Children and Puppies

One of the ladies on my Mommy and Me Yorkie baby lists has an almost 4-month old Yorkie baby that bites her. She's all a-twitter about it and can't understand what's the matter with him. Well, geez! Silly woman. Never try to hide a potato chip from a Yorkie kid. A potato chip is not only food, but absolute divinity to us Yorks and Yorkettes. We will do almost anything to get hold of a potato chip. (See my Diary entry from February 6, 2008)

Mom and me talked about it and here's what we came up with. I think it's worth posting, don't you?

Children and puppies want to please, to be praised, to be cuddled and loved, to feel appreciated, to belong, and to be part of a family.

Children and puppies become sad when they displease their parents, or cause anger or sadness, or feel unloved, feel like an outsider, or feel alone without a support system.

Humans have families; puppies (and dogs) have packs. If puppies live with humans, the humans become their "pack".

Children and puppies become angry and act out if they are physically hurt, abused verbally or physically, are left alone for extended periods of time, are unsupervised most of the time, if they're belittled and berated, and/or can do as they please without limitation. If the only time they receive attention is as a result of negative behavior, then they will exhibit negative behavior in order to receive your attention.

A four-month old puppy is like a 2-year old child. They both will constantly test your love and your patience because they are learning that they have a will of their own and are looking for guidance and boundaries. They will come through their childhood/puppyhood with flying colors if you are kind, gentle, and consistent in your directions and your responses, and treat them with respect and with love.


This is written by my mom, Michele, and approved by MEEEEEE, Mary-Margaret O'Brien.

This is how my mom raised me and my sisters, andI think we turned out pretty good.

Love, Mary-Margaret