Little Nurse indeed, and puppies are puppies no matter the breed

I'll be honest here, I've had this blog template built for about a year with the goal of dumping dog content in it. During Covid Times, I've been spending way too much time online (as have we all) and have found myself answering dog-related questions in a Schipperke forum. More on that later. First, let me share with you the dumb thing I did last night. 

Yesterday was my birthday and to celebrate, I decided to fall down the stairs. My feet have the body temperature of a long dead corpse so as one might imagine, I was wearing socks around the house in a desperate effort to mimic the living. Our stairs are wood, and as poor planning would have it, my be-socked foot stepped on the stair edge just right and down I slid. Starting--of course--at the top, catching a fair bit of drywall in my fingernails, and not stopping until I hit the bottom. I managed to completely freak out my fiance, and my 15 lb Schipperke, Hope, decided she could somehow be useful so both came running. 

I'm maybe a little worse for wear but otherwise fine. My wrist got it pretty good. Interestingly, Hope intuitively knew that and thought she would help by licking the crap out of it (fortunately she did not notice the bruise on my butt). I have no idea how she knew that but in the middle of all the excitement it was nonetheless still interesting to observe. She's my sweetie. 

Back to the Schipperke forum. If time spent online during covid has taught me anything, it's really reinforced my understanding that people think behaviors are breed specific as opposed to dog specific or even just animal specific. As the guardian of a nice floofy Schipperke girl and a little mixed dude with some Schip in him, I'm becoming more and more concerned about breed myths surrounding these dogs and owners perpetuating destructive nonsense (also lookin at your bullshit Schipperke Club of America). Let me be clear--people are advocating for injuring these dogs and using heavy handed, debunked training techniques because they're "big dogs in a small body". 

Your 8lb dog isn't trying to dominate you Janet. 

Anyway, I want to share a little knowledge, take out a little trash. This morning someone was asking for tips to tire out a Schipperke puppy. Stating they played for 2-3 hours then engaged in destructive behavior. Oof. 

Here's my answer, which at the time was shared with the poster after he was bombarded by "tire them out more":

This is not "how schipperkes are". 

Puppies are babies. You're describing 2-3 hours worth of solid play followed by hyperarousal. In an overaroused state you'll see destructive behavior, marking, maybe biting. As you're adding more and more play, your puppy is being bombarded by stimulation. 

Socialization isn't throwing novel experiences at an animal, and the goal is NOT exhaustion--it's making sure play is appropriate for the age and experience, and enjoyable. (also consider appropriate mental and physical stimulation. Learning tires out puppies).

Think of it like this--you go out for a drink with some friends, then they want to go to a party, pretty soon they're pressuring you to stay out until 6am. You might be tired and cranky by then right? You might even snap at them or engage in frustrated, exasperated behaviors. 

Your puppy is demonstrating the same--they are TIRED. Unlike adults, puppies (and babies) need to be taught when to rest (think of the number of toddlers out there protesting they "don't need a nap"). And need to be taught separation from you. Introduce play in much, much smaller increments-minutes, not hours--let them go pee after hard play, then reinforce for separation from the thing/reinforce rest.

One last thing--I have not figured out the template of this blog yet at all so enjoy the weird cut off picture of Hope in the background for now.