OUR PUPPY LOVE

I adopted my first puppy 16 days ago. Having never experienced the blessings of motherhood, I’m not accustomed to marking weekly and monthly growth, but I’ve become quickly attuned to these critical milestones over the past two weeks. Whenever I am bemused, arms full of squirmy pup, I call out to my Google Assistant for help. “Hey Google, how much should a mini goldendoodle sleep? Is it OK to eat dirt? When will her puppy breath go away? How soon may I teach her to stay?”

I am uncertain if I am training this puppy or if Fern is training me. Our middle-of-the-night potty breaks, her strict meal schedule, and her deep desire to sniff every nook and cranny of my house are brand-new experiences for me. I love it all, and I am absolutely exhausted. 

Fern entered my life because of The Leelanau School. I’ve learned firsthand how central the dogs are to our mission. Our campus dogs are a connection to and for our students. They offer a taste of home, companionship, comfort, a good laugh, exercise, and belonging. We celebrate their antics and mourn their passing. We dress them up for Halloween and Spirit Week and post their faces on social media. They are at the heart of our community. They help us feel like a family.

We will welcome new and returning students to campus in the next two weeks. They, too, will be anxious and may explore all the boundaries at Leelanau. They will eat food they have never tried on a frequent but firm schedule. They will squirm in our presence and love on us when they finally understand we are here to respect and protect them. Our students will need us, and we are eager to provide. Every day, they’ll learn something new, unlearn something important, and need gentle coaxing to get back on track. They will form a pack of loyal friends and adults who will tend to their happiness at a vulnerable juncture in their lives. 

Taking on this human and canine responsibility is exhausting for all of us - and entirely rewarding. We can do hard things knowing that the journey and outcome are worth our efforts. We’ll cherish the rare, easy moments and keep up with the daily, weekly, and monthly milestones. We will learn and grow together—some with wetter noses than others.