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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

I understand that puppies are hard work but in what way?

109 replies

AllergicToNutters · 27/02/2012 09:39

I know that they need time, love, obedience training, attention, socialisation, housetraining and so on. I hear that they are tiring and can be emotionally exhausting and frustrating. But how hard really is it? I am not underestimating it - but when you are looking at all these beautiful doe eyed puppies it is easy to get bowled over by their cuteness and kid yourself that it is going to be easier than it is. I need harsh facts! btw - I am on waiting lists for a Golden Retriever or Labrador pup from reputable breeders.

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yellowlighted · 28/02/2012 09:37

Allergic, I'm sure you'll be fine because you've actually thought about what might happen. It's when people don't and they assume that after two weeks everything will be sorted that they really get into problems.

PurpleFrog · 28/02/2012 09:47

AllergicToNutters - how old are your kids? I couldn't find that info anywhere in your posts. Their ages will make a big difference to how you will cope as a single parent with a puppy......

AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 10:19

Morning Purplefrog - they are 12 and 6 Smile. good ages for a dog i think. But i am a lone parent - is it still do-able?

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PurpleFrog · 28/02/2012 10:35

My dd was 12 (and a half!) when we got ours. That is a good age as she could be left in charge of him for short periods, feed him, take him out to the garden etc. from the beginning. I suppose it depends how dependable your 12 year old is. Since dd really, really wanted a dog she was told that she would have to do her fair share of the work, and she hasn't let us down. She walks him most days after school and at the weekends. As I said before, he is a big lab and dd is quite small, so she takes him out in a halti. [Note that when we decided on a lab we intended to get a bitch so it would be lighter and smaller and easier for dd to handle...... but when we went to see the puppies dd had other ideas. Hmm] Dd has also handled him at all of the Dog Training Classes apart from the first 4-5 weeks where we took turns.

I think you'll cope, although the 6 year old may have a lot of problems with the initial play-biting!

musicposy · 28/02/2012 16:58

Hi allergic, I think so. Not a single parent but DH works long shifts at night, out of the house for 16 hours at a time and sleeping the rest. On his days off it was a big help but I was coping alone for the majority of the time.

DCs were 14 and 10 when we got pup, so a bit older than yours. But yours are old enough to be sensible, so that will help.

There were lots of good bits. She was cute beyond belief and very funny. Did lots of adorable things and made us laugh. She was very quick to toilet train in the day, virtually immediately, but took months and months to learn to hang on through the night. She was very quick to learn and would provide any behaviour required if there was a treat at the end.

The bad? Well, she was a mad bundle of energy. She used to have a "mad hour" every evening before bed when she would literally charge round the house without stopping, sending stuff flying in her wake. She would chew anything and everything that looked vaguely chewable. This included socks, toys, food bowls, chair legs and skirting boards. The decorative edging on the top of our stairs she ate right away.

As an adolescent, it got harder. Be prepared for this as it's when most people return their dogs. They lose the cute factor and you suspect you are going to be left with this behaviour for ever. You look at other people's calm dogs and wonder how they do it. At this point she stole food, continued to chew, added fighting our old dog, jumping boisterously at guests and tearing our clothing to her repertoire and generally did nothing we wanted. We went to endless dog classes which taught her how to behave perfectly at dog class. Hmm

She is nearly two now and the glimpses of the wonderful dog she is becoming are turning into long sightings. We took her away for half term and she greeted every stranger by sitting and wagging her tail. She came back to us on walks the minute she was called and didn't once jump at a passer by. She occasionally mistakes a pencil for a stick but otherwise our furniture is safe from her teeth. She can greet the cat without the need to chase him. I love her beyond all measure and have never regretted getting her. She's amazing. Grin

AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 17:10

musicposy - your dog sounds amazing! That;s is the kind of journey I wish to go on with our dog. I understand that there will be very tricky and stressful times but I am bargaining on the love you feel and the joy they bring on outweighing most of the negatives. What did you do about the nighttime weeing etc? Did you crate her and put a puppypad in there, or get up for her? I'd rather avoid months of getting up, though i am expecting to have to initially. This seems to vary greatly from dog to dog though - as with children. My son wasn't out of pull ups at bedtime until around 6 months ago! I am getting very excited now Smile

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ChickensHaveNoLips · 28/02/2012 17:13
AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 17:15

chickensHNL - oh dear! expand...............

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ChickensHaveNoLips · 28/02/2012 17:19

Oh, I think I'm just grumpy generally, and the puppy being a puppy has tipped me over the edge. He was good as gold all morning, but since school pick up has run laps around the garden barking because the DC are outside playing, counter surfed like a pro and covered my kitchen units in muddy paw prints, climbed in to the dishwasher and escaped triumphantly with the cutlery holder, refused to come in when called, slobbered all over my favourite boots and I found him working on opening the freezer with his jaws

AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 19:12

GrinGrinGrin chickens - he sounds hilarious! I know it is a different story when you are in teh thick of it but that really does sound funny - especially the cutlery holder bit - you should ground him! Wink

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AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 19:13

where are the pics of him?! Do you have any on your profile?

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ChickensHaveNoLips · 28/02/2012 20:12

I think there's one of him from before Christmas on there. Hang on, I'll get a more up to date shot.

ChickensHaveNoLips · 28/02/2012 20:21

Some pics up now :)

PurpleFrog · 28/02/2012 20:26

We can't see them ChickensHaveNoLips. You haven't made them Public or something.

AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 20:28

nope - can't see either!

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ChickensHaveNoLips · 28/02/2012 20:29

Arse. Is that better?

AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 20:31

Oh My Lord - what a beautiful dog?! Thanks Chickens :-)

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PurpleFrog · 28/02/2012 21:06

AllergicToNutters You asked me yesterday to put up a photo of our dog ripping our remote control to bits! I forgot we have actually got photos with him with a remote control..... have a look at the new one on my profile. Grin Grin

AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 21:14

purplefrog - oh thank you! that is hilarious!!! Loving those shades Grin I am sooo excited about getting out dog now. Just waiting for a call from a breeder who is deciding whether or not to keep her one remaining boy pup to show or not. If she deems him unfit for showing them he will be mine!!!!!! (fingers crossed)

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AllergicToNutters · 28/02/2012 21:16

GrinGrin I've just noticed the beer! Brilliant Grin

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PurpleFrog · 28/02/2012 22:40

I'm afraid I can't take any credit for that photo - it was all dd's work! Smile

AllergicToNutters · 29/02/2012 08:05

brilliant! Grin

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petitdonkey · 29/02/2012 20:30

Am reading this thread with so much interest. My puppy is 12 weeks old now- I love him but when will he stop peeing in the house??!!! I can control the nipping and the mad half hours but there is no pattern at all to the weeing!! I can take him out, wait for him to pee and then ten mins after getting in, theres a puddle on the floor!
Can any of you remember when your dog was fully house trained! (oh, and he's just lying next to me now and the flatulence is charming.....)

ChickensHaveNoLips · 29/02/2012 20:43

Jasper was 5 months old before he was reliably house trained. Before that, it was two steps forward one step back. When he did pee outside, I leapt about like a loon and made a huge fuss. In the end, he got the idea, but it felt like forever

AllergicToNutters · 29/02/2012 21:48

*chickens - do you think it just 'clicked' with jasper? Some dogs get it sooner than others I guess. Just like children

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