CHALLENGED BY A PUPPY BY RACHEL WIBLE

Being from Pittsburgh, I was faced with the issue of being alone last summer. I decided to get a puppy. With the amount of energy he had I had to find a creative way to keep him entertained and tired, especially when classes started. I spent many hours on Pinterest and the internet for ideas about keeping dogs busy and training. I built a busy toy out of a water bottle, ribbon, and chairs. This toy failed miserably, so I then tried to adjust where the water bottle was punctured, the treats inside, etc. Each trial failed so I turned to other various toys. I tried freezing treats to try and tire him out. Each time a toy failed, I looked for a different one. If I hadn't gotten creative enough somedays and he wasn't tired enough he would find a way to destroy my comforter from his crate. Im am fueled to find a good solution to make sure he's a happy tired dog and to protect my things from getting ruined.

My dog is incredibly smart and he has challenged me to be more creative in ways I never thought were possible. Every dog is different, like humans, and a toy that works for some dogs doesn't work for others which is very true in my case. Taking care of a puppy is a commitment I was aware of, but I wasn't aware that it would make me a more creative person.