My First Days At My New House

by Kendra
(Wellington, New Zealand)

let's get off on the right foot to begin with - I'm a three month old golden retriever from a breeder about two hours away from my real home. my people came and picked me up in this small black thing they call a 'car' and it contained a little human boy who was 8, this 13 year old girl and a mum and a dad. i sat in the back on the 13 year old's lap the whole way home on some towels and blankets. i felt a bit queasy and threw up a little, but the girl just laughed and wiped my mouth with the corner of the towel. we made a little pit stop on the side of the road and i was able to pee and stretch my legs. then we got back in the car and drove home.

when we got home it was about lunch time. i was STARVING. and really thirsty from the long car trip. but first the girl took me out into the garden to go to the toilet again! of course i really needed to go, but these people didn't make me wait - they somehow KNEW when i needed to go! it was really weird, but in a good way. then they carried me upstairs to the kitchen and fed me there - some yummy dog food and lots of water. i ate it all so they gave me a tiny bit more. then they carried me back downstairs and let me explore. they all followed behind me, and when i tried to chew this long white snake, the girl said 'na-ah!' and took it away from me. i now know that if i'd chewed it, i would have gotten an electric shock! ouch!

finally, it was six o'clock. it was just past christmas, so it was summer and it was hot. my boy sat on the floor with me watching cartoons while my girl gave me a massage. it was pure bliss and i loved it.
then it was bed time. i was scared. they hadn't got me a crate like everyone said - they'd gotten me a plush bed with sheepskin rugs! much better than some crate! it sat out in the hallway between my girl and my boys rooms.

i couldn't sleep. my girl sat with me until i dozed off, but then i woke up needing to go potty. i started crying, and my girl came to see me. so did my mum. they talked and then decided to take me outside. well, my girl did. my mum stood there and watched from the inside.

then, once i had done my business, my girl took me back to bed, kissed my head and then walked away. there was a noise that sounded like a heart, and my bed was warm and cosy so i fell asleep quite quickly.

after a while, i woke up again. i didn't need to go potty, but i was scared. i got out of bed and walked around, whining and crying.

after a while, i sat down in the corridor (because all the doors were shut) and cried. my girl didn't come. after a while i got sleepy again. i stopped crying and lay down. my girl came out and picked me up and took me back to my bed. she patted me and walked away. hey - i got patted for being quiet! i didn't make another sound the whole night.

the next day, i woke up at five a.m. i really needed to potty. i started crying and my girl was up in a flash. she took me out into the garden and i peed and pooped the same place as last night. she gave me a treat when i pooped and lots of praise. i liked this ALOT.
then we went inside and she put me on the floor in the hall. she gave me a new toy that i'd never seen (because i'd never seen any of my toys at home before) and played with me until everyone else woke up. i was having so much fun but was hungry. everyone else went up stairs and my girl carried me. then i had to watch them eat.
after they'd eaten, my girl put out my bowl of food. i tried to run to it, but she didn't let me. the boy held my collar so i couldn't go. then the girl showed me a treat. she held it up above my head and said 'sit'. i sat down because i needed to keep my eyes on the prize. she gave me the treat as soon as i sat down and they both showered me in praise. hmmm...this was interesting! then they let me have my breakfast and a drink of water, before my girl took me to my spot outside. it was clean somehow, but it still smelled like my spot. i went toilet and i got ANOTHER treat and lots of praise. then we went back inside and had a play for half an hour with my dad and my boy with a ball.
i was getting really tired then, so my girl put me on my bed and said 'go to bed' when i went there. she laid me down by pulling out my front paws when i was sitting and then patted me until i went to sleep.
i had a nice nap and then had another meal, having to sit before i was allowed to eat. then i had a poop and a long hour for a play with my mum and my girl. then i lay on the floor with my girl to watch TV. i had a nap while they were watching TV, and then i did it all over again.

my first days were the best of my life. i love my family, they really are the best.

- jasper, 3 month old golden retriever puppy, wellington, new zealand