Soule: Just Another Annoying Dog Owner?

Has it happened to me? Have I become an annoying dog owner, imposing my can-do-no-wrong fluppy (fluffy-puppy) on reluctant hosts?
Fully vaccinated and out of quarantine, husband Bruce and I decided on a trip to New Jersey to celebrate our immunizations. Our destination? Frenchtown, home of a high school friend, and my column editor, Rick Epstein, and wife Betsy, also vaccinated.

Flora is Not Welcome
Of course, we would bring Flora. She is a small, lively, and adorable 5-month-old mixed breed pup. She and I are focusing hard on the three B's – begging, barking, and biting – and I didn't want to interrupt the training. But when I asked permission to bring her, there was silence on the phone. Then Rick said, "Please don't. If experience is any guide, your dog's needs and behavior will dominate the visit, and we're not interested in that."
I replied, "She's well-behaved and will stay in her crate most of the time."
After some light badgering, he said, "OK."

What Have I Done?
Husband Bruce and I arrived at Rick's house at dinner time. Flora found a shoe near the front door and ran with it from room to room. With some effort I got her settled in her crate in the dining room, and she immediately started whining. My words, "But she never behaves like this," brought a knowing nod from Rick, who said, "Right. The dog is perfect at home." I wanted to crawl under the table and hide. How could I make this right?

What Can I Do?
In two months of owning Flora, I have learned that a sleeping puppy is a quiet puppy. Short of drugging her, how could I get this energetic pup to snooze?

Read More

Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm, in Loudon, N.H., where she raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs and other local products.