One puppy created a full bedtime ceremony involving one toy, one blanket, and a level of commitment usually reserved for royalty.
Every now and then a puppy develops a routine so specific you have to respect it.
This one liked to carry the same toy to bed every night. Not any toy. The toy. He would find it, drag it to his sleeping spot, circle once or twice, push the blanket into a shape that seemed meaningful only to him, and then collapse with the toy tucked under his chin like a treasured document.
At first we thought it was random. It was not random. It was a ritual. Skip a step and he looked personally inconvenienced. Restore the sequence and peace returned.
Routines help puppies settle, and sometimes puppies invent parts of those routines themselves. That is useful information. A little predictability can make rest come easier, especially during transitions.
It was adorable, yes. It was also a reminder that even very young puppies can find comfort in repetition.
This one liked to carry the same toy to bed every night. Not any toy. The toy. He would find it, drag it to his sleeping spot, circle once or twice, push the blanket into a shape that seemed meaningful only to him, and then collapse with the toy tucked under his chin like a treasured document.
At first we thought it was random. It was not random. It was a ritual. Skip a step and he looked personally inconvenienced. Restore the sequence and peace returned.
Routines help puppies settle, and sometimes puppies invent parts of those routines themselves. That is useful information. A little predictability can make rest come easier, especially during transitions.
It was adorable, yes. It was also a reminder that even very young puppies can find comfort in repetition.