Help. It feels like a terrible mistake!

[swedishmum]

For ages ds has wanted a dog or a brother. Given we have 4 children and I've already hit 40 we thought the dog would be a better idea. I thought dh had gone to look at/reserve a labrador on Sunday but he came home with one. I must admit he's gorgeous but the house wasn't ready for him and I've never had a dog before.
Dh promptly left for the week as usual at 4am on Mon leaving me with a baby (19 months and been clingy ever since the dog's arrival) and 2 school runs every morning.
He's been good (fairly) about weeing outside but the logistics are driving me mad. Is it ok to leave him in his pen while I get stuff done? And for how long? He's still very bouncy. Please help - I've been in tears every day and am about to pack my bags and move out with the cat!

We wanted and planned for a puppy, but it still did my head in for a while, being stuck in the house with a constantly weeing, defecating dog (he was only two months old, bless him). How old is yours? If a pup, do you not find that he does a lot of sleeping anyway?

Are you using a crate? It should be somewhere that he goes to of his own volition, rather than somewhere that he's 'shut up', so that he sees it as a punishment. For how long are you leaving him in his pen?

I am so glad i found this thread my dd 4 wants a cat and up until now i have thought yep i will get her one for Eid but reading your threads (even though your talking about dogs) has put me off i'll by one of those that meows from toys r us

Ah, but the long term joys...

My dog is now a year old and sleeping on my feet. My husband loves the welcome he gets when gets in of an evening - the dog practically throws himself at him. And his funny little ways are very endearing (the dog's - not the husband's...)

puppies
This site has some useful info.

He doesn't spend long in the pen, just enough time for me to get the laundry and negociate my way round the cat really!
I'm back in love with him at the moment - he's weed outside loads today and he's only 8 weeks. I think the other children will love it once he can go for walks.
At least dh is back now so the half hour from 6.30 - 7 when baby and dog are both wanting attention should be betterukeika, it's great to hear happy endings while I'm in my first week of house arrest!

I've survived this long. The baby and the cat are now getting used to the dog.
Next problem - biting...

You - or the dog??

There was another thread about biting / chewing \link {http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2340&threadid=103736&stamp=050909101402\here} recently.

I worked on bite inhibition quite hard - and now he's extremely gentle (well, unless he's tired and grumpy and getting hysterical because we're trying to clean his ears or something...).

I'll try that again.

Here.

Thanks RZ. I think we're getting the hang of this dog thing. One more week before we can take him out on a lead! I just hate the 6.30 floor mopping while toddler screams at me over the stairgate. As long as I can train one or the other...