Puppies: the best of times and the worst of times?

[GeorgianMumto5]

I'm trying to persuade Dh that he'd be happy with a puppy. I've got him to agree to having a dog, but not (thus far) as a puppy. He keeps asking, 'Can you promise it won't shit all over the carpet?' to which I reply, 'No, but I can promise it won't shit all over the carpet for long.'

What are the best and worst bits of puppyhood? I'm reading the 'puppy mummies' thread and loving it, but would anybody be happy to tell me your best and worst moments, so I can tell them to Dh? (The best bits, anyway.)

Thanks.

[MultumInParvo]

The worst is getting a puppy as the nights draw in IMO. Cold, dark, and wet shit is yuck to pick up. I'd wait till spring

[Awks]

best bit is the way he walks sideways towards me when he's excited to see me. Worst bit is weeing on the carpet ( doesn't shit there though). It's brilliant having a puppy

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

The best bits are very obvious.

The worst is the standing outside in all weathers for 10 minutes at 30 minute intervals between 6am and 12 am. Oh, and the constant landshark attacks!

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

Sometimes the poo is frozen, easy to pick up then Get it before the rains defrosts it

They are so soft and fluffy and cute. Then they turn into teenagers with selective hearing and steal the food out of the oven you were keeping for seconds

[Whoknowswhocares]

Best......it's a PUPPY Nothing beats a puppy!
Plus you get to train it badly from the start, so no inherited issues
Worst..... Small puppies = regular tummy upsets (well in my case anyway) Nuff said.

[milkybarsrus]

I love my puppy because, he makes me smile and laugh regularly throughout the day, he's cute and very cuddly, I bought him 2 months after my dad died and he has given us all a lovely warm fun focus when we needed it most!
My puppy chewed the back off my evening shoes which I stupidly left by the front door, that I should have worn to a 25th anniversary party last night, had to do a quick re think about what shoes to wear just before leaving (angry). Another minus, is the amount of doggy stuff everywhere, toys ,beds, bowls, leads, etc, but we love him despite the obvious puppy downsides!

[Whogivesashit]

Worst: chewing and eating my beautiful silver wedge shoes. My fault shouldn't have left them on the floor by his bed. Chewing and destroying the telephone cable and socket, eating DH's glasses, ripping up the puppy pads and all the mail that came through the door.

Best: lovely cute face, bags of enthusiasm just all round gorgeous! He's 18 months now so I might just have to get another one to cuddle.

[moosemama]

Best part, seeing your cute fluffy bundle of mischief gradually develop into a constant loyal companion and enjoying the process of helping him/her get there.

Worst part? Hmm, I wouldn't say there is one definite thing that bothers me all that much. There's the obvious house-training, chewing etc, but perhaps the one of the hardest part and often least considered aspects is being tied to the house more than you are with an adult dog, as they can't be left for very long at all until they're older.

[GeorgianMumto5]

These are great, thank you! I am ing at 'landshark'.

Today dh said we could go for a puppy. I was amazed - was expecting it to take months! I phoned the one I've had my eye on, but as the phone repeatedly went to answer phone, I imagine that puppy has gone and his people were celebrating with a day out. Can't say I blame them. At this rate it will be the spring before we get one. Perhaps that will be for the best.

[GeorgianMumto5]

Obviously I didn't phone the puppy. That would be weird.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

We got ours in Sept last year and it really wasn't that bad. I think I'd find spring or summer harder when you have a little pup who can't be walked far but you want to take them out all day.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

Oh, and you won't be laughing at the landshark when the damn thing is savaging your foot and has to be prised off! And the dc all have a wild eyed hunted look when they have to leave the safety of the sofa

[GeorgianMumto5]

Google 'cat on roomba' - there is some bizarre footage of a cat, dressed as a shark, sat on a roomba, chasing a duckling. In another, roomba-shark cat is batting a dog on the nose. The dog is dressed as a hammerhead shark. I digress, but this is the image that springs to mind when I read 'landshark'.

[MadeOfStarDust]

We just had a house full of chew toys, a stag bar (antler) - and stupidly massive hide chews so he couldn't actually break any off.... and a blanket/cushion he could suck on - never nipped us or chewed the furniture..

had one poopy accident on the carpet, but looked up at us with such disgust after he did it, and he never did it again..

[GeorgianMumto5]

MadeOfStardust, Dh would love your dog!

[MadeOfStarDust]

LOL - we love our dog too.... he can't have him!

He is a "people dog" - a Westie who thinks he is a lap-dog and 2 years old now - took to his crate wonderfully, had been socialised with a breeder's 12 grandchildren and spoilt rotten by them - has been a joy to train from 10weeks - though is easily distracted by butterflies!

[TartanRug]

Best is the cuteness, the silliness, the absolute adoration.

Worst is the bloody chewing, play biting, eating anything and everything.