The Washington times., 1935-04-06
NOW
Joys of Cunning
Il NeW Puppy
NO CODDLING?
BY HELEN ESSARY

1OuSeQOlQ has d new QOS. "A
7.week-old police puppy named
Tony. That is, we think his
name is going to be Tony. But
we aren't sure. We haven't the
strength to decide this morn
ing.
Last night was the puppy's
first night away from his
mother, Duchess, and his nine
little brothers and sisters who
live in the next block. Some of
us suffered intensely because
Tony had been torn from his
family. One of us didn't sleep
NOT all night long.
Before we went to bed last
night, we read the chapter in
the new dog book on Reception
in the Home" The veterinarian
who wrote the book said there
Is no greater unkindness to a
dog than "coddling." A dog is
a dog. He must be treated as
such.
He must sleep in a dog house
or in some place remote from
the family from the first night
he comes into his new home. If
the puppy cries, be not dis
turbed. A crying puppy is but
an experience in dog ownership.
BY lis this morning we were
frantic from trying not to be
disturbed. Tony had begun to
cry at 9 o'clock. His cry was
the howl of his wolf ancestors.
At. 1855 we knocked the dog
book from the bedside table.
Tottered, shivering, down to the
back porch where the puppy was
shut in with a last summers
pillow. And opened the door of
his dungeon.
The bowling stopped instantly.
Out came Tony, blinking and
wagging his tail. We had meant
to smack him well, but he looked
lost and pitiful. So, quickly, be.
fore we remembered the advice
of the dog book, We grabbed
Tony, hurried upstairs and
plunked him down on the foot
Of the bed.
Tony did not drop off to sleep
after so many restless hours.
He set to chewing our best rose
satin comforter. After about
half an hour of this, we put him
in the bathroom. He didn't like
the bathroom. And Wiped and
yirruped.
We brought him back to the
bed. He began again on the
comforter. We took him down
to the back porch. He resumed
the wolf note. So we brought
him back up to the bed, where
at least he did not howl.
The rest of the night we
spent disentangling Tony from
the comforter, putting him
down on the floor, and taking
him up again as he seemed
to wish.
The attitude of the rest Of
the family during these hours
we shall not go into. We'd
rather not.
At z O'Clock this morning,
an alarm clock, set by the
owner of the dog (she had
slept during the entire night)
went off-notic ably. Our
youngest child sprang forward.
She said she had decided she
was going to take her dog out
early every morning for a walk
and to give him to her. We re-
moved bits of eiderdown and
rose satin from Tony's whiskers
and handed him over gladly.
Our youngest child took
Tony down to the garden (be-
fore she combed her hair or
brushed her teeth. But she
got involved in the comic sheet
of the morning paper and forgot
to keep a firm eye on Tony.
Tony disappeared.
Then followed a great COM
motion. Maids, children, milk"
men, tearing around the neigh.
borhood looking for the lost
puppy. At five minutes be-
fore school time, Tony was
discovered with his mother, and
his nine brothers and sisters.
He was brought home. given
some breakfast, and put out
side on the back porch. While
we were eating a breakfast
grown cold, the doorbell rang.
It was a neighbor.
She was awfully sorry to
complain, but she really was
quite nervous. And last night
was Just too much. Could we
keep the dog quiet? Tony'S
best wolfish notes were COM
ing through the house. But
we answered brightly: Yes, in
deed, we'd be glad to keep him
quiet.
Breakfast over, as we began
to read the morning paper, we
heard a barking and whining
that sounded like an entire dog
pound was coming upon us
We rushed to the door. Tum'
bling down the back terrace
were Tony, nine brothers and
sisters, coming to call.
In a few minutes, Duchess
came anxiously looking for her
children. She nudged an
barked and cuffed, and finally
got them all across the street
We helped. It took an hour.