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

[AllergicToNutters]

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.

Our pup is nearly 1. Now she is a lovely snuggledy piddle monster who gets on the table, regularly gives herself explosive diaorrheah or a colonic irrugation. As a pup she tried to bite the vet, snarled at a couple of trainers and yapped her way through her first few months. Cute, yes, but really not much else was good about her apart from her being here.

We have been warned that she is badly bred and far too neurotic temperamentally. But she is gorgeous and now enjoys seeing the vet and sort of does as she's told and is very affectionate.

I haven't read the whole thread and I got a c12mo old rescue who hadn't had any socialisation so my experience was different but for me it was the emotional bit that I found hardest.

I was prepared for weeing & pooing everywhere (especially when DT told us it could take up to a year as she had lived outside) but she house trained in a week. I was prepared for crying at night, I tried to ignore but couldn't so she still sleeps on our bedroom floor and we are all much happier. I was prepared for chewing, she hasn't ever other than her own toys.

However, the sheer weight of love and responsibility is something else & I grew up with dogs (I don't have DC btw). Yesterday she went through the play tunnel at training for the first time after 3.5 years and I cried. Like others, I love training her, watching her learn etc.

She's my baby and currently sleeping on my feet I wouldn't change a thing.

I've only had rescue dogs, but in your position I wouldn't get a pup. If you go to a reputable rescue - try Dogpages for rescues in your area - You will be matched with a dog who meets your needs and who has often come straight from a foster home who can properly assess the dog and it's personality.

There's no need to buy a breeder's pups when there are some amazing family dogs out there looking for homes. Adult dogs usually come house-trained and often with more advanced training and are used to living with families.

Don't get hung up on breeds either, often the right dog for your circumstances isn't a breed you might have considered before. I've had 2 collies, a GSD and a collie-cross, and they've all been amazing. I've never had anything of value chewed up or any toiletting issues.

Hi op. I have a now 7 month old show cocker. He was not as hard work as I was braced for a bear in mind I am a lp with a 6 and 3 year old with no help with walks etc. The biggest issues we had were the puppy boring stage - pretty much over at 5 months, pulling on the lead - get a no pull harness worked wonders and being very boisterous in the house. I reckon he turned a corner at 6 months and is becoming a very cuddly soppy loving dog. He (heavily supervised) allows my 3 year old to sit by his good bowl and feed him his kibble one at a time and he takes them from her fingers as softly as a kitten. I am amazed! He didn't understand about being gentle with dd2 at first but he's really getting there and he loves the kids.
I don't regret him at all now he's gorgeous. I just have to be organised as I work part time and need to plan around not leaving him too long.

Have a one year old dog who we got as a tiny puppy last year and an 8 week old infant both sleeping on different parts of my body right now.

Right. A puppy was as hard as this baby, with the mobility of a toddler and without the convenience of nappies.

Yup. So imagine this infant on my chest - with it's wails and needs and no bowel control - just set loose over the house chewing wires, not to be put down in a crib, and shitting and pissing all over the house instead of in nappies, and with needle sharp razor fine teeth instead of baby gums.

We got our puppy before the DCs.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy. But nothing like having a baby.

We went to puppy classes, which helped. Have hard floors downstairs. I have fond memories of DH cocking his leg in the garden, trying to demonstrate a pee

Research the breeds you like very carefully. Take their profiles seriously. Be prepared to be muddy a lot and make sure you like the outdoors! That said the puppy got my kids walking for pleasure in an instant and they love a good muddy ramble with the dog now. Beaches in the winter are their/pups current favourite. They are all hard as nails!

It's like having a new born again. I certainly had several "what have we done?" Moments when we got d dog. But 3 years later, I cannot imagine life without her.

The worst thing for me was the toilet training and the guilt whenever I went out.

A ticking clock resembles the mother's heartbeat, and hot water bottle in the puppies bed keeps him warm and settles him at night.