Tantrum

On Tuesday I went home for the day for the first time since coming to camp in early May. I needed to work on some things in my office and run some errands, plus, one of my favorite authors was in town reading from her new book, so it was the perfect time. I brought puppy home with me because, well, we're never apart and I wouldn't expect her to spend the night at camp without me.

Puppy doesn't transition well (which I already knew, but was hoping wouldn't apply since we were going home). She spent most of the evening having a tantrum, which, if you aren't familiar with puppy tantrums, they are very similar to toddler tantrums. First she sort of whines/yelps/barks continuously, followed by her throwing herself on the floor dramatically. That is usually followed by her biting (usually me) in the feet. On Tuesday night, when none of that worked, she waited until I was looking at her, made eye contact and then peed on my floor. She was potty trained very young and has never had much of a problem with going outside, so when she goes inside, it is usually on purpose.

When we got back to camp yesterday, she had a similar tantrum, except that instead of peeing, she pulled the cushion off the couch and chewed on it. I didn't notice until I heard a very loud "RIIIIIIPPPPP" sound. I grabbed the cushion from her yelling, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Followed, in my meanest voice, "you are a VERY bad puppy! You are going to go live at the pound and you will have to sleep in a cage and no one will share their goldfish crackers and ice cream sandwiches with you and you will wish you had been nicer when you had someone who loved you!" Puppies don't understand full sentences, but the look on her face made me wonder. She had the saddest puppy dog eyes and her little head was down miserably and she looked remorseful.

A little while later, when I said, "let's go outside" she didn't look up. When I walked over to the couch and sat by her, she actually turned her head away from me. I picked her up and made her go outside, but she refused to look at me. She came inside and walked down the hall to my bedroom, not looking at me and got into bed without looking at me. I turned off the light, got in bed and laid my head down on my pillow. When Livi was a tiny puppy, she slept draped across my neck for the first 2 months I had her. But as she has gotten bigger and it's gotten warmer, she has gradually adjusted her sleeping position. Usually she sleeps with her butt and back legs pressed against my stomach. So I was surprised when she snuggled up next to me and wedged her entire head under mine, so that the left side of my face, that should have been against the pillow, was against puppy's forehead instead. She sighed deeply and fell asleep. Tantrum over.