Four Chocolate Puppies Lined Up on the Porch Steps Like a Little Welcome Committee
Four chocolate puppies sit in a neat row on the porch steps, each one a small, curly cocoa-colored cutout against the pale concrete. They look in slightly different directions, ears hanging and paws tidy, like children lined up for a class photo. Above them, an old watering can, a hose, and a pair of sandals sit on the next step, and a few leaves rest on the stone.
Steps can be tricky for tiny puppies. They may stumble, miss a stair, or tumble, so a gate or a watchful adult makes a big difference. Many vets suggest limiting stairs for very young puppies, because their joints and muscles are still developing. Carry your pup up and down until she is bigger, and ask your vet when she is ready.
Havanese puppies are friendly and social, and many enjoy sitting on the porch to watch the world go by. Porches can also be a great place to practice greeting visitors politely. Reward calm sitting with praise, and discourage jumping up. A pup who learns manners early becomes a delight for neighbors and friends.
The four are lined up as neatly as if they had planned it, and none seems willing to be the first to move. They wait for whoever is coming, ready to be admired, and they look ready to welcome the whole street.
