I thought I was ready

[Alice44]

Hello. I am a new owner of a 9 week old male GS puppy. I wanted a dog all my life, I watched any dog training program I was able to find, I played with any dog of my family and friends, I read a ton of books and articles on looking after a dog and I thought I am ready! I didn't care what age my new dog will be, but it came up that purchasing a puppy was easier then getting an adult dog and soon enough I got myself my perfect little fluff ball. And now I feel like I hate him, like have no more time for myself and like this will never end. I always wanted a furry friend and now that I have him it feels like a nightmare and NOTHING is wrong! He sits when asked, he sleeps better and better in the crate, he eats his food, he only has pee accidents from time to time. By many he would most likely be seen as a perfect puppy to own and yet my brain is going crazy saying how I should just let go and give up. I do have some problems with having faith in myself and this could have a big effect. He is also still before vaccines so we are both miserable stuck inside the house. I guess I also had the problem of everyone everywhere saying how fun and great it is to own a puppy and I feel like they lied! I'm tired, I can't do things I want to do and I can't stand the constant bitting (and people say that's my life for the next YEAR). I never thought this was going to be easy, but neither did I think it will be this hard. I feel like sending him off for someone else to look after for some time or giving him away all together, but I do not want to give him away. I'm mixed between the two. Soon I will have a trainer come to my house to help me with the basics, but I am afraid that she will just say what people write on the internet and once she leaves I will be on my own with everything. Will this pass once he is able to go outside? Or in a month... Five... Twelve? My other problem is that I have no real safe space for my pup. Yes, I have a crate and puppy proof living room, but I am afraid to leave him by himself in either. And the mixed support makes my brain go crazy. It feels like everybody is giving different advice. "If you leave your puppy in crate you are evil" "I leave my puppy by himself, it is okay" "you must spend with your puppy 24/7" "you will never again have any free time". Help! If I go to my room for an hour will I suddenly turn him into an anxious dog in the future? Or is it just me panicking. Any tips on staying sane?

[Jouska]

Relax
Breathe

Enjoy your puppy -go on gut instinct - get a god trainer and listen to them only.

Be ready to smile and ignore the billions of advice from people who will know your puppy better than you do!

[Jouska]

a god trainer might be an idea but I reckon a good trainer is better! sorry

[Garageflower172]

Get a cat?

[NoSquirrels]

Pretty sure many many puppy owners go through this at various pints! Hang in there, it will certainly get easier the more you can go out. Are you exposing him to as many different situations and people as is practical? GS need good socialisation skills.

If I go to my room for an hour will I suddenly turn him into an anxious dog in the future?

If you went from spending all your time with him to leaving him for a full hour then that would be unfair. He’s only little still. But you should start to build it up bit by bit now, increasing his tolerance and ability to be alone.

Do you have other family members to share the burden?

[Alice44]

That actually made me laugh finally. A god trainer would be a blessing I guess, but I'll stick to a good one. This one I organized has good ratings and once he is able to go outside I know another person who does training classes with other puppies present and they were introduced to me by a friend who went to them with her own puppy.

[NoSquirrels]

Also - pic please? Love a GS puppy!

[BiteyShark]

Puppy blues regret is real and lots of us have experienced it.

It does 'feel' like everyone loves the puppyhood part but it's very easy to forget how shit it was when you are lying next to your trained, calm faithful old dog eyes up BiteyDog next to me

Hang in there. Right now things just seem overwhelming and you can't ever imagine this small biting, peeing pooing bundle of fluff being anything other than a burden.

[Alice44]

@NoSquirrels yes, I try to do my best. He can hear different vehicles out in the garden, I take him outside (on my hands) for him to see new people and places (not for too long obviously) and I have invited a few people that I know into my house so he could meet them. We currently have an issue, where he is suddenly afraid of the brush, but I try and encourage him with treats to accept it. Tolerance wise I leave him by himself when I go to toilet and leave the living room from time to time for a couple of minutes. Today he slept throughout when I was away (I left him the radio on).

[Alice44]

@NoSquirrels imgur.com/kbm0Eka

[Shplot]

So cute!!!
Puppies are hard work but as soon as you can get out it will get better!

[mrspags]

I got an 8 week old puppy just over five years ago and had the most awful anxiety for two weeks, couldn't eat without almost being sick. Once he was allowed outside it was so much better because just a short walk would tire him out and then you can get some down time while he naps. I still felt anxious about things for the next few months but things gradually got better and now he's such a loved member of the family!

We had a baby six months ago which honestly was easier than the puppy stage! I found it so hard reading all the conflicting advice, as someone else has said just go on instinct.

Keep reminding yourself this stage won't last, it's bloody hard work but so worth it, dogs are amazing .

