The routine is the same for each visit. I usher the parents back to the scale for a weight check, they hold their squirming puppy on the scale and then they giggle as they watch their Fuzzy Wonder navigate into the exam room. As soon as I hear the click of that door behind us, I exhale. I know what's coming - the Questions. I have been asked questions about nutrition, potty-training, crate-training, chewing, teething, baldness, bodily excretions, itching, ears, nail-trimming, wet vs dry noses... The list goes on and on.
I've been a vet tech (although I prefer "vet nurse" as it more accurately describes what we do) for almost 7 years, and I've heard ALOT of questions. Some are more surprising than others, some I've had to research the answer for, but I love each and every question. The more questions, the more involved the parents seem as they welcome home their new puppy. I love those parents that have done the research long before adopting or buying that special puppy the most. They can tell me all about training, and their puppy's breed disposition, but are wanting to confirm what they've learned. They're invested in doing the right thing behaviorally, medically, and emotionally. And they want to truly partner with their vet team to do what's best.
The parents that scare me the most are those that have no questions and are very quiet throughout the exam. I'm always wondering if they're really ready for the onslaught that this little Bundle of Joy is about to unleash on them. I know I wasn't prepared when I brought home my first puppy. In retrospect, I wish I had kept my veterinary tech and vet in that exam room for at least another 45 minutes!
The ones that really terrify me are the ones that seem truly disinterested in their puppy. The man who seems irritated to be there, whose wife bought the kids a dog of a breed he would never want. These are the puppies I want to spirit out the back door into the arms of the nearest stranger because they might get a better chance at life. In these cases, I find myself praising the puppy endlessly, and trying in the short visit to teach a few basic commands like "sit" and "down". Maybe if he sees me do it, he'll find some merit in the pup. Maybe.
The majority of the puppies that come through our doors are lucky. There will be insurance provided for them, daily cookies and walkies, and trips to the dog park. Life will be good. The hope in the eyes of each parent and puppy's eyes is palpable. It's the promise of new life brought into our homes in the season of blossoms and green grass. Fertility, infancy, renewal.
For those lucky parents that are opening their doors to new puppies for the first time, and to all the hope they bring, I salute you! The world of dogs is a magical, joyful, slobber-filled Oz. So for now on, when I close that door to the exam room, I think I'll just turn to the new parents and say,
"Welcome to Oz. We have cookies!"
