To ask dog owners - do you remember that a puppy was bloody hard - or do I have a crazy puppy

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

We just got ourselves a little pup after our previous ddog died just back in November. He’s a lovely, spirited little thing - but so exhausting. Me and dh have been swearing blind previous dog wasn’t like this - he was chilled as a puppy - but have been slowly remembering that no - this is just what puppies are like - is there a selective amnesia when it comes to puppies (a bit like labour)

Yep, they are exhausting. But sooooo cute!

My dog is 6 now and I remember the toilet training being tough to get through but I think she was pretty chilled other than

I was frequently in tears at the intensity of
It all and the sleep deprivation. Being bitten (mouthed) whilst cleaning up mountains of pee or being pulled down the road by an excitable pup was hard.
Really fucking hard.
And the separation anxiety
She's now 16 months and snoozing calmly at my feet. Totally different creature!

I had forgotten the jumping and nipping - and oddly my last dog was a large one - so was super attuned to making sure he didn’t get a habit for biting - this one is a small breed - and am now worried that Small breeds can be snappy - think you forget that puppies do nip and chew (and yes am training him not to)

When my last dog was a puppy, I used to open all the doors in the house and I and my older dog would sit on the sofa and watch him doing circuits.

Puppies are adorable bastards. Mine made me cry a lot and compared to most he's pretty easy!

It was hell. Much worse than having a newborn baby!

I very much hope we get a chilled dog at the end of the puppy phase! I see glimpses of it...

They are hard, worse than babies as they can run from you. I had completely forgot how hard it was until I dog sat for a friends puppy one night, we were on the verge of getting one ourselves until then 😂

Yup jumpy, bitey bastards. Apparently Lurchers are quite a mouthy, nippy breed as pups. Funny how that didn't come up in pre dog research

I also remember thinking I was going to spend the rest of my days living in the kitchen or garden for the first 4 weeks.

Hell yes!

We always re-home adult dogs.

Once was enough. No more puppies.

They do calm down though. Chin up.

I frequently said I could have tied our dog to a lamppost during the first 9 months, obviously I wouldn’t but my god it was such hard work!

Trying to tire out an endless bundle of energy without ruining his legs for the rest of his life, such a juggling act.

The destruction too..........

We were actually set on rehoming an adult dog - but this pup came up and I was all “oh it’ll be lovely” to be fair he does make me smile more than he makes me despair - but had genuinely just forgotten how bloody tough they are (my previous dog was 10 so it’s been a long while!!)

I used to cry. A lot.

And google ' When will my spaniel stop biting'.?

He used to swing off dds dressing gown, or hair, when she came downstairs in a morning.

All that entertaining. Then the peace when he crashed out.

Yeah I had days when I wished his recall was a bit more sketchy, you know just lollop off towards the horizon like the littlest Hobo......

It's not always even puppies either. Some breeds are difficult young dogs too. We had one dog who was an absolute nightmare as a young dog, after a very difficult puppyhood. Other owners of the breed told us to hang in there til she was 4, and it would all settle down. And it did. But it did take 4 years.

@wolfie I love you doggy posts - but out of interest how did you stop the separation anxiety? Mine follows me from room to room - for a crate - no go... bought a pen - he could drag it across the floor... so can’t use that! Did suddenly remember that none of my previous dogs had crates or pens (they weren’t a thing then) so am going for shutting him in the kitchen- and he seems ok - but haven’t left for more than about 15 mins around the corner shop yet

Blimey @moonlight - 4!!! Would love to know the breed!

Both mine were exhausting. For the first year with the oldest you couldn't walk across the room without it grabbing hold of the back of your trousers as you walked along and having to drag it along with you. And very destructive and nippy too. It didn't calm down until it was about four. Lovely dog now though so stick with it. Get one of those treat balls or kongs and put it's dry food in there so it's distracted with that. A good puppy is a tired puppy!

I love my dog to bits but MY GOD was she hard work as a puppy!!! Our previous girl Floss was as sweet as milk when she was young. The only thing Floss did that was 'naughtier' than Skye was to chew chair legs and things. Otherwise she was a dream. Skye was a NIGHTMARE. But now that she's big (nearly 6!) she's settled into the sweetest, most loving and willing-to-please pooch you could wish for.

My advice. Keep calm and run the phrase 'This will pass, it's just a phase, he'll turn out lovely, This will pass, it's just a phase, he'll turn out lovely, This will pass, it's just a phase, he'll turn out lovely, This will pass, it's just a phase, he'll turn out lovely' through your head every moment that you're dealing with him.

Use some really nice treats, tiny pieces of cooked sliced chicken worked well with ours, and really focus on training. Go big with praise when he responds well. Just this month Skye has learned to shake herself dry on command in exchange for liver treats - food is always a big motivator!

Look at his main diet. If it's cheap shit like Bakers you can't expect to have an easy time - it'd be like feeding a toddler E-number drenched snacks and Red Bull. You're just asking for trouble there.

Consider crate training (NOT keeping him caged!!)

Let time pass. Skye dog has already started going grey. Time goes so quickly, as stressful as it is try and enjoy as much of his puppyhood as you can because you can't get it back.

Jumpy bitey fuckers

I have two. Count them; one, two

I remember mine through rose tinted glasses... he's two now and I sometimes think about getting another. But then we remember how we couldn't leave anything out, slippers, tv remote, candles, tea towels - nothing was out of bounds. It does get better. Stay strong and just enjoy it because it doesn't last long and the playfulness is funny

@ooh oh the trouser grabbing is what’s the worst - has tendency to growl with it. But he’s really a sweet little thing but god the energy

Mine are peeing and pooing outside mostly - except when they get excited
But little things make them excited like going into a new room or DD coming home

Gosh yes- I lived in my kitchen (back garden) for at least 4 months- with the door open constantly! Thank goodness it was summer! Although the heating was always on as it wasn’t that warm! I honestly though my pup was a bad pup- and never thought the jumping up (and ruining clothes by biting them) and the bruises and sometimes lumps under my skin would ever go! I must’ve googled puppy biting 1000+times- and I always thought I was getting it completely wrong and would have a monster(I sometimes lost my rag and shouted!) I have a lovely, pleasant dog now who is very obedient and no longer jumps and bites. Basic puppy training and long walks have done the trick, it’ll be worth it in the end! I have never understood why people get a puppy though- I never wanted one- give me a house trained dog any day( I was out voted!)