[Jouska]

Alice44 it sounds like you are doing brilliantly. Have confidence in yourself. He is gorgeous

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

I did exactly this OP (it tbh has made my mind even more secure about not wanting kids!!), when we got our rescue pup at 9 weeks. She is now 17 weeks and already it is so, so much better. She has never been a huge arse but now I just feel so much more in control and not overwhelmed by her existence. Being able to go outside made a huge difference, as has gradually coming accustomed to our new way of life. I also had the "we can never go out again" panic, and so far she's joined us in restaurants, pubs, beaches, picnics, on a 200mile trip to the in-laws... It's not quite as easy as it was without her, but totally doable and now I wouldn't have it any other way!

Does your vet do puppy socialization sessions? I found it a really helpful experience to ask the silly questions and for her to meet pups. They take them in after 1st injections, and as an added bonus it exhausts them!

[Alice44]

@RevealTheHiddenBeach yes, they do puppy classes and so does my local pet shop (the pet shop classes involve a highly sterilized area with covered floors, everybody has to wash hands and wear foot protection. No adult dogs allowed, only pre vacation pups). I'm planing to go to the vet one, but also I will be able to leave the house in 15 days so not too bad

[Alice44]

@Jouska thank you for the reassuring words x

[Alice44]

@mrspags It feels like university all over again "just a month more and it will be back to lectures with no assignments". I have asked my parents (who he likes and accepts) if they could look after him on Sunday, so I could have a day to myself. I think that will def help. Thank you for the kind words

[Hairsprayqueeen]

I felt like this with my pup, now 4 years old. I got him as a 'baby' 6 days old, mother refused to feed him as he was the runt. I went from feeling nothing but 'omigod will this never end' to being utterly and totally besotted by the time he was a year or so old. I annoy people with how much I adore and love him, he's been so good for me in so many ways. Hang on in there OP.

[NoSquirrels]

Oh, fluffty! He’s lush, OP.

You sound like you’re doing great.

Maybe make yourself a bit of a nerdy timetable for things like separation training e.g. deliberately increasing the time spans and noting it down, and logging what he’s been exposed to socialisation wise etc.

Enjoy your day off. They are an extremely cute ball-and-chain!

[Parrakeet]

GSD is hard work. I have one- 3hrs of exercise a day is not always easy. I have now many friends who have/have had one. Once you fall in love with the breed, you will not look elsewhere! They simply are amazing! But they are incredibly needy to keep happy. They have no interest in socialising with other dogs and you are their whole point of existance. So you have to step up. But it really pays off!
Should you still feel like you cant do this, I have a friend whose GSD recently died of old age. He is currently looking to foster a new one. If you feel like you cant do this after a while PM me, he would get a dedicated owner.
I wish u best of luck though!

[Parrakeet]

Oh shoot, I thought you said 9 months. You said 9 weeks! You haven't given the poor sod a chance!

[StillMedusa]

My pup is now 14 weeks ...had her at 9 weeks...and the puppy shock is real She's a great dog (a Eurasier which people mistake for GSD despite the black tongue and curly pig tail) but the committment is HUGE. I haven't peed alone in weeks!
Crate is a no go with her..velcro dog, but I can now shower in peace..small steps. It's just like having a baby all over again, only this one bites!

BUT... that little waggy tail and absolute joy when I come into the room (she sleeps downstairs happily now but I spent 2 weeks on the sofa) makes it bearable... and she will only be a puppy for a short while . I have faith that I will have a lovely companion one day!
Hang in there. We had all jabs done by 10 weeks here (our vets schedule) and once we could go for mini walks it became easier...not easy but easier.
Plus I have never spoken to SO many people in our town in my life! Taking a puppy out is tremendous fun..we have been to pubs, restaurants, camping for a week... and she is so chilled as a result!
Hang in there!

[shinynewapple]

Have I guessed right from your post that you live alone? If so I can definitely see why you are finding this so difficult. The first puppy weeks are very full on but I was able to share with DS.

You definitely will need to build up to leaving him, but I'm assuming you have only had him a couple of days. For first 2 weeks we only left puppy whilst he was asleep but after that we built up so that he was used to bring left alone fir a couple of hours. Starting after he had had plenty of play and was sleepy.

Have you got a garden? If so get out in the garden with him. Definitely try to offer as much socialisation as possible and take up offers from your parents or friends to doggysit so you can get out a bit.

[shinynewapple]

I also agree with the mixed messages, particularly on MN - about anything! Generally I find the middle path is the best to take! But of course every dog is different, as a breed and as an individual dog so whilst one dog may be happy in a crate or being left, it may be totally different for you.

[spiderlight]

Give it time. It's always very intense at first, and you basically have a small fluffy stranger in your home, but as the bond develops between you it will get easier. You're doing the right things, getting a trainer in early, and once you can walk him a whole new world will open up for the two of you.

[spiderlight]

Someone's just shared this on FB and I though of this thread.