Your typical day with a puppy

[Solo2]

Please can people tell me what their typical day is with a puppy? Rollo is just over 10 weeks old now and we've had him here at home for the last 3 weeks. I am getting absolutely totally and utterly NO time, outside the barest essential tasks - to keep on top of my daily life because every single tiny bit of inbetween time, I give to the pup. I am weeks behind with urgent phone calls, admin. for my business, essential stuff for my sons (who are about to have their 10th birthday this w/e and I've barely got anything at all and haven't wrapped anything I've got!)

This is my typical day: Could people tell me if I could find anymore time and if I'm giving too much or too little time to our pup?

Wake around 5.30am - cup of tea/ feed cats
Dog from 6am till 6.45am
Family/ domestic demands 6.45am till 7.45am
Dog from 7.45am till 8.30am (this changes in the school term time when everything is shifted back an hr as the DCs need to be taken to school by 7.30am)
Dog from 9.10am till 9.30am
Work from 9.45am till 11.45am
Dog from 11.45am till 12.50pm
Work from 1.00pm till 2.00pm
Dog from 2.00pm till 2.45pm
Collect DCs/ shop for essential food from 2.45pm till 4.00pm
Dog from 4.00pm till 5.00pm
Make DCs meal/attend to DCs (who are still hugely resentful of time taken away from them by the dog) from 5.00pm till 6.00pm
Dog from 6.00pm till 7.15pm
Supper/ snack for DCs/ support their going to be process/ bath etc from 7.15pm till 8.30pm
Dog from 8.30pm till 9.00pm
Get self to bed and sleep from about 9.45pm till 5.00am

The dog bits involve feeding/ training/ playing with/ toileting/ walking round garden with/ cuddling etc etc. But they take up every small scrap of time I used to have to make tel. calls/ respond to emails/ go to bank/ do laundry/ do business admin/ do household chores.

I'd really, really benefit from seeing other people's typical day 'timetable' with a puppy in tow, to see if there's anything I can do to change anything, as I'm now panicking about so much urgent stuff undone. I'm working this week for only 3 spread out hrs a day - (this is my paid part of my work) which halves what I was doing before. I can't even finish this message now as the pup is calling me and then I MUST go and buy some food for my sons and pick them up from their hol. club!

It sounds par for the course to me. Surely you knew that when you took the puppy on?

I wouldn't expect to have any more time (in fact may well expect to have less still) with a 10 week old pup.

Val (rescuer and owner of 3 dogs).

Oh.... and sorry, but I'm no help in suggesting how to make time aside from roping DH/DP in to do more, if you have one. It will get easier, but it does take time.

Pup will soon be able to go to training classes which should assist in setting a pattern and teaching him life skills... and of course when he's a bit older and fully innoculated you will be able to wear him out with short walks.

It passes, til then you just have to throw yourself into it and grit your teeth I'm afraid! Make the most of it as it doesn't last long... in a few months he'll be a big boy and you'll have all but forgotten the little and demanding stage.

I don't have any sort of timetable tbh. I don't have one in my everyday life, let alone when I have a puppy! If I have a puppy I time any trips like supermarket for when my DH is here, so the only 'essentials' are things like the school run and then I will take puppy with me, either in the car or walking once she is old enough. I don't work, but I do spend time doing things like housework, internet, watching TV, walking my other dogs and the puppy has to fit around that. I usually take puppy out to toilet at regular intervals and keep one eye on the pup at all times unless in her crate, but things like training are fit in when the dinner is cooking, if I am on the phone (great for teaching hand signal commands) or if I have a free five minutes. I do keep my other dog walks short and more frequent if I have a pup, or fit long ones in when DH is here, but otherwise, the puppy must fit around my nornal life, not the other way round.

It's great that you're so commited to your pup, but I think relaxing a little would mean you could fit much more work/time for yourself in. Keep training to short sessions (waiting for the kettle to boil?) and provided puppy co-operates, feeding and toilet sessions should be 20 mins tops. The puppy really needs to learn to spend time alone and have quiet time. Would putting the crate next to your work station mean you could get more time free for work?

Thanks. Thought it would be like this but wondered if it really had to be SO endlessly hard! I'm single - with twins - run my own business singlehandedly (so I do all accounts/ admin too), do all domestic/ DIY etc etc myself - so there isn't anyone here but me to do it all.

My next plan is to buy a laptop so I can be next to the dog - who really lives mostly in the kitchen and the garden at present - but do tiny bits of admin/ paperwork at the same time. My office is in an upstairs room with a desktop PC. So this is part of the problem.

It's the things like - our toilet seat being broken and no time to do a trip out to buy one and fix it on...the cat flap being broken and no time to buy one and fit it on....the mounds and mounds of washed - but not put away - laundry....the need to figure out and fit the car dog guard - but no time (not even sure all the proper parts are there when I bought it yesterday)...the need to clean properly the dog sick from the boot...the need to do - or even order online - a big supermarket shop - and no time for that....

