animals. She had always dreamed of having a dog, and one day, her parents surprised her with the most adorable golden puppy she had ever seen. She named her Poppy because the little dog’s golden fur reminded her of a field of poppy flowers swaying in the sun.
Bibi was overjoyed and immediately promised to take care of Poppy. She read books about dog care, watched videos, and even made a checklist of all the things Poppy would need. But there was one little problem—Dad. While Bibi’s mom had grown up with pets, her dad had never had a dog before. He wasn’t exactly sure how to take care of one.
At first, Dad thought taking care of Poppy would be easy. “It’s just a dog,” he said. “How hard can it be?” But Bibi knew better. She had seen how much responsibility came with having a puppy, and she was determined to teach Dad everything he needed to know.
Lesson 1: Feeding Poppy Properly
One morning, Dad poured a giant bowl of food for Poppy. “There you go, girl! Eat up!” he said proudly.
Bibi gasped. “Dad! That’s way too much food! Poppy will get a tummy ache.”
Dad scratched his head. “Really? She looks hungry.”
Bibi shook her head and took out a measuring cup. “Dogs need the right portion of food. You have to follow the instructions on the bag, or better yet, ask the vet. Overfeeding her can make her sick.”
Dad smiled sheepishly. “Okay, okay. Show me how it’s done.”
From that day on, Dad let Bibi measure Poppy’s food, and he made sure to stick to the right schedule.
Lesson 2: Walks Are Not Just for Fun
One rainy afternoon, Poppy started running around the house, barking and wagging her tail like crazy.
“Poppy! What’s gotten into you?” Dad asked.
Bibi giggled. “She needs a walk, Dad.”
“But it’s raining,” Dad said, looking out the window. “Can’t she wait?”
Bibi shook her head. “Nope! Dogs need exercise every day, no matter the weather. Plus, she needs to go potty. If you don’t take her out, she might have an accident inside.”
Dad sighed but put on his raincoat. Together, he and Bibi took Poppy outside. Sure enough, the little dog wagged her tail happily and did her business like a good girl.
When they got back, Dad chuckled. “Okay, okay. I get it now. Walks are important.”
Lesson 3: Bath Time Can Be an Adventure
One day, Poppy ran into the house covered in mud after playing in the backyard. She shook herself, sending little specks of dirt flying everywhere.
“Ah! Poppy!” Dad shouted, stepping back.
Bibi laughed. “Looks like it’s bath time.”
Dad wasn’t sure about this. “Dogs take baths? Do they even like water?”
Bibi grinned. “Some do, some don’t. But they need to be cleaned, just like us.”
With a lot of patience (and a lot of splashing), Bibi and Dad managed to wash Poppy. The little dog tried to shake off the water, soaking them both in the process. When they were done, Dad was dripping wet, but he couldn’t stop laughing.
“Okay, Bibi,” he said, towel-drying Poppy. “You win this one. Bath time is an adventure.”
Lesson 4: Training Takes Time
One evening, Dad sat down to watch TV with a plate of cookies. Poppy jumped onto the couch and tried to grab one!
“Hey!” Dad said. “No stealing food!”
Bibi giggled. “You have to train her, Dad. She doesn’t know that stealing food is bad unless we teach her.”
Dad raised an eyebrow. “How do we do that?”
Bibi grabbed a few dog treats and called Poppy over. “We use positive reinforcement. Watch!” She held a treat in her hand and said, “Sit.”
Poppy looked at the treat, wagged her tail, and plopped down.
“Good girl, Poppy!” Bibi cheered, giving her the treat.
Dad was impressed. “Hey, let me try!” He took a treat and said, “Stay.”
Poppy tilted her head, then ran off to chase her tail.
Bibi giggled. “She needs practice, Dad. Training takes time.”
Dad chuckled. “Alright, I’ll be patient.”
Lesson 5: Love and Responsibility
Over the next few weeks, Dad slowly got better at taking care of Poppy. He remembered her feeding schedule, took her on regular walks, helped with training, and even started giving her belly rubs, which she loved.
One evening, as they sat on the couch, Poppy curled up next to Dad and licked his hand.
“She really loves you,” Bibi said with a smile.
Dad scratched Poppy behind the ears. “I think I love her too.”
Bibi beamed. “See, Dad? Taking care of a dog isn’t just a job—it’s about love and responsibility.”
Dad nodded. “And I couldn’t have learned it without the best teacher.”
From that day on, Dad and Poppy became the best of friends, and Bibi knew that her dad had learned the most important lesson of all—how to love and care for their furry family member.
