My Adventure with Sven

Michaela Bertram

Professor Tom Maltman

Freshman Composition

18 January 2017

Adventures with Sven

You may be wondering who Sven is let me tell you; Sven is my Great Dane puppy. He is almost five months old and growing at a rapid rate. Sven has never been out and about in public until the day I decided to take him to Pet Smart.

As we all know puppy’s go through stages just like children, the difference with dogs is they go through these stages at an astounding rate. The first few weeks they sleep, then we move onto the “terrible twos”, followed by defiant unruly teen years, then you finally catch a break as they mellow out into adult hood. Sven’s days of just sleeping are over! We are somewhere between the terrible twos and being unruly. Everything and I mean everything is a chew toy for him. This might seem cute but, when a dog is quickly gaining weight and height it can also be a little scary. After watching Sven destroy a new tennis ball is a matter of seconds I decided to take him to Pet Smart to pick out some new toys in hopes he would stop chewing me, my family, the carpet, and even his metal kennel.

Taking Sven out in public was a Learning adventure for us both. It started off by me having to pick him up and get him into my car. This was not an easy task; I have a big car with a heavy dog, you can imagine the struggle. Sven was doing great! We got all the way up to the door of Pet Smart before things started to go downhill. It first stated with the sliding doors scaring him. This was followed by the white shinny floors making him timid. After some pushing, pulling and a few treats we get in the doors. This was a great accomplishment for us both. Something you might want to know is I am not one who like to go shopping alone.  We are both kind of taking in our surroundings and taking a second to breath after the pushing battle to get in the door. At this point I am feeling good, I am ready to go find some toys for him. Sven is eager to sniff out this place and find some treats. After a little wondering we find aisle 17 the place with jumbo toys for jumbo dogs. As I browsing the toys Sven decides to lay down for what I thought was a quick rest. This quick rest quickly turns into a nightmare in the middle of aisle 17. Now, Sven is not moving, listening, or caring. He is in his own world just relaxing. I try talking to him, bribing him, pulling on his leash, NOTHING! I might as well try talking to a wall. I am feeling a little embarrassed, having a conversation with my dog begging him to get up. Twenty minutes into this nightmare of my dog not moving I decided to pick him up and haul him out of the store. As soon as we get outside past the sliding doors Sven decided he is now ready to walk. At this point I am too emotionally and physically tried to take him back in. I called it a night and we packed up and left without any toys.

Growing up with younger siblings and now working with kids I always knew the possibly of a meltdown in the middle of the store was a possibility. I can remember times my younger sibling would cry in a store and my mom would have to take them outside. As a nanny, I have had a few experiences myself. Unable to calm and wild, crying, or screaming child and just having to leave without completing the reason you were there. I never thought I would be going through this same issue with my dog.