What do you wish you'd known before getting a puppy?

[Cardell27]

We bring home our first puppy next week, a little rescue terrier. We've done plenty of research and feel pretty prepared, but I thought I'd tap into the collective wisdom of mumsnet. What do you wish you'd known?

That puppy regret is a real thing but it does pass. Mine is a joy to behold.

Think about all the things you envisage doing with pup when it’s older, days out, holidays etc. Do it from as soon as they are vaccinated, nip any issues early on with positive training. Socialise them to everything, travelling, noise, dogs, people & places. 7 months in now with pup 4 and we’re at that back to square one phase. Mental enrichment, kongs, lick mats etc are very good for them with cream cheese, yogurt frozen etc, keeps them out of mischief. Have patience, it will be tested but is worth it for an amazing relationship with an animal that loves you.

Get a copy of Steve Mann's book 'Easy Peasy Puppy Squeasy'. Everything you need to know is in there.

There should be a link to this thread for anyone thinking about getting a puppy, it is thoroughly depressing.

I wish we had taken her out in the car more when she was a puppy, we didn't because she hated it, so she still hates it.

I wish we had socialised he with other dogs, she now doesn't really know what to do with them.

For the early days, I wish I hadn't listened to the crate brigade, It was a stressful first week trying to get her to stay happily in her crate when I realised they weren't necessary. Find a dog safe place in your house, for us it was the hallway, others use a utility room or downstairs bathroom. Each dog is different so you don't need to follow fixed rules. (Except for keeping chocolate and raisins out of their way - that is a fixed rule)

I agree with the advice on taking them out in the car. Our puppy’s first car trips (to the vet) involved him trembling and crying. But now, only a month later, he is completely relaxed in the car.

As someone gearing up to get their first pup, this is such a good thread! Bookmarking.

I've just been through the puppy thing twice very recently. The biggest bit of advice I can give is, enforced naps! If they are acting like a naughty toddler, they're tired! I figured it out half way through the first one, and as soon as we got the 2nd, from day one, enforced naps.

I second pp with enforced naps. Also, to begin with keep their area small. It can be scary and overwhelming to have the run of the house from the off and more difficult to reiterate what not to chew etc. It also means you can closely watch their behaviour and quickly know when they need to pee , when they're over tired etc and start to manage it.
Get them into a routine from the first day.
Have them on a light house lead for communication of behaviours.
Don't allow mouthing of hands, exchange for chew toys every time, same for shoes and furniture.
I also second the mantra of don't allow behaviours you won't want to see in another 2 years.
Enjoy!

Put the time in. Be patient. Very patient. If you don’t want to crate train, don’t (I don’t, if you do, fine). Be willing to be flexible on things - different dogs have different personalities. And remember to relax and enjoy - I am currently lying in bed with two of mine - it’s flipping awesome.

You will get back to the stage when you're up before your pup and even though you're up , dog is not having it , it's too early . Do invest in early intensive toilet training regime , it is full on for the first few weeks but soon gets easier as you give regular meals and get to know your pups digestive system .Oh and bedtime doesn't happen until they've been for that last poo and wee.

That is worse than having a new born baby!

Think about who you can build a relationship with to look after your dog if you have to go away. This might be a family member or dog walker, friend, etc. Pup can get to know them, their home and their dogs etc. It really reduces stress for everyone when you have to go away and dog can't come. Think family funeral 3 hr drive away, hospital stay or other emergency not just planned holidays. Our dog adores both my mum's house and our dog walker and we are so grateful for this.

Crate training is useful unless you have a completely safe overnight space. My pup used his for about a year/18mths before I trusted him to have the door open overnight.

You will have broken nights for about a week with puppy crying or needing a wee so book time off to concentrate on puppy - also don’t get flu the same day as you get puppy 🙄.

Expect your carpets to get stained or chewed. And everything else chewed. You probably won’t be able to redecorate for a couple years until they can be trusted.

It can feel overwhelming at points but it is worth it. My dog is five now and he’s lovely and my house might have fur and mud but it doesn’t get trashed any more. I can let him have free roaming of the house (although food stuff does need to be put away properly).

Thank you everyone! I've read every post, and feel both very excited and slightly terrified. It does sound a lot like having a toddler, and I've survived that twice so hopefully we'll be OK! I promise to come back and post a picture when we bring him home.

Yeah I do absolutely agree with those saying regular five minute car trips (short) are essential . Especially when they've been vaccinated . They will be sick(always have an old sheet in car) so it's always someone driving someone with pup .Even if the park is five mins away . There has to be something exciting at the end of the journey so it has to be a park .

We grew up with a much loved dog but it has put me off for life, the amount of work does not outweigh the benefit for me.

PetPlan insurance for much more cover than you think you will need.

Work hard on toilet training and recall.

Enjoy!

Don’t leave your beloved old teddy anywhere s/he can get hold of it and chew half its face off. 🙁
However, after my poor old Ted had been lurking in a drawer for around ten years, he was finally sent off to the Teddy Hospital, who did a brilliant job.

You'll be up on the night like a newborn if you want toilet training to be short. Except with a newborn at least you can feed them lying down..with a puppy you're out in the garden praising them for having a pee on freezing grass at 3am.

I wish I had known that the puppy stage when they are little doesnt last long and take more pictures.

And I didnt know how much I could love a dog. She is now 3 and the best thing that came into our lives
(I wasnt a dog person to start with).

she is a golden retriever and a great girl!

have a lot of fun and take zillions of pictures

Oh, god I couldn't agree more,
My cocker spaniel pup (7 month old) somehow knows how to get my nips,
I never learn 😬
Picture included as he may look cute - but isn't 🥲

I waaaay underestimated how intense it would be. My own fault for not reading a thread like this first (not sure if I would believed it though), but I thought it would be more like having a kitten that would just play and sleep and be cute with a bit of training in between.

I agree with those who say a puppy is harder than having a baby ... I am 43 and have teenagers and would still take a baby over a puppy if forced to choose! (I have actually told my husband he has to divorce me and find a new wife if he ever wants another puppy though... and I 100% mean it).

Ddog is 5 now and would be without her, she’s the best thing ever but…..

puppy blues are a thing, I debated returning her to breeder several times in first weeks.

the biting, like tiny sharks with no manners! Have toys everywhere to shove in mouth to save your limbs.

leaving her for 15 minutes and she’d eaten the paper and plaster off a wall.

that socialising her and training classes weekly for first year of her life hasn’t stopped her becoming non friendly to other dogs.

that insurance is eye watering as they get older.

that everything is covered in a layer of mud from the garden during winter.

I knew this, but quite a lot of people don’t seem to…

That taking your dog out in your arms (or in a sling etc) before its injections is crucial to develop a healthy and robust dog. Socialisation starts from day one - not the day a dog gets its vaccines. Dogs have a ‘fear phase’ and you need to get ahead of that.

Ditto - leaving a dog to cry it out. If you go back when it cries, you’re reinforcing that crying = mummy comes running.

Puppy training does not mean attending a six week class. It means training every day from the day you bring the dog home until the day it dies. Don’t think because you went to training that your dog is trained. It’s not.

We are also gearing up for a new puppy though we have had a pup before.

I recently read a great quote:

If you treat your dog like a human, your dog will treat you like a dog.

It’s absolutely true. Dont be too soppy. (Note to self)