An Open Letter From Your Imprinting TraineR

Tonight was a hard night... Maybe it is because this is the first time in over 2 years that I have said goodbye to an imprinting puppy without rushing home to a few other puppies depending on me to teach them how to succeed in this crazy human world that is so full of daunting expectations that even the smartest child struggles to meet.  Maybe it's because I know it's harder on you because you can't understand that your family made the difficult decision to have me take care of you during a critical socialization period, fully entrusting me to give you the best possible start to life, and that it is now their turn to take the leash, so to speak, and do everything they can to continue your training and earn the same level of trust with you that we spent countless hours building over the last 4 weeks.  Knowing that you waited by the door for me to come back after I left breaks my heart, and I can only hope that you don't think I could have possibly just walked away and forgotten you.

While experience tells me that you will get through this and that you'll be starting your life with the best doggy social skills and a much easier time learning how to communicate with your family with respect to going outside to potty, walking on a leash and responding to basic cues, I can't help but worry about how stressful the next few days will be for you.  I can only hope that a) you can quickly learn to trust each member of your family and fall in love with them as much as they have been falling in love with you through the updates, pictures and videos they have been receiving over the past 4 weeks; and b) that I have prepared your family well enough through reading material, videos, hands-on training, and can offer enough support to help make this transition as smooth as possible.  If I could tell you anything it would be that you are so loved and that all of us want more than anything for you to be a happy, confident, well-adjusted puppy.

And now it is my turn to anxiously await updates.  While I know there will be bumps in the road as you grow up, I hope and pray that it won't be long before you have bonded strongly with everyone in your family and they are taking you on many new adventures to exciting places and that you have made many new friends (2 and 4-legged) who will love you as much as my family has in the short time we got to know you.

You will be missed and forever a part of my heart,
Your Imprinting Trainer