new puppy..........does it get better?

[murphyslaw]

Have had an English Springer Spaniel(13 weeks old) for just over a week now. Also have 3 kids aged 6, 9 and 12. I am really struggling and constantly in tears. Breeder messed up with jabs and we have had to restart the whole course consequently he cant go out walkies! for another 3 weeks. So kids are off - dog is peeing everywhere and I cant go far because hes on 3 meals a day and dont think it very fair to keep him locked in the kitchen for long periods of time. Am really questioning if I have done the right thing? Has anyone been in a similar position? and does it get any better?

hi fauve - yes indeed, we met in a lift. hope you're well. have you looked at the kc website about choosing puppies? really good advice. and, if I can, be prepared to chose none of them. the first litter I looked at was not right - for a number of reasons. but stupid me found it hard to say no, so I left a deposit...and then called to back down!I handled it badly, because I was so convinced the litter would be ok. but I did the right thing in the end. I hope, of course, the litter and breeder tick all the boxes and it's all fine. i seriously recommend that book - it's great. The pupster was pretty much instantly house-trained (he poo-ed and wee-ed inside once during the day and for about a week overnight), he was sitting almost instantly and now stays, walks to heal, lies down, gives me a paw, gives me the "other" paw. he is a lab - which is a hugely different beast to a springer, but I still ttribute a lot to that book. good luck today.

Thanks, Hatwoman! I will look at the kc website. Since you're rather local to me, I don't suppose you'd be able to recommend a good puppy training class, pretty please? Feel free to CAT me if you don't want to post about it on here. I will get that book - I've put it on my Amazon wish list!

tbh I can't no! we;re due to start next week - in Tolworth/surbiton and I did like the woman a lot when we spoke on the phone - she was happy to chat for 10 minutes or so and give me some advice as to what we should be doing before the classes started. she sounds great - and she sent me a form to fill in about our family and the pupster, which I thought showed how seriously she takes it - but I'm yet to start the classes - so can't really recommend as such. her website is here: www.abcdogs.co.uk/. did you choose one today?

We chose a gorgeous little adventurer - we had slight doubts because he IS quite dominant, but very human-friendly and licky. He is SO beautiful. We pick him up in a couple of weeks!

I am in love already.

Thanks for that website - will check it out. I'll be offline for a bit now, so sorry if I don't respond to other posts. I feel I should also apologise to the OP for hijacking