The Shoemaker Bugle

A Female Shih Tzu named Oreo McFlurry Martinez

by Mia Martinez

Would you own a puppy right now if you were able to?

For weeks, I had been wondering what to name my new puppy. She would be arriving in 7 weeks! I needed a name. It took me a while to figure out the perfect one. While my cousin, who is also getting a puppy, and I were texting, she gave me the idea of Oreo McFlurry. Instantly,  I thought YES! My puppy’s black and white fur and the name Oreo fit perfectly.

The puppy was born January 3rd,  so I have to wait a total of 8 weeks to bring my new friend home. In the meantime I will be creating a little corner for her in my room with a crate, bed, blankets, pads, and toys.

Necessities

This puppy will be the 2nd dog I have owned. But I haven’t had a dog in a couple of years. So I am going off of my memory of what I remember from having a dog in the past. I recall some of the basic necessities they needed on a day to day basis. 

She will need pads, training treats, food, a crate, a bed, blankets, and toys, And Items for her hygiene care such as a brush, shampoo, conditioner, etc. From YouTube videos I watched about the same breed of a dog is that some leashes and collars are better than others and now I know which ones are better.

It was important to research this breed to learn how big she’d get. The reason it was important is because I needed to know what size bed and crate to get her, so I wouldn’t need to continue buying new beds and crates as she grows.

Why get a puppy right now?

Since COVID-19, everyone is at home–well–everyone should be staying at home–so instead of being bored, doing nothing, and especially instead of being by yourself you could have a little buddy to lighten up your day!

The dog could bring pleasure into your day. Since there is a lot of negativity in the world right now, having a puppy might bring you joy and help you emotionally and physically. Even though taking care of a puppy is a lot of work, the benefits are worth it. 

Dogs can reduce stress and anxiety, and they can ease loneliness and depression. For these reasons, dogs are great companions for older adults too. 

Dogs can help you be more physical because they need to go on walks, and they enjoy activity. You can chase them around the house or the yard and play catch or fetch with them. All of this gets your heart beating faster in a good way. Something many of us really need these days. 

So since we are in quarantine, and since we really don’t know how much longer this pandemic will last, we should all make the most out of being at home. 

For me, the answer was simple: I got a puppy!