To re home my new puppy?

[anidiotathome]

I got a puppy 4 weeks ago. She really settled into our family (me and dd who is 9) well. She has been really quite easy. I have often spoken about how I think pets (where possible) should come in pairs to keep each other company, however this wasn't financially feasible for me.

My dad is quite a lonely and isolated man, and has been speaking about getting a puppy for a while. I suggested that there was still a pup from my puppy's litter available and why doesn't he go for that. He said no because he would be embarrassed to be seen out and about walking with her (Chihuahua). He then did a 180 and decided he would do it.

So I arranged it through the breeder. Exchanged money and she was happy the pup was going to him as would mean that my pup and his could play etc. However, on the drive home he said, 'surprise, I got this for your 30th birthday'.

My 30th is 4 weeks away. I didn't know how to respond and felt awkward as he'd just spent 700 pounds on the puppy and then an additional 200 pounds buying all her stuff. I just acted really surprised and grateful but had a bad feeling.

Now I've only had her since Monday and she is lovely but her and my other pup are fighting a lot and it is soooo much more hard work having two rather than one. Where my first pup is basically potty trained and crate trained and was coming on with commands it's starting again with the new pup and that's really hard to do with two.

Every day since I've got her I've just wanted to cry. I feel like neither are getting my attention, whereas I was really enjoying my time with my first pup and absolutely loved it. I don't feel like I can bond with the new pup. I am beyond irritable and stressed and my daughter is noticing.

I just don't know what to do. I feel so sad that my dad has spent all this money but I just don't feel like the new pup fits in and as if I love her as much as my first pup. I suppose he could have her but he doesn't really want her and I couldn't go back to the breeder I feel embarrassed and as if the pup wasn't being cared for properly there. She looked awful when we picked her up.

I just feel like I'm trapped and have lots of years of this ahead of me and the new pup seems really happy with us and has become quite attached so I worry about that and about how my first pup will react if she has to go. I also feel like first pup is regressing with training and have barely had a minute to train either since Monday.

I was thinking it's only been a couple of days. Should I give it a month, like a cut off date and then just be honest with my dad? My little girl loves the new pup as well and keeps saying I can't believe we have two puppies. I'm just so upset this is happening. I wish I hadn't suggested him getting her. I think at first he bought her for himself then thought again and since money exchanged hands felt he couldn't go back.

Honestly your dad is the unreasonable one. I can't tell if you were happy when he surprised you or not. If not you should have told him to take the puppy back immediately seeing as he'd now decided he didn't want to live with it, as made out to both you and the breeder.

I also leave the back door open for them all day (puppy proofed and big garden). This is probably confusing them. Keep the back door shut so that there is a clear distinction between outdoors and indoors.

I think play fighting mostly but sometimes it gets aggressive. Or if they get overtired I notice they can go from playing to fighting. Also new pup doesn't seem as in to it as first pup. You need to step in (call them away from each other) before it escalates to fighting. You need to be an advocate for the new puppy and not put her in situations that she's not comfortable with. Dogs are not pack animals. They don't need to establish their place in the pack. If your original puppy is allowed to practice harassing the new puppy, chances are she'll do it with dogs outside the home, who may be less tolerant of her rude behaviour. Likewise, if the new puppy feels harassed by the original puppy, she may become fearful that dogs outside the home will do the same, and become reactive as a result.

Healthy play should involve lots of breaks: www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/are-they-playing-or-fighting/
I would read about the canine ladder of communication and intervene (call them away from each other) if either of them is showing signs of stress: www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/canine-ladder-of-communication

How much sleep are they both getting? Overtiredness can lead to overarousal, as you've witnessed.

If the new puppy doesn't like her crate, can you and your daughter train one each separately, so that she doesn't have to be shut away and build a negative association with the crate?

Don’t leave the back door open and expect puppy to wander out and go toilet.

You need to physically take them out after eating, after waking up from a sleep and after play.

If they go, you make a big fuss of them

If they go in the house, you ignore it and clean it up.

It's just the peeing and pooing as well. I can't keep track of who's doing what and even though I'm taking them out every 2 hours and after every activity it doesn't seem to be working. I also leave the back door open for them all day (puppy proofed and big garden).

Every two hours for puppy chihuhuas is nowhere near often enough - it needs to be more like every 30 minutes when they're awake, as well as after naps, play, meals, drinks and training.

As a breed, they have TINY bladders and are notoriously difficult to housetrain.

Stop leaving the door open too - you need to physically open the door and let them out or they won't understand why they can pee in the garden and not two metres away on your carpets.

@Honeyroar

Your experience with your Rommie charity mirrors ours. We were well vetted and are extremely pleased at the outcome. The 'outcome' is now 5 years old and treated better than the Queen!

If you care about the unfair treatment of animals I take it you're a vegan?

@Carpy88999

Correct!

Puppy farms perpetuate dreadful situations for dogs.
It’s the novice or uninformed who buy from online ads.
But puppy farms appeal to the
” Wannit NOWWW!” Brigade.
Getting a reputable “ Breeder” usually means a long waiting list months before a pup is even conceived.
Likewise a reputable rescue organisation will do home checks and match the dog/ person as to suitability.

Puppy farmers are the dregs.
The animals suffer physically and emotionally.

Well said @oakleaffy