My husband and I recently adopted a sweet and timid 5-month-old puppy from the local animal shelter, who we named Bambi. When we first brought him home, he was terrified of everything and relied on our older dog, Derby, for guidance for weeks. He would only eat if Derby was nearby, would only get into the car if she jumped in first, and would only play with toys that she showed interest in. On walks, he stayed on our heels with his tail between his legs, never sniffing or even looking around.

Fast-forward to now—almost six months since that first day when he was so scared we couldn’t get him out of the car—and I’m currently watching him do full laps around the living room while trying to pull every pillow, blanket, cushion, and dog toy into his theatrics. He still has a lot of confidence to build out in the world, but in the safety of our home, he’s the most confident (and energetic) dog in the world.

As of this writing, Bambi has destroyed two expensive duvet covers, several plants (and their pots), a set of flannel sheets, numerous winter gloves, a mattress cover, and a rug, and has knocked over multiple cups of steaming coffee. I also have a constant array of bruises, each at a different stage of healing, from him jumping at me during playtime.

At first, I was annoyed with his tornado-like behaviors. And........

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