1 . Name: Maelgwyn @ 2012-06-27 04:36

Extremely silly, short thing I wrote up for Tumblr. Since I haven't been here much, hi, and enjoy?

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Congratulations! You got yourself a brand new Soldier! A Soldier can bring both joy to your family and pain to those whom cross you for many years as long as you take a few precautions:

Feeding:

Your Soldier requires at a minimum of three square meals a day. It is preferable to feed him different meals, however he will subsist on Tomato Soup and barbeque ribs. A warning – even though your Soldier loves these food items, you must be careful to only give him these foods sometimes. Remember to include fresh vegetables and fruit, even if he calls it hippie food. Acclimatising of your Soldier to this can take time, so be patient, especially if you get a Soldier from a shelter.

Exercise:

Your Soldier has a high requirement for exercise. Unless you live on acreage, you will need to take your Soldier for walks. Soldiers like to run, but be careful that your Soldier doesn’t get too tired – his temperament will be quite sullen or irate if he gets too tired. You can keep your Soldier off leash as long as he responds positively to voice commands. As this is a long process, it is usually a good idea to keep him on leash whenever he is in public, as Soldiers can be quite aggressive, especially to Demomen and Spies.

Behaviour:

Soldiers can do things wrong. This is to be expected. You must address these issues immediately as failure to do so will take a lot longer to break those bad habits. Soldiers are known to destroy furniture with rockets, bring muddy feet into the house, and possibly urinate on floors. Rubbing a Soldier’s nose into such messes can be beneficial however; positive reinforcement will put you into his good books quicker. Treats such as jerky, chips and the blood of his enemies will keep your Soldier content. Remember – he will also respond quite positively to petting and rub downs – so keep that brush handy!

Grooming:

Your Soldier is generally self-grooming as long as he has access to soap and warm water. Be careful – they can tolerate a high temperature but will injure themselves if they burn. Your Soldier, as it is a generally short haired species, will only require a good brushing once a week, but it is advised to wash with a good quality shampoo and conditioner to keep his lustrous shine. A trip to be clipped should happen once a month, a little longer in cooler conditions.

Health:

This breed has a very robust immune system. Soldiers can become sick however, especially if you leave wet in the cold. If your Soldier gains any of the following symptoms, it is best to take him to a doctor for a good examination.

- Itching Eyes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Mucus leaks
- No longer calling people maggots

The Soldier will also react well to home remedies of warm honey in milk and tucked into a warm bed. Cuddles will also calm your Soldier – so don’t be afraid to do this!

Bedding:

Soldiers have little requirements for bedding, however if you have an older Soldier, a softer bed will be required. Items to consider are that his bed is secure, warm, and generally will prefer items that are red, white or blue. You can save a lot of cost by bedding your Soldier with you, as they are quite fond of the attention however if you do so, changing to his own bed may be a perilous task. Soldiers do not require much sleep - many will go to bed after you and beat you out in the morning!

Follow this guide and you will have many trouble free years of Soldier ownership – one of the most rewarding that you can have!