Just returned from picking up DCs from hol. club. They want me - and food - but Rollo also needs me too. Took him straight into garden as soon as we got home but he didn't toilet - so will have to rush down now and try him again and then play with him...whilst DCs moan and get grumpy that I'm not there for them and they've been away from me all day and my 'to-do' list is now too long even to keep up writing it!!!

Rollo seems good at time alone but I know he's only got a few more weeks to be fully socialised and I'm riven with guilt at lack of time for more trips out with him - in arms.

He went to his first puppy class last night and met other pups for first time since leaving home. It was incredibly stressful getting us all there and the DCs were massively upset that they had to attend - especially DC2 (with Asperger's traits) as any new situation for him is v difficult. Rollo was OK but a bit scared of some of the more boisterous pups. It's a good class, run by the trainer who trained our one-to-one trainer. Just SO hard to factor in effectively what feels like a third child - meriting more of my attention than my twins - yet be there enough for the DCs and also keep my 'normal life' going and earn money too!!!

Back downstairs now to take pup back into garden and talk to twins as I pass by. I'll suggest they come out too but they're not really spending much time at all with the puppy - so it's me all of the time really!

I think that midori and I both can sympathise there... I'm a lone parent in similar circumstances to you (less the car!) and have got 2 DC with just a 19 month age gap (and the younger one has "issues") and have had at least 2 dogs since before they were born and IIRCmidori has more DC than I, including twins, and more dogs than I too!

I found that the easy way around things was to leave as much admin etc work until the DC were in bed. Like yours mine had to go with me when I went out walking dogs/training etc, it's just something you have no choice in isn't it? Likewise I did my own training when the DC were at school so there were no distractions, leaving anything I possibly could such as ironing etc until some stupid hour at night.

It won't always be like this, honest.

I cried quite a lot when I got my puppy (my first ever dog). I couldn't believe what hard work it was. I had broken my foot and thought a puppy would encourage me to walk more. I used my DDs laptop so that I could sit in the kitchen with him.

Just keep telling yourself "This too will pass".

helps

Looking at your timetable in my opinion you are spending too long a period with your puppy. eg an hour or 45 mins is a time is a long time for a puppy. I would only train for 5 or 15 min intervals max.

There is a lot you can do to make things easier. Have a safe space for the puppy indoors where it can play, sleep etc while you get on with other things. I have the same in the garden a small temporary area. The puppy must learn to amuse itself and also to be bored and learn to relax. You are doing it no favours by becoming its only means of entertainment. Quality is much better than quantity time.

Also you must get the boys involved. Feel free to ignore this but 10 year old boys must learn that the world does not evolve around them. They must learn that if they want more of their Mums time they must help her to get things done so she can be with them (speaks a Mother of 5 and two sets of twins but definitely no Mother of the Year!) They can be responsible for several tasks be it feeding the cat or being shown how to feed the puppy, or taking puppy out for a wee.

Also find a friendly dog walker who can give you a day off - maybe the puppy could go to their house for a morning - it will be great for the puppy to socialise with others and give you a bit of a breather.

Feed the dog in a kong or even put his food into an empty cereal packet - make him work to find his food - it will take him longer to eat and give you more time also it will tire him out.

Give him an old sock with a tennis ball in it to play with - also old tea towels with knots in it.

Puppies love to chase empty milk cartons around the room (the noise will do your head in but at least you can do other things knowing he is occupied) take it away if he tries to chew or eat it. 10 weeks he should be ok.

Get a marrow bone and let him chew that in the safe area in the garden.

The other thing to do although he may be too old to get used to this is to put him in a rucksack and carry him around the house as you do jobs - did this when I had twins and puppies! Meant I could put away washing etc and amuse the kids/puppies.

Take the dog with you on the school run and to the shops it will tir out the puppy and socialise him at the same time so when you get back after a wee break he can have a nap.

Guilt forget it - a useless emotion only drains you of energy - if you can do it great if not do not beat yourself up you are doing fine. A well breed goldie will do fine in a busy house with comings and goings and getting out when you go out.

You are doing a fab job or looking after your DC, your clients and your puppy but a rubbish job of looking after yourself Solo! - Give yourself some slack your puppy will be fine with a little bit less attention.

When you can walk him twice a day it will be so much easier.

i think in the long run, this experience will do your children good. maybe they could help a bit more with non-puppy related tasks (ie. chop veg for tea, put clothes away etc.) and you definitely should not be feeling guilty as it sounds like you are working very hard!

our pup is 15 weeks old (had him 7 weeks now) and he is getting much easier, which i put down to a combination of being able to go out for walks/starting puppy classes/finally cracking toilet training/him getting used to us and our routines/me getting lazier and less obsessive relaxing about things

have a sounds like you deserve one!

Thanks again. Amazing how many of us dog lovers also have twins/ loads of DCs and some - like me - single parenting too! They do say it takes a busy woman to do even more...or something like that!

Good to know that little and often is better than extended periods with pup.

