I want to take you on a puppy play date.
I’ll wake you as I do every morning, by letting you out of your kennel. The key sliding into the lock, and the metallic click of the shackle releasing have become your new alarm clock. One that used to wake you with fright, but now signals a peaceful start to your day. You crawl out, stretching in the way only a puppy can before we handle our morning chores.
Breakfast is the typical fair, served to you from a bowl on the ground. As usual, it takes only a little begging before I end up hand feeding you bites of mine. I’ll take extra time with your grooming after, making sure to scrub every spot before brushing your coat until it shines.
Some worry in you is sure to stir when you see me start to pack your toys. You paw at me concerned, and I tease you it’s nothing for a puppy to worry about. The car ride is just as unsettling. We aren’t going the usual way to the park. Worse, this isn’t even the direction to the vet. You’re being brought somewhere unknown.
Your nervousness is sure to spike when I finally stop in front of a house you’ve never seen before. You’ll whimper, certainly. Maybe you’ll even start scratching at my seat where I’ve harnessed you in the back. Still, you know better than to protest when I clip the leash to your collar. Maybe the sight of your toys in my other hand will relax you? At least we’re going somewhere those are necessary.
Imagine your surprise when I greet the owner of the house with warm fondness. A hug, kisses on the cheek. We’re welcomed inside where she regards you with just as much kindness.
“Oh so this is your new girl?”
“Look how well you’ve brought her up.”
“Does she know the basics? Paw! Oh look, good girl!”
You relax around this new person. In her home, next to me, you perform at your best behavior, any nervousness lost behind the safety your training offers. You know paw, you know sit, you can steady and do all your little tricks while the people gossip. You largely tune out as I leave you to play with one of your quieter toys. That is, until you hear something your little brain can’t ignore.
“You’re right, I think they’d get along wonderfully. Why don’t I go let her out? She’d love to stretch her legs and greet all our new guests.” You don’t have to wait long before you hear the rushing pace of something approaching. Suddenly you’re nose to nose with another girl remarkably like you. Stuck on all fours, panting with excitement, a pretty collar around her neck with her name and her owner’s information.
For a few moments nothing happens. Both of you are too stunned to do much of anything but stare at one another. Eventually however something breaks the tension and you two are left to sniff each other. Hesitant circling becomes more forward inspection, becomes small little kisses and touches that communicate more than words ever could.
You notice the host and I have returned to our gossip and tea and left you both to play in our presence. The only decorum you’re expected to follow is that you don’t play so rough with your new friend that it upsets any furniture.
The dog across from you is much like you. There was a person there, once, but there’s an emptiness in her eyes you know your own mirror. The play starts hesitantly, each of you still following the dance of strange dogs until they know the other isn’t going to be a problem. You show you aren’t a threat, you aren’t going to be hostile in her den. You pick one of your favorite toys and play with it in front of her. Slowly mouthing at the edges, playfully picking at the tag with your teeth. Without any sudden movements, you drop the toy and give your best bowing stretch.
She answers in kind. Her eyes were curious more than frightened, some hesitancy in her behavior. She takes in your scent as you play, watching how you move and seeing how you keep looking up in invitation. After a few moments of receiving your bow, she answers with a play sneeze before grabbing the toy in her jaws and rushing off with it.
The play now begins in earnest. Playfully pawing at each other as you try to take the toy from the other. Fake bites and air chomps are paired with loud growling and empty posturing. Custody of the toy is traded back and forth in the tussle, soon becoming damp after so long in your jaws.
You aren’t expected to keep up with the conversation of people. You don’t have to watch the exchange of body language and guess how best to answer with your own. There’s no fear about minding your expressions, or of having something interesting to say.
The afternoon passes this way as you get to know your new friend. Your toys and hers are scattered about the house, by now forgotten as you switch to more physical play. Wrestling and nipping at each other with no real intent but to wallow. Occasionally one of you will bite too hard, or throw too much of your body weight into a tackle, and the other will answer with a surprised yelp. Those moments are quickly resolved and the hurt quickly dismissed by a play sneeze, or offering of a vulnerable belly. Just as quickly, the slight is forgotten and you return to your play, this time a little more careful.
Exhausted, you’ll curl up with your new friend after hours of wallowing each other, and sleep nestled in the safety of your new pack.
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