Military Wife Resolves to Get a New Puppy for Each of Husband's Deployments

Have you ever made yourself a promise to get yourself a little treat every time a particular event occurs. I remember being fascinated by Chicks singer Natalie Maines’s resolution to get a little chicken foot tattooed on her every time she had a hit album—though apparently she stopped the practice once she became a huge star, lest she be forced to cover her body in ink. In my twenties, I once made a similar pact with myself, saying I’d get a new pair of boots with every big contract I landed at work. (Yeah, I eventually gave up on that one, too, which is actually a good thing?)

One hopes that the woman in this video does not have the same problem, given that the reason she came up with for getting a new puppy is to deal with her emotions every time her husband goes on military employment.

In this video, a military wife introduced her newest puppy, Millie Moo, that she got after her husband went out on deployment. She explains that she made a deal with herself to get a new dog every time he went away. “Millie has made us smile on some pretty hard days lately,” she writes in a caption over a video of the dappled, black and white Great Dane pup frolicking in the yard.

Related: Great Dane and Toddler Brother's Matching Halloween Costume Should Win an Award

Is a Great Dane Right For You?

Millie Moo is actually the second Great Dane in the household, joining older doggie sister Daphne. The two dogs also have a human toddler brother, and their mom recently announced that she’s expecting another baby. With the speed at which Dane puppies grow, it’s safe to say that this family will be much bigger by the time Dad gets home.

Obviously, this woman knows what she’s in for with a Great Dane, as she already has one, but it pays to research the breed before committing to such a large dog. Great Dane puppies are adorable, but adults can weigh up to one hundred and seventy five. They are one of the largest dog breeds in the world. With food requirements to match. Their personalities are playful and friendly, but you must train them carefully, especially with babies in their house, as their large size mean they can easily knock a child over, even without meaning to.

Though they are short-coated dogs, they are still quite big, and so every Dane has a great deal of fur. Like many other dogs their size, they are prone to drooling, and they may not live as long as smaller breeds.

Training a Puppy to Be Around Kids

Puppies, like toddlers, don’t know proper behaviors yet, and things that would be okay with the animal’s litter mates like playful nips or knocking each other down is absolutely not all right when it comes to human siblings. Therefore, it’s vital to teach a puppy early on what is appropriate behavior around human babies, toddlers, and kids. The best way to train a puppy to be respectful of kids is through positive reinforcement, rewarding the behavior you want to see in a dog while ignoring it or removing it from the scene whenever it acts up.

And kids need training around animals, too. Knowing when to stay calm, how to touch and play with a pet, how to keep a pet from chasing you, and how to be gentle are all important lessons for kids and toddlers to learn as well.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.