Just when tears of fear and nervousness started welling up, he came running over, climbed onto my chest, looked up at me, put his head down, and took his first nap. It only lasted 10 minutes, but it was enough. I am sure any parent can agree there is nothing quite as peaceful as your sleeping baby, be it a child or pet.
Those few moments have the power to erase from memory the hours of angst you may have undergone. I entered a new world. Conversations with neighbours and strangers increased tenfold as people stopped to gush or give advice.
I would have endless chats about my puppy’s personality growth (was he friendly enough? was he too possessive over his toys?) and I have to admit, his bowel movement proved to be a daily topic of discussion. I suddenly realized I was relating better to friends who had pets than those who didn’t.
I was hell-bent on Snickers being a well-behaved and responsive dog. My friends called me a ‘Nazi’ mom, and mini-arguments resulted in my asserting that this was my baby and I would raise him how I saw fit. Training a dog requires an immense amount of patience and consistency. If you don’t enjoy doing the same thing over and over again, don’t get a puppy.
It was after days of saying “sit, sit, sit” while gently shoving his butt down that Snickers finally responded to his first command. After that, he learned everything pretty fast – he loved praise and I loved how smart he was. Epic mommy-baby combination.
Those who ridiculed my training obsession were awe-struck when Snix went on to show them ‘Hug’, where he stands up and puts his paws around your neck.
When my family came to visit, Snickers won them over in no time. He worshipped my younger sister because she loved him as much as I did, but was more easy-going. (I imagine my kids will have the same relationship with her.)
My mom, historically scared of dogs, soon warmed up and treated him like the grandchild she didn’t have. His “Nani” (grandmother) proceeded to shower her “mithu” and “ladoo” (Indian sweets) with attention and love. My constant reminders that his name was “Snickers” not “Snicker” seemed lost on her. One day, she responded indignantly, “He’s only one, no?” How do you argue with logic like that?