Having a real difficulty taking Rollo in the car. He's outgrown the big cat carrier and so he's currently on towels/ blanket in the boot of the hatchback VW Polo with lid removed of course. He HATES it. He resists going in at all like mad and I can only get him in with DS1 getting into the back and then leaning over and holding onto Rollo's harness and keeping his head down, as I try to put down the boot lid. No amount of treats etc help, as Rollo just wants and tries to jump out.

He's been sick twice so far and whines as I drive - though is whining less. So I have to psyche myself up to take him at all and he hasn't therefore had nearly enough goes in the car. Also, I'm worried about leaving him in there even for a couple of mins whilst I drop off DCs at their hol. club and couldn't therefore take him when i do shopping as he couldn't come into the shops with me and I can't leave him alone in the car....Anyway, that's a separate and specific issue I guess....I haven't found time to follow up the helpful internet links people gave me about car crates that fit my Polo....So just bought a cheap - and impossible to put together quickly - dog guard!

From next Monday, Rollo will be allowed out and about walking - so it's not far off. Have considered a dog sitter/ walker as a one off to allow me to focus on the DCs before they return to school and already know someone locally who's great with our cats when we go away. I could also use her to help me socialise Rollo.

Incidentally, Rollo has masses of toys and kong like things but doesn't spend long with anything - expect anything that's dangerous of course (just like my DCS!) - eg loves sticks, garden plants/ moss, stones - so I'm forever prising open his mouth to extract the latest thing. There isn't really a safe enough area of the garden and never had time to get and erect whatever I'd need to fence off a temporary area. In fact, at the moment I could do with even just one other adult around to do all those things for the dog and the house, the business and the DCs that I'm not getting time to do - including finding the help I need!!!

I'm sad the DCs aren't more into him. DS1 loves him and will play a bit with him and cuddle him and DS2 will v occasionally give him a hug/ attention - but it's completely minimal. I'd have given everything to have had a dog at their age and would have abandoned everything to be with my dog!

Minimu - your suggestions are great. Will pursue all as soon as I can

Rollo currently asleep on kitchen floor and DCs watching TV and shouting out for chocolate. I haven't watched any TV for 10 yrs now and have all my meals - or snacks really - whilst rushing round the kitchen standing up! I never even get to go in the sitting room!!! May slump on the kitchen floor beside dog in a minute!

"DCs watching TV and shouting out for chocolate. I haven't watched any TV for 10 yrs now and have all my meals - or snacks really - whilst rushing round the kitchen standing up! I never even get to go in the sitting room!!! May slump on the kitchen floor beside dog in a minute!"

My three (large) dogs sleep where they like but also have baskets in the kitchen as they follow me pretty much everywhere. I've been known to say "Sod it!" and plonk myself in a basket with a GSD or Lab for company, just to get a break!

Shineon...getting the puppy has already had a major impact on how I am with my DCs and I'm already expecting them to do much more for the family and themselves - but it's a slow process. It's also making them more resentful of Rollo and in the car today on the way to the kids club, DS1 - the son most 'into' the dog, began to cry - v unusual of him - and say that all the things he wants to do on his birthday - in a few days time - he can't do because of the dog - eg long day trips out, go to non-dog-friendly places etc etc. DS2 is constantly reminding me of 'what we can't now do - because of the dog' too. So I'm trying to transition them into the whole lifestyle change gradually and it's an uphill struggle.

However, you're right that I stress too much, try too hard, aim for perfection and feel I fall far short of my own standards all of the time! It's very useful to hear about yours - and others - typical days with a puppy. I'm aiming to feel less guilty. I'm also looking for an occasional day off and to get in a dog sitter - which I haven't wanted to do so far because Rollo is still young and just getting used to us all and won't be fully protected by his vaccs till Monday coming.

I do wonder if I should have waited until the DCs were a bit older - perhaps 14 or so - before getting a puppy and needing me even less - but I'd hoped they'd have been really into the dog and they're not.

That said, have started to feed part of Rollo's meal as treats in training and DS2 has helped with this - calling Rollo and when the pup looks up, throwing a piece of kibble for him to get. So Rollo is getting more exrecise, some interaction with DS2 and fun out of his food. He's still not much into getting his food out of a kong or the puzzle ball that releases kibble as it's nosed around the room but hopefully this will come in time.

I sort of feel like I need to draft in some daily help/ dog training to support me 'raising Rollo'. But is that something people ever do - or just a cop out for doing it myself? I've had the same inner battle over the last 10 yrs with my twins - wondering if I should have drafted in more childcare support (got no relatives to help) or rely on me - as I'm their mother and the same dilemma is currently going on about our puppy? Am I best for him - although feel I can't give him enough time - or should I pay a dog trainer/dog sitter to help me regularly??

Do you have a playpen?

Was a lifesaver for a few weeks with me and my pup. Put it next to my desk with a few chews and a bed in it, and basically just taught him to settle in it for a couple of hours at a time, bar toilet breaks.

He outgrew it very quickly, so I'd suggest ebay rather than flashy petshop one that i bought, but it will help.