Some of you might remember how, three months ago, my husband and I adopted a dog while on vacation in Montana. If you’re really sharp, you might also remember that we named her Gracie, and that she actually turned out to be six dogs in one. Her five puppies were born on October 1, thus changing her life and ours immeasurably.
We’ve learned a lot these last several weeks, some of which I’ll try to convey here. Below are some tips for raising a family, and in fact for getting along in general, courtesy of Grace and her outstanding parenting skills:
Sacrifice. Many were the times Gracie wanted to be doing something other than tending to the pups; you could see it in her eyes. Yet her devotion was steadfast. That food bowl, that toy, that moth; whatever the distraction, it would have to wait until after the puppies’ needs were met. (However, once everyone was fed/cleaned/comforted, look out… She quickly made up for lost time with the food bowl, the toy, the moth, etc. before resolutely heading back to the puppy box.)
Keep track. Five pups are a lot to look after, especially when you’re a dog and allegedly can’t count. But somehow Gracie always knew how many pups she was supposed to have. During the first couple of weeks after the puppies’ births, after even her briefest trips away, she’d touch each pup with her nose. It was almost as if she were saying, “One, Two, Three, Four, Five…Okey doke then, we’re good.”
Later, when the pups were older and had become whirling, swirling bundles of energy, she’d monitor their whereabouts. If one went missing, she always knew exactly where to look to bring her family back together again.
Make learning fun. Puppies start out as blank slates. It’s at first up to their dog mom, and later their humans, to make sure they learn what is right and what is wrong. No matter what Gracie’s lesson du jour was, she’d present it with her tail wagging. The pups seemed to understand that, even though Mama Grace had nipped until they yelped, she’d done so for their own good.
No means no. Gracie never backed off. If she determined a pup was acting in an inappropriate manner, she would administer discipline in the form of a nip, or series of nips. Usually the puppies got the message right away but, if not, she would continue her corrections until the unwanted behavior stopped.
Meet messes head on. Puppies are messy, there’s no doubt. Actually, during their first couple weeks of life, they’re mess machines. But you wouldn’t know by looking at them, or their box. Gracie literally ate up everything the puppies dished out, the second it was dished. Which, if you think about it, is a great behavioral adaptation; it’s one she shares with her wild kin, the wolves, coyotes, foxes et al. Pups, no matter what sort, are vulnerable to all sorts of predators. By minimizing the scent they create, Mom Canid is also helping to minimize the chance that her family will get eaten. She’s also keeping the den clean, with no need for Pampers or baby wipes.
Instill spirit. One of the pups, Three Girl, was noticeably more submissive and shy than the rest. The first time I saw Gracie take Three Girl’s head in her mouth I thought, “Good heavens, what could a quiet puppy like that have done wrong?” But after a couple days I saw a pattern emerge. Each time Gracie disciplined Three Girl, it was because she had squeaked or shied away from an encounter with a littermate. After about a week of such reprimands, Three Girl caught on. By the time she went to her new home, she was strong and confident, unafraid to stand up to her peers.
Take pride in your children and their accomplishments. This last observation will probably smack of anthropomorphism, but I swear it’s true. The last week that the puppies were with us, they were pretty self-sufficient. They had learned how to crunch kibbles, lap water and void their systems all by themselves. They could play until they were tired, nap, then do it all over again, with no help from anyone.
These developments left Gracie with quite a bit of free time on her hands. She could watch squirrels, chase squirrels or, with a sofa and bed at her disposal, simply close her eyes and dream about watching squirrels and chasing squirrels.
But what did she do instead? With her options wide open, Gracie most often chose to watch her puppies play. Many times, she’d nuzzle me and, with her herding-dog mouth, tug my hand to make sure I would come and watch too. Together we’d sit and watch the puppies as they learned things like water is wet, squeaky toys are fun, and some plants taste bad.
Gracie would step in from time to time but, for the most part, was content to sit and watch her offspring experience the world around them. I’d watch the puppies too, but also kept an eye on Grace. I’d swear she was smiling. I know I was.
Pam Otto is the manager of nature programs and interpretive services for the St. Charles Park District. She can be reached at potto@stcparks.org or 630-513-4346.