This post is written by Sanne Rath Madsen, who is currently studying to become a veterinarian at the University of Copenhagen.
After our move last year, we acquired our new family member, the German Shepherd, Asco. He is now 15 months old and the most wonderful, hardworking creature you could imagine. He has taught me an incredible number of things already, and has tested my patience countless times, as such a young dog does.
What on earth have I done?
A raw, honest story about the first days as a new puppy parent. Because when is the right time to get a puppy? It can be hard to answer. I did it against all odds, as a new resident in a small townhouse and with one of the toughest studies ahead.
I am generally very well-considered. I think I had thought through all the scenarios for the big day. The day I was supposed to pick up my new best friend. The most beautiful little German Shepherd puppy of 8 weeks with curious eyes and ears that couldn't quite decide which way the wind was blowing.
But what unfolded in the front seat of our little Peugeot 107 was not at all what I had imagined.
The little furball in my lap was writhing and crying so heartily that a 20-minute drive suddenly felt infinitely long.
I think many new puppy owners can relate to the above scenario. I've never had a dog before, and despite what I thought, I wasn't prepared at all. It almost hurts to admit it today.
A tough start
When my boyfriend and I uprooted our roots and moved the long way from Jutland to Zealand, I had already decided that now was the time. However, the support was not great, and looking back, I can't blame my family for their concern. After all, it was a big responsibility to take on, on top of the long move, starting veterinary school and only having 66 square meters and a stamp for a future dog to "play" on. But I had decided that my dream had to be fulfilled, and it could only go too slowly.
In addition, it wasn't exactly the smallest or least demanding breed to acquire, but the German Shepherd had always been the dog we wanted, so when August 1, 2021 rolled around, we drove off to pick up our new family member.
I think I already started to doubt myself when we parked in front of the little yellow townhouse in Høje Taastrup, with a crying puppy in our arms.
What on earth had I done? This little creature was suddenly my responsibility, and I genuinely feared whether I could give him everything he needed. After all, I had never trained a dog before, and with a puppy that would grow to be well over 40 kg, the responsibility is huge.
But I was determined to prove myself and those who looked askance at my choice. I spent the first 14 days on the couch and began all the training: house training alone, toilet training and basic obedience. It was undoubtedly hard work. I often felt like the dog didn't care about me at all. He was much more interested in my girlfriend at first, and I often had to bite my lip to keep from crying in frustration. Not to mention the endless urge to bite EVERYTHING. From ankles to door frames. I still have the scars as a permanent souvenir.
Luckily, we started puppy training, and in conversations with other new dog owners, I found out that all my problems weren't that unusual after all. Some of them could even be described as trivial. It was heartbreaking.
Through hard work and patience, we finally found each other. And today I would never be without him. It has even gone so wrong that I have been bitten by the training in the German Shepherd Club and the bond it has created between us.
Therefore, it pays to not give up, even though it has truly been a journey. Not one I would recommend to everyone, but it has undoubtedly been worth it.
New puppy parents
This post is written by Sanne Rath Madsen, who is currently studying to become a veterinarian at the University of Copenhagen.
After our move last year, we acquired our new family member, the German Shepherd, Asco. He is now 15 months old and the most wonderful, hardworking creature you could imagine. He has taught me an incredible number of things already, and has tested my patience countless times, as such a young dog does.
What on earth have I done?
A raw, honest story about the first days as a new puppy parent. Because when is the right time to get a puppy? It can be hard to answer. I did it against all odds, as a new resident in a small townhouse and with one of the toughest studies ahead.
I am generally very well-considered. I think I had thought through all the scenarios for the big day. The day I was supposed to pick up my new best friend. The most beautiful little German Shepherd puppy of 8 weeks with curious eyes and ears that couldn't quite decide which way the wind was blowing.
But what unfolded in the front seat of our little Peugeot 107 was not at all what I had imagined.
The little furball in my lap was writhing and crying so heartily that a 20-minute drive suddenly felt infinitely long.
I think many new puppy owners can relate to the above scenario. I've never had a dog before, and despite what I thought, I wasn't prepared at all. It almost hurts to admit it today.
A tough start
When my boyfriend and I uprooted our roots and moved the long way from Jutland to Zealand, I had already decided that now was the time. However, the support was not great, and looking back, I can't blame my family for their concern. After all, it was a big responsibility to take on, on top of the long move, starting veterinary school and only having 66 square meters and a stamp for a future dog to "play" on. But I had decided that my dream had to be fulfilled, and it could only go too slowly.
In addition, it wasn't exactly the smallest or least demanding breed to acquire, but the German Shepherd had always been the dog we wanted, so when August 1, 2021 rolled around, we drove off to pick up our new family member.
I think I already started to doubt myself when we parked in front of the little yellow townhouse in Høje Taastrup, with a crying puppy in our arms.
What on earth had I done? This little creature was suddenly my responsibility, and I genuinely feared whether I could give him everything he needed. After all, I had never trained a dog before, and with a puppy that would grow to be well over 40 kg, the responsibility is huge.
But I was determined to prove myself and those who looked askance at my choice. I spent the first 14 days on the couch and began all the training: house training alone, toilet training and basic obedience. It was undoubtedly hard work. I often felt like the dog didn't care about me at all. He was much more interested in my girlfriend at first, and I often had to bite my lip to keep from crying in frustration. Not to mention the endless urge to bite EVERYTHING. From ankles to door frames. I still have the scars as a permanent souvenir.
Luckily, we started puppy training, and in conversations with other new dog owners, I found out that all my problems weren't that unusual after all. Some of them could even be described as trivial. It was heartbreaking.
Through hard work and patience, we finally found each other. And today I would never be without him. It has even gone so wrong that I have been bitten by the training in the German Shepherd Club and the bond it has created between us.
Therefore, it pays to not give up, even though it has truly been a journey. Not one I would recommend to everyone, but it has undoubtedly been worth it.