To think puppies are hard work! (But worth it).

[TiredAndaBitBored]

He's 5 months old and oh my God... He is a devil.

I'm lay in the bath and it's the first down time I've managed to have since getting home. He's now asleep on the bathroom floor after trying to climb in the bath with me several times and trying desperately to drink my soapy bath water. He loves water and will clamber into the bath whenever I run it.

Aibu to not have expected how difficult puppies were?! I did my research but blimey I feel like I've got another child, constantly watching what he's doing, worrying about what he's just picked up in his mouth, panicking when he goes quiet for a minute in the other room and finding what else he's done when I go in (usually a bin over the floor or torn up cardboard everywhere).

I mean I absolutely love him, he's part of the family (and probably everyone's favourite member). But I can't believe how mischievous something so small can be!

I have two puppies and an older dog with brain damage. The older dog is far easier to deal with in lots of ways but tbh I think babies are easier than dogs particularly puppies. I adore them but I can't wait till they're a bit older and calmer. I describe puppies as less delicate newborns with the ability to run, jump and bite some need just as much looking after (obviously babies need more actual care) and you can't turn your back for a moment.

UpstartCrow howling at that pic!! You really would think so from looking at him. Even now I can hear him rustling in the bin bag in the kitchen but I don't have the energy cry

He has got to that stage where I can say 'what is that!!!' and he'll look all sheepish and go hide in his bed. But it's too cute and you can't stay mad. They've really got us humans worked out haven't they.

festivelyfoolish yes!! I have a coat with dangly bits on the bottom and when I put it on I just suddenly feel it get heavier and realise I'm dragging pup around with me.

Coffeeisnecessary

I've got that book Coffee. TBH, I didn't think it was very helpful, so your puppy has the right idea!

We have a puppy too, although not for much longer as she turns 1 at the end of November, so she'll be classed as a dog. We had our last dog for 7 years, but she was a rescue so we didn't get her during the puppy time.
My parents had dogs, so I've grown up with them, but they must've shielded me from the worst of the puppy stuff.

Mine is a NIGHTMARE. She destroys EVERYTHING and she's so, so naughty:
She never stops trying to climb onto the table and if we give her a window (forget to tuck all the chairs in totally tight) she straight up there, destroying stuff.

We've had to move ALL the bins up high because she gets into them and gets stuff out.
We've had to move the loo roll up onto a shelf (which makes using it challenging) becuase she shreds it and turns it into confetti.
She's toilet trained, but still likes to take a shit on the upstairs landing. Just because.

She's a little git.

Luckily for her, she's very pretty!

KeepServingTheDrinks I feel your pain.

We're practically toilet trained here apart from the morning shit he likes to do on the rug when we come back in.

Ah yes, the bin stealing/shredding - who needs a fox? - dogs do teach you constant vigilance - anything below upper chest height even at his advanced age he’ll get. The number of handbags he’s been through!

Now my cat shredded the bottom 4 inches of a very nice tweed coat I had - pets, it’s really not like it looks in the lifestyle magazines. Destroyers of housing value!

I have a coat with dangly bits on the bottom and when I put it on I just suddenly feel it get heavier and realise I'm dragging pup around with me.

Its handy for sweeping up the bits.

Your puppo is nice boy!

Gatsby can be a bit of a handful but he's lovely. As I said, he promptly decided I'm his mum. He loves to come and sleep next to me on the bed.

Originally Gatsby was named Shakespeare but my kid decided to name him Gatsby. I think I'll have to read him "The Great Gatsby" one of these days

Puppies are a pain in the are, but so worth it!

I think it’s like children - I’ve had dogs for years - but got my puppy (who has now just turned one) and had totally forgotten just how exhausting they are. Completely worth it though 😊

I kid you not, I'm upstairs typing to you lovely people and DP just shouted from downstairs 'the dog is on the kitchen counter'

How...?! I can't work out how he's got up there.

