Ok, so I might not be the most consistent or particularly good parent but I always prided myself on my well-behaved hounds. I watched other people with their puppies and adult dogs acting up and internally tssked and congratulated myself on my amazingly obedient doggos. I conveniently pushed aside the fact that Greyhounds generally are calmer and more laidback and usually not a very challenging breed. My family and I have rescued and raised a few Greyhounds from just a few weeks old and I never understood all the cries of how exhausting and destructive puppies can be. My judgy pants were pretty high-waisted.
A few months ago, I agreed to take in another 11-week-old Greyhound puppy. The rescue organisation casually mentioned that this one was a ‘very lively one’ and a little bit mischievous. This got to be the understatement of the century! Basically, they handed us Satan’s Little Helper! She’s already worked out how to push chairs close to where she wants to climb up and steal stuff I placed out of reach. I am missing a great part of my underwear and socks. I only need to turn a nanosecond and my shoes are gone. That brain of hers is ticking non-stop, constantly plotting more mischief. But worse, she’s managed to egg on and encourage my adult greyhounds to join in and now they’ve all turned into wayward born-again teenage rebels. I keep waking up to a mad kiss chase throughout the entire house, led by the demon pupster, often right across the bed with me still in it. They all seem to goad each other to steal anything that isn’t nailed down and started to work as a team with one distracting us, while the others will pinch food. DH and DC find it hysterical. I try not to laugh myself, as it often is quite funny but it undermines any attempt of discipline. The place has turned into a madhouse. Earlier today, I’d dressed them all in their macs, as they aren’t keen on the rain. I got soaked and they mooched about and wanted to get back home pretty sharpish. Then I dried them all off on our return. Moments later, as I had the back door open for a split second, they had all jumped into the pond and were splashing around and then 'investigated' our compost heap and did some gardening. I shouted at them that Battersea Dog's Home wasn’t all that far but they did not take me seriously. Now they all want to sit on top of me. I will never be that smug again! 