a power nap. The other day a strange human reached over my fence to pet me. I ran to the other side of the yard and began barking wildly. My Poppa came out to see what all the commotion was all about. Well, it turns out the man is our neighbor, his name is Danny. Poppa went over and shook his hand. I gathered all my courage (I'm very brave), walked to the fence and let him pet me. Danny said I was sweet and very pretty. I think it's going to take more than a little flattery before I really trust him. Clipping my nails was okay. Once I was good with that I graduated to the dremel tool. I sat in Poppa's lap while Mom took this thing and put it all over my feet and that was still okay, But then she started making this zzzt, zzzt noise. Poor woman, I'm starting to worry about her. (giggle) The next thing I know they plugged it in and turned it on. Then for no reason they put it on my toenail! After that I freaked out and the fight was on. The lesson I learned was, don't ever bite " the Poppa"! With several lessons under my collar I now know that struggling only makes me tired and I get my nails done anyway. Next up, obedience training and after that Canine Good Citizen classes. I will let you know how that works out for me. Later, Andi