To wonder how anyone manages to get anything done with a puppy in the house?

[Allinson2014]

We got an 8 week old lab pup a few days ago. I haven't had a dog before and didn't realise quite how much work he would be. He is lovely and I wouldn't change him for anything but my goodness when am I going to be able to wash my hair again without either frenzied whimpering or listening out to see if he has woken up and chewed something up that he shouldn't have? He also cries in the night and I have to let him out at least once for a wee. It's like having another toddler in the house.

He's too young to be let out! He needs all his jabs first and the two weeks. He can get sick if you let him out now!

Buy a crate/pen, they are not cruel as some people say, the pups love them as it is 'their' space. Put the pup in it whilst you are watching tv, making dinner etc (depends where it will be situated), they will cry but just find every piece of willpower you have to ignore them, unless it is disrupting a sleeping DC for instance. As for chewing things I don't personally think anything can really stop them, they are like teething babies, just make sure there are always plenty of toys and chews available. I would also try giving them a cauliflower or broccoli stalk .

nostress you can let them out for a wee!! Unless OP lives in a flat and has no garden??

I'll come and cuddle the pup, you can shower and do all your jobs.

You can but you risk parvo. Foxes carry it too so if they go in your garden there is a chance. We had a 10week old pup get very sick and she had only been out in our garden when I was young. My two dogs didnt go out at all until 13/14weeks. Just used puppy pads.

You can let them out in your own garden before they've had their jabs.

Second the advice about a crate or a penned off area in your kitchen or utility room.

Yes, they are hard work but the puppy phase is over quickly!

When I got my dog as an 8 week old puppy I was told by my vet that if it was at all possible foxes could get into my garden the puppy must not go out there under any circumstances.

You could be lucky, but I wouldn't have taken the risk if my garden hadn't been surrounded by a high fence with no gaps.

OP I wouldn't worry about parvo tbh. I am a vet and the risk is so so small, it would be like not letting a DC go to nursery because another child may have sneezed on a toy..

Some interesting points there thanks. My garden is surrounded by high fences on both sides. I know there's a risk of parvo so I take him out on his lead just so he can have a wee.

We have got a crate but he's not great in it yet. Lots of whining but he would destroy the hose overnight without it.

How lovely!

Enjoy the puppy phase, it doesn't last long.

Sounds a bit like looking after a 14 month old child! At least that's my excuse!

Our dog had a litter of 9 springer spaniel puppies and feeding, letting them into the garden, cleaning up after them was a nightmare!

OP, I feel your pain. We have got one and it's doing my head in. Can't even relax in my own house. Everyone keeps saying the puppy phase passes - thank fuck for that! Get yourself a crate it's the only respite I get. We also have a play pen around ours in case I need to go out. You won't believe how much wine I'm drinking!

I had no such problems with my Puppy however the elderly (and ill treated before we had him) Pug we rescued gives me no end of problems he has latched on to me and loves me to pieces I cant even go into the loo without him as he gets distressed, but the joy he gives me is worth it he used to cower when people went up to him now he is sociable and he is so funny when he has things he never had before like toys and treats. Love my Pug

The same way they do with a new baby. They don't.

At least with a puppy you can stick him in a crate for a few hours when you need a break though.

Crate or kennel. Worked for all of mine

Can we have a picture? :)

Never mind the picture, I want the pup! he sounds scrumptious. My two Yorkies are @8 & 14. I got them when they were each @7 yrs old. Good grief just thinking about them makes me want to run downstairs and give them a cuddle!

After our puppy I was terrified of how I'd cope with a baby! However, turns out the puppy was a lot more work than the baby and the puppy is now fully grown - still more work some days! With a puppy it gets easier quite quickly but you have to put in the ground work - good habits, calm environments and clear routines and expectations. Otherwise a troublesome puppy becomes a difficult dog and they are much harder to deal with.

Definitely get a crate or a puppy play pen if you think he won't cope with being locked in a crate. They respond well to having their own areas and associate it with 'quiet time' so they learn quickly to calm down. Ignore and distract from all undesirable behaviour, any attention is good attention which will just reinforce what you want him to stop.

As much as I love my dog I'd never, ever get another one. I'd have more babies though!

This thread makes me kind of sad. I really wish people wouldn't just "get a puppy" without having any idea about how to look after them.

I volunteer for a dog shelter, and there are thousands of lovely, housetrained dogs desperate for a home. A puppy needs round the clock care at 8 weeks old - and this is a vital stage in its development.

No offence but you don't seem to know about vaccines, crates, training, or anything. You really need to get proper advice - I appreciate you're on here asking - but I'm not sure why the pup has "frenzied whimpering" - a puppy needs round the clock care and attention for it to grow into a well cared for and trained dog.

I hate to break this to you, but it'll be at least a year before he's not a puppy anymore. Which means you need to work hard, to make sure he isn't full of issues the whole time.

He will chew, whimper, poop all over the floor, and much more. You really must take him to classes and have him properly trained, for his happiness and yours. Good luck!

Ps. 'Passthecake' - you're spot on with your advice! :-)

However much research you do about puppy ownership it always comes as a shock when you bring them home and find how full on they are. This pup is still tiny and it's not surprising if he isn't settled yet.

I think puppies are like high speed toddlers with teeth, plus needy babies at the same time. But each stage does pass fairly quickly. I can remember dh saying tearfully that he just couldn't cope with our pup about a month after we got him, but now they adore each other, and when our dog was very ill before Christmas we were all devastated (and very very happy when surgery was 100% successful).

Albark I have no experience of dogs personally, however my husband has had dogs all his life so don't worry, he's not being mistreated!

Anyway I'm pleased to report that he just seemed a little unsettled for the first day or two and has been much better last night and tonight. He now goes in his crate during the day when he needs to and overnight without any problems at all. I'd put a picture on if I could work out how to do it.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

Here is a photo of Oscar, I hope it posts ok.

I could have wrote this 5mths ago!

We have had and did have at the time dogs but bringing in a new puppy was such hard work! They are worst than a baby to start with as they don't wear nappies and don't stay where you put them.
It is okay to admit you are finding it hard work and vent about it imo.
Good news is it really does get better! Bailey is nearly seven months and a complete joy - I agree with putting in the hard work now and you will reap the benefits :-)

Thanks, I started this as a kind of lighthearted thread. A bit like when you first have a baby and you get told and read loads of stuff but it still comes as a bit of a shock having this little person to look after.

I'm a SAHM so I'm with him all the day, worn out but the evening after a day spent teaching oscar what we expect of him and teaching my DC how to be around Oscar. I can't wait until he's had his second lot of injections as I'm dying to get him out and about.