Interpreting that Canine Behavior

I reiterate the fact that, I still find it interesting when people say that we pawrents are not parents. Again, we may not have carried these fur babies in our womb, nor are we the same species; however, we pawrents do share a lot of the same experiences that parents do. One of those being learning how to interpret our little one's behaviors!

As a past pawrent, my husband has had enough experience with canine's to where the ability to interpret their behavior comes naturally to him. For me, as a new time pawrent and first-time dog mom, this has been a completely different and interesting process. It has been with the help of my husband, Google, certified Dog Trainers on YouTube, and social media that I have been slowly learning what Thena is trying to tell me throughout the day.

With her particular behaviors, Athena certainly has started teaching me the art of patience, which, side note here, has never been one the "fortes" of my personality so to speak. For example, the main behavior that I have delt with since she came home was her biting/nipping.... mind you, this is with me knowing that this is a natural behavior for a puppy. As she has grown, I have had to learn to not get frustrated with her but, instead, try to analyze what she is trying to tell me when that behavior is shown. Not only have I had to learn to analyze her at that exact moment, but, I have also had to learn how that same behavior of biting/nipping has changed throughout these past 6 months. I had to learn, for example, that her biting/nipping at 8 weeks was due to her teething process. It was then that I had to make sure she had all the tools she needed to go through this uncomfortable process as smoothly as possible. Now, at 8 months, I've learned that her same nipping/biting tendencies are no longer due to her teething, but instead, it's a way for her to grab my attention. It's her way of letting me know she brought me a toy or that I've been away too long, and she wants me to focus on her.

Now, why explain this part of my journey or this part of my learning process... because that is what being a first time pawrent entails. Just like a parent, it entails understanding this new little life that is now under our care and protection. It is learning that these little creatures have needs and wants to and, as their pawrent, it is up to us to help fulfill them. Its learning that, like babies, these little ones too have their own little personalities that start flourishing at a young age. I have to say here; however, that I have not been perfect... far from it! Even with behaviors that I have learned to interpret like biting/nipping, I too have made the mistake that many new, and even veteraned pawrents make, and have lost my cool with her. This usually happens when I am having one of my difficult moments mentally due to the fact that, as I explained before, anxiety and panic make it very difficult for me to think straight or to focus on who or what is around me. It has been in those moments where I have had to stop myself when I start getting frustrated with her or start scolding her for biting me. I have had to remind myself that I have already learned she is not biting me to hurt me or to get me more irritated than I already am but, instead, she is fighting for my attention. She's letting me know, in her own unique fur baby way, that she needs me.

Other basic behaviors that I have had to learn about Thena have been, for example, her signals when she needs to be taken out for a restroom break. For her, this usually entails her sitting at the top of our stairs and staring into the bedroom until one of notices or her stopping whatever she is doing and standing by the front door. The cutest behaviors I've had to learn with, and that have been a true delight to learn, have been her signals when she needs cuddles or when she gets cold. In those moments, it melts my heart to see how she'll come by either side of the bed, hop on and roll up into a donut shape right next to my husband or I to steal our body heat and our snuggles. If the air conditioning is on or it's a cold day, I understand she is cold and she needs my body heat or her blanket. If the air conditioning is off or it's a warm day, this signals to me that she just wants to feel comforted by one of us during her nap. If I haven't walked her or played with her, her lying next to us signals boredom. Yes, I've learned all this in 6 months LOL! Imagine how much more I have to learn!

These are just a few examples of the many behaviors that us first-time pawrents have to learn to interpret. It's a natural learning process with each new pet and it's a process that goes with learning about your particular breed and your particular fur baby's personality. I'm still on that journey and am still learning about Athena each and every day. It's a process that I have enjoyed and that I can be proud of. It warms my heart when I see how our bond has grown so much over these few months that now I can tell what she is trying to communicate with me in various instances.

For all my new pawrents out there, we might not understand what our furry ones are trying to tell us at the beginning but, believe me, in no time you will begin to learn their particular language. It's a language that comes from the heart and the bond that you create with them and not from words and that you will be proud of once you master it. Until that time, if you do make mistakes like I have, make sure to give yourself grace. You're learning about your furry one as much as your furry one is learning about you. I've learned this through experience myself and have learned to understand that each mistake is a way of learning as well. One mistake teaches you not to make it again the next time that same behavior is displayed. The process of learning our fur baby's language is not easy but, it is definitely worth it! They are worth it! Remember, what matters is that we love them, and we want the best for them. They don't expect perfection from us, they just want to be safe and loved and that... comes naturally! Their language may not come that naturally to us, but, fortunately for us, these little one's love us so unconditionally that they are patient during our learning process.