Give me strength to get to 10pm when he usually falls asleep.

agnurse

I love the photos Brigante9 so sweet (and naughty).

Its handy for sweeping up the bits

Maybe I need to stop being so ungrateful, he's just helping with the house work right?

Aww this makes me miss my boy, who was PTS in September age 14. I got him when I was pg and he WAS my baby, he got all my new found maternal love and became a ridiculous mummy’s boy as a result. I don’t remember him being an annoying puppy, although if I didn’t let him sit up my jumper in the car he’d be sick. And he used to love biting my flip flops until he broke them (whilst I was wearing them). And he would only settle down to sleep in one place, next to my head on the pillow.

Ok, maybe a little bit annoying .

Try and see the upside OP, one day you’ll look back with a tear in your eye and wish that she could do just one more shit on your rug.

Oh hooveringhamabeads I'm sorry you lost your pup recently sounds like you went through a lot together!

I imagine it's one of those things, annoying at the time but you look back in fondess after it's passed.

I love that he slept on your pillow, so cute! My boy is getting more independent as he's getting older, he now likes his own space when he naps (which I've been pulling my face about to DP!).

Awww, working cocker? I've got one of those two and while they do calm down a little bit, it's often not much :D Ours is five and still bonkers. She'll steal anything that isn't nailed down (and even stuff that is nailed down) if it's soft and fluffy, she always has to be involved with what you're doing and hates being left out of anything, and after five years she still hasn't learned to avoid our mean cat because he does not want to play.

But she's the most loving, gentle, funny, cuddly girl and I wouldn't be without a wocker in my life! She had to spend the night in the vet hospital recently and the house felt so sad and quiet without her.

Celebelly yes, working cocker! I did read they were bonkers but didn't quite realise how much.

Lovely like you say though, very gentle and likes a lot of attention and cuddles. Except when he's sleeping now. He used to sleep on me but now takes himself off to his bed when he naps which makes me a bit sad!!

Sooooo relieved we got a rescue adult dog. I absolutely could not be arsed with puppies - far too much like hard work!!

My 'puppy' is 21 months now and so much easier now but I definitely remember the early days well when he drove me to distraction. Was like a newborn, waking up through the night and getting into absolutely everything, it was worse than when my dd was a toddler. But it gets easier and is definitely worth it

Puppies are waaaay harder work than human babies in many ways. They are fast, four legged little hairballs, speedy and mobile from day one with claws and pin sharp teeth. They can need taken into the garden several times a night to toilet too, whatever the weather.

Then, no sooner are they out of babyhood than they hit doggy arolescence, and the Kevin the Teenager stage.

It gets easier. My lovely labrador really settled down between about 18 months and 2 years old. He is 14 now and has been a fabulous member of the family.

I'm glad the consensus is that there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

I'm relieved that MN has put me off ever having a dog. I love them but I couldn't go through the night waking and early mornings.
I'll stick to being the person who talks to friendly dogs in the park and get my dog fix that way.

Saying about puppies being hard work...my 9 year old staffy still took advantage of my forgetfullness with bins 😂 she also completely destroyed a double duvet & made herself a nest from the fluff.

Aside from that (and her incontinence) she was easy peasy 😍

I love the photos Brigante9 so sweet (and naughty).

The least naughty thing he did. More naughty was stealing my mobile, chewing it, hiding the evidence under the shed, stealing the dh's wallet with the money in it to pay the builder. Chewed up £20 notes all over his pee patch.

Brigante9 now that is naughty!! I've not experienced anything that bad from mine...yet!

Oh megletthesecond I hope I haven't put you off... Really it's amazing how quickly picking you up poop becomes part of your daily routine.

I got to the end of my 200 poo bags the other day and was pretty impressed that I'd scooped up 200 poos!

Oh and make sure you definitely have insurance...my little darling managed to grab a bag of revels from the side where my niece had left them and because they have raisins in, which can be highly toxic...well lets just say it was the most expensive bag of revels ever. I think the 3 nights in the vets plus all treatment was £875