Puppy Blues?

[moominsareace]

Are these normal? We have a 5 month old spaniel pup - everyone says how lovely he is, but I'm just not feeling it.

I knew a puppy would be hard work, and he is walked three times a day, up to date with all his vaccinations etc etc. But all I see is work, work, work and a lack of freedom for years and years. I truly want to enjoy him, but I'm not. DCs and DH all love him, but I don't. Am I normal?

[BiteyShark]

Yes it’s a thing. I felt a massive responsibility to my cocker puppy but it took many many months before I fell in love with him.

He is 1 next week and now that he is over his puppy and teenage stage (still has his naughty moments) he is lovely. As a puppy he was a pain in the arse

[pigsDOfly]

That sounds like a lot of walking for a young puppy OP? How much time do you actually spend walking him? I thought they should have no more than five minutes per month of their age up to twice a day. He needs to learn to be still and settle as well, which will give you some peace and quiet.

Yes, puppy blues is a thing. They are a huge responsibility and it is for years to come as you say. But, once the puppy begins to grow and all the hard work and training you've put in starts to show, that's when the good times start.

A small puppy is cute, but a well trained adult dog is a pleasure to spend time with.

Are you going to classes with him? Learning to train him will help you to bond with him and exercise his brain, which will tire him out in a better way than walking will.

[Oops4]

I'd say it's quite normal, or atleast nothing to worry about. It's a bit like having kids. Bloody hard work, not always fun but worth it. We got our pup a year ago today and I did not enjoy puppy hood at all. I think it's because I had almost all of the responsibility and with two young kids it was such a lot. But he's become such a little super star that I wouldn't change him one bit (well apart from his smell after he's got his teeth round something he shouldn't!) Vowed I would never get a puppy again...........we're picking our new pup up next week!

Our current dog really needs a companion and I feel he would be far happier as a pair (as would the cat as he would hopefully stop trying to convince her to play!) Ideally I would have preferred to skip puppy stage this time but with two young kids, a dog and a cat I have to be really careful, and fair, with what we bring in. After speaking to and visiting four different rescues who all advised a pup would be best for our situation, we've decided that's the way to go.

So I'm preparing myself for a few months of not very enjoyable work because I know it will all be so worth it in the end.

Have you looked at option to help with the workload a bit? Maybe using a dog walker once or twice? Or finding a good dog boarder so you have someone you trust lined up to give you a bit more freedom? At this age they are so tying but once they get a bit older it does get easier. What about a class or something to do together? I took my wee bugger when he was younger and would feel almost a maternal pride when he did it right 😂.

[Fekko]

I'm sorry but we need a photo of the down to be able to comment.

[moominsareace]

Oh thank you. I have been feeling completely at sea with him! This was exactly the reassurance I needed.

As I said, I try to give him 3 walks a day - 15 minutes morning and evening, and half an hour in the middle of the day. At home he does sleep a lot, and I try to talk to him and cuddle him, but feel like I'm spending half my time trying to avoid him either jumping up, or nipping things. I know it's just being a puppy, and it will get better, but having gone through the "baby" stage with DC, and getting some semblance of "me" back again, I feel like I'm back at square one.

[BiteyShark]

This time next year you will wonder why you felt this way as they change and grow so quickly (although at the time it doesn’t feel like it). I do most of the ‘caring’ and training and I think it’s very easy to focus on that and feel overwhelmed whilst DH just got the fun bits. When mine grew up and developed his adult personality then I started to love him rather than just ‘feel responsible’ for him.

[BaconAndBees]

I'd drop a walk and keep to 25 mins, crate train and use stair gates. Puppy blues are VERY much a thing - had it both times.

[Hoppinggreen]

Mine is 18 months old now and many days go past without me hating him!!
Puppies are cute because they can be complete dickheads and if they weren't cute we wouldn't bother

[Elphame]

As "mum" to a 11 week old destructive whirlwind I keep telling myself he will grow out of it - I've just had to cancel my hairdresser as although she is "dog friendly" 4 hours of coping with him in a salon wont be fun for anyone. He might sleep but then again he might not!

It really is like having a toddler around again

[BlondeWrites]

I go through days of feeling exactly the same - our Springer spaniel is four months old and I thought I was prepared for a dog... hahaha, how naive I was. The first week we had him I felt totally overwhelmed, and constantly scared he was going to injure himself or make himself ill, or just that we would be crap dog owners.

A puppy can be a shock to any home, I think - it's like a needy, furry bomb going off. The only thing you can do is take it a day at a time - make the most of those adorable moments when they're obedient/being all sleepy and quiet, and remind yourself of those times when they're being total ratbags.

We've only had ours four weeks, and it's hard work - harder than I expected - but it will be worth it. It will. Hang in there, it sounds like you're doing really well with him.

[Almostflownthenest]

Maybe I should have read this before going to see and reserve a beautiful golden retriever puppy yesterday ! Our wonderful old boy, Lab x Retriever was pts in July aged 15 & 1/2 and I'm hoping that not having 3 dc under the age of 7 this time round I'll be able to devote lots of time to make him the perfect pooch.
Back to the Ops problem though Spaniels are very high energy dogs. Can you do agility classes together so you feel some sort of achievement and pride as your dog progresses and then you'll have some one to one fun with him rather than just feeding, clearing up etc.

[Hoppinggreen]

No almost you definitely DONT want one of these!!!
( love him really)

[RiseToday]

They are hard work, no doubt about it. You are in the thick of puppyhood right now and then you will move swiftly on to the adolescent stage which is very challenging too. Luckily all of these stages pass relatively quickly, compared to children.

By the time time your dog is around 3 yrs old he should be mature, easier, calmer. I currently have three adult dogs over the age of 6 and two have just turned 3 years old. This is the best part in my opinion.

However, you will be working and caring for your dog and have a loss of freedom for it's entire life - easily 10+ years. That's a different matter altogether.

Were you persuaded by the rest of your family to get the dog? It sounds like your heart was never truly in it which is never a good idea given their lifespan....

[Almostflownthenest]

Hopping green he looks like this at the moment. ❤️ How could I resist?

[Hoppinggreen]

Remember how cute he is for when you are cooking in the kitchen and a mouthful of needle like baby teeth are suddenly embedded in your calf muscle!!
Little land sharks

[BaconAndBees]

Almost he is beautiful!