Rubbish morning. Pregnancy and young pup advice needed.

[AllTheYoungDoods]

Actually, it's pretty much a rant until the end. Oh god I'm a mess.

I'm about 9 weeks pregnant, and have been suffering horribly with nausea, which in the past couple of days has escalated to vomiting. My DH has been doing the dog early mornings, but couldn't today so I let the dog out, and as he was sniffing around the lawn, I was promptly sick on his head! He didn't seem to mind .

Then I take him for a walk. He's a 8 month old doodle and I've posted on here before about the fact that he gets very over-exciteable when meeting other people and dogs, and will run off to meet them - and jump at owners - across the park. We've been working really hard at it, so today I approach the park, him on lead, and this horrible woman lets her terrier run up to him - I did say, I'm trying to train here, but she still allowed it. Then her dog absolutely went for mine, really growling and trying to nip, again and again. I was pretty furious, and doodle was bouncing all over the place with pent-up frustration on lead, so I was having a real job to get him settled again, and I just got a load of dirty looks from all the other walkers as if I couldn't control my dog.

So, we go into the park, I do lots of ball throwing for him and praise him when he runs back at me, do spot rewards with chicken. Occasionally get him to sit and wait, while I walk off (he's really good at this) so I can call him to me massively enthusiastically and reward. Working really hard to keep him focussed and coming back to me. All going well, and then there's quite a few more dogs around, so I pop him back on lead.

Gorgeous gorgeous puppy walks towards us, tail wagging. mine starts going beserk to say hello, and the owner acknowleges its ok so we walk towards each other and doodle suddenly pulls, I slip over, wrench my knee and drop the lead. In so much pain I can't get up for a few minutes, while doodle is mugging the other dog's owner for his toy. Takes ages to separate and untangle them, my dog is ignoring me, jumping, snatching toys, the works.

Come back from walk in tears. This is not like me. I know I'm over-emotional because I'm all hormonal, but I'm so scared I'm not going to cope. Obviously, I have to cope, I just didn't realise I'd find it this hard so early - I thought it was only when I got bigger and struggled with balance, or if I get the dreaded SPD, that we'll have real problems.

I guess I just need someone to tell me I can do this. Feel like I've been working constantly on this with the dog since we got him - we never just go out for a walk, there's always treats/balls/toys/whistle/longline/some kind of training involved. And yet i still come home feeling like the worst dog owner in the world

You will cope hun, you just had a really crappy morning. (((HUGS))). You are entitled to a good old hormonal cry when your pregnant, I had loads during both of mine.

I am sure that most ladies on here at some point during pregnancy have had days when they have felt like they won't be able to cope. I promise you you do get through it (then wonder how you did).

You're having a bad day. :) You will get through it - a friend of mine has a 2 year old labradoodle who at 8 months was exactly as you describe yours. He's now 14 months and because she stuck with the training and dealt with the lows (like you had today) she has the MOST wonderful well behaved dog. So much so, that all the morons in the park who looked at her as if she was the owner from hell when her dog was 8 months old, now compliment her on how well behaved her dog is.

This too shall pass.

Big un-mumsnetty hugs for you Doods. I remember walking my dog at around 7 or 8 months pregnant and I was beyond shattered at the time. My dog decided to nip in front of me to growl at his nemesis and in doing so, tripped me over and I went flying, right onto pregnant belly. Out of sheer tiredness I thwacked him with the back of my hand and called him a silly dog whilst sitting in the middle of the road, crying. A woman saw it said "awhhh... he didn't do anything" like I didn't know he didn't do anything deliberately, but it got the better of me. That was also a bad pregnancy/dog day.

I know your situation is different, but pregnancy hormones get the better of us all. You will overcome it. Sounds like you're doing brilliantly with all that training - it will pay off

I think your doing really well, and are not the worst dog owner - read some of the other threads.

I have an 18 month old Doodle and I promise you it does get better, I cant say she is the best trained dog in the park, and she still runs up to people but instead of jumping up at them she sits and waits to be stroked :) She almost always comes back when called and is much calmer than a year ago.

Please dont be so hard on yourself, sounds like your doing a good job.

I hope the sickness stops soon.