”Puppies”

Published date: August 31, 2024

by Barbara E. Magera

In July, we added two puppies to our household. I flew to Europe to pick them up and bring them home. At four months old, these littermates were outstanding travelers on the ten hour trip. They remained quiet and calm inside their Sherpa bags tucked under our cabin seats. We did not even hear a whimper during the entire international flight.

For the first week, the puppies kept me busy as they demanded attention every four hours. They wanted to eat, drink, play, pee, poop or jump all over me. Then repeat this sequence. Their ravenous appetite kept me hopping. They played with gusto. Within a week, they learned to retrieve toys. Zoomies occurred on the lawn or in the house. How they avoid crashing into walls or furniture is beyond comprehension. 

Within a few days of training, they accepted the lead well. No pulling or chewing. I am amazed. Both are very intelligent however; one is more adept at figuring out complicated tasks.

They assumed the older Cavaliers would play with their same enthusiasm. Initially, the seniors, who like peace and tranquility, found their antics more aggravating than amusing. With time, the seniors gradually learned to tolerate puppy behavior.

Bath time in their new home was interesting. For bathing, I use an industrial strength large and deep stainless steel tub designed for restaurant use. A long spray arm helps to wet and wash the dog’s undercarriage. After lathering up with puppy shampoo, followed by conditioning, each pup is rinsed thoroughly. I wrap my pup in a microfiber towel and place her on a grooming table. Using several micro towels, I try to absorb as much moisture as possible from her puppy fur.  A soft baby brush guides my gentle motions. Today, her first bath with me is primarily an educational experience to learn the choreography of bathing and grooming. Each pup is calm and happy until I turn on the handheld hairdryer. Terror immediately ensues. One pup is lunging forward trying to aggressively bite the dryer. I immediately turn off the hair dryer and tuck it under the grooming table far out of her visual field. Lurking below is the “blaster” which will remain quiet until she learns to tolerate the handheld dryer. During our grooming session, I turn on a stationary oscillating fan which blows on the grooming table. Luckily, she is oblivious to the noise and gentle moving air emanating from the fan.

At five months, one puppy is quite an agile jumper. Her Olympic feats resulted in her retrieving important mail from a high kitchen counter. Today, she shredded my passport. I am too embarrassed to explain how my passport was destroyed so I will just report it as a “lost” document. 

Both pups learned to fetch and retrieve toys. One pup chooses a small soft duck as her favorite toy.  She digs through the entire toy box to find her favorite duckie. Following an intense game of fetch and catch, she leaps in the toy box, stretches her paws and falls fast asleep. My husband enters the kitchen and is amused to find her sleeping soundly on top of knot balls, rope knots and miscellaneous other dog toys. Her sister is sleeping  inside a crinkle “tube” used for agility training. Both are rhythmically softly snoring. The back legs of one puppy move as if she is running in her dreams. Even watching them sleep is amusing.

Suddenly a flash of lightening breaks through the black night sky. Claps of thunder awake startled  puppies. On this night, storm bands from a large hurricane pound our shoreline. We live on a barrier island located just miles from historic Charleston. Thankfully the monster hurricane drifted east several hundred miles out to sea. As the torrential rain begins, the pups jump in our arms seeking comfort. The other seasoned Cavaliers appear oblivious to the storm and a few are soundly sleeping. Gradually, the pelting rain morphs into a gentle shower. The puppies fall asleep in our arms. We gently place each in their respective crates.

We are exhausted because of another night of sleep deprivation. Caring for puppies is a full time job but well worth the effort.

By early September, the pups are now sleeping through an eight hour night. During the day, their antics are more intense as they learn to outsmart us. Maybe they are just pushing our buttons to see how far they can enact their mischievous deeds. 

Puppyhood lasts only for a very short time but it is a very special time for bonding and learning. Puppies keep us young and laughing. At the end of the day, the unconditional love of these little ones melt our hearts. Thank God for puppies!

Barbara E. Magera is a Cavalier breeder, exhibitor and fancier (Caracaleeb), who lives and practices medicine in Charleston, South Carolina.