Is it normal to be nervous about getting our puppy?

[doublemocha]

Because I am...

I am very excited too, but have to admit that I am having a wibble today (am FULL of cold and feeling shite, which doesn't help)!

I 'think' we have done all the right things. We have discussed getting the dog at length as a family. We have done tons of research about the breed that we are getting. I have negotiated being able to wfh for the majority of my hours (only 10/12 anyway). I have tons of puppy training books. Kids are 13 and 11, we are a busy active family, who has time for a busy active dog.

Our breeder is excellent and we have seen our puppy often, she also phones every few days with an update. There was a waiting list for the puppies. All three of her dogs are worked.

The crate is set up, toys are in it, I have bought all manner of puppy stuff. He arrives a week on Saturday.

I think it's the fear of the unknown surfacing today, we have never had puppy before, I am worried about training him correctly, whether I can 'do it'. Also, that DH will struggle with the puppy stage, or rather perhaps we all will!

I feel like an expectant parent today I think.

That's it really, just wanted to 'get it out there', so to speak.

We're 3 weeks into puppy ownership, I had exactly the same feelings as you, although the puppy is a family dog I'm the one who does the brunt of the work with him (i work from home) as the children are at college/school etc.
We also read all the books, spoke to different people who have dogs (all told us how rewarding but how much hard work it is), researched the breed etc and felt like we did all our homework but this didn't prepare me for exactly how hard it has been -we have good days and bad, today is a bad day.

However, it has been so rewarding, has bought us together as a family and I already love him to bits. I can't remember what life was like before we had him and i'm really sarting to enjoy him now, you need lot's of patience, you mustn't mind mucky floors etc, but the best thing is the hello I get in the mornings from my manic, fluffy, mad as a box of frogs cockerdile (and yes, i have threatened to send him back on a couple of occasions!!)

That's the same as me hennipenni, I will be the one who does is with him most of the time, given DC's at school and DH at work (always!). Thanks for the reply.

What breed did you go for and why was today a bad day?

I too can see the teenage years looming for the DC's and am hoping our puppy will give us a common 'love'. I see how much pleasure the kids get from our friends dogs and know it will be good for them. They are really excited too.

Today, I am nervous and worried and focusing on the negative (probably 'cos I am feeling crap) and whether I can cope etc. We also didn't go and see him at the weekend, I need a puppy fix and to see all his puppy wrinkles and smell him etc!

I was sooo nervous - it's a good thing, it shows you care and that you want to do the best you can for your pup . Sounds like you have everything sorted, so my only advice would be to get as much sleep as you can! It's like having a newborn and there will be sleepless nights . I've spoken to friends who have slept on the kitchen floor next to their new pup's crate although I didn't resort to that myself (I took him into the living room when he was crying at 2am and we slept on the sofa together instead ). He's 10 months old now and I fondly recall the 5.45am starts . Now I have to drag him out of his crate at 7.30! Your DCs are old enough to be sensible I'm sure but just remind them to let sleeping dogs lie, pups do need their sleep although they can also be manic at times. And be prepared for the trouser leg chewing, it doesn't last long honest! Good luck, you will definitely not regret it

Hi double, we have a cocker spaniel who is 5 months old. Today has been a bad day as he was a pain on his walk first thing this morning (is scared of his own shadow so is forever darting in front of me and I end up tripping up over him, and spent the rest of the walk darting into the road to avoid something silly from eating him). He'd completly forgotten how to 'sit' when trying to put his harness on for said walk and was bouncing around the kitchen like a loon whilst i attempted to avoid his cockerdile teeth to do the deed. He's eaten my living room rug and stripped wall paper off the kitchen wall - I was around at the time but obviously not paying him enough attention.

I know he's starting to hit his teen years (have 2 human ones and a allmost a teen human one too) and will settle down sometime, eventually........Yesterday was a brilliant day [smle] and the brilliant days make up for the bad days.

Normal and healthy to be nervous...just like having a baby. Yes, there are negatives, but the positives more than make up for those. It's scary in the beginning but remember: It gets SO much EASIER . Good Luck!

You sound like you will be great owners, you might have a few sleepless nights but don't fall for it like we did, i now have a little brown furry contraceptive that wedges its way between me and DP every night. To be fair, i don't mind and hes only a jrt, his big brother sleeps under the bed so when we got him we felt bad excluding him so thats where he sleeps!

I was also very nervous about getting our cocker spaniel puppy. "What have we done" is what crossed my mind. But after 9 days we are getting use to him. He is lovely, full of energy and my children age 11 & 9 adore him- they are not watching so much TV! because they are playing with him outside. Yes there is alot of clearing up to do and I am looking forward to him being house trained. WE've been fortunate in that he never as whined at night and it lovely first thing in the morning when I see him he's just so pleased to see you. It's good to hear from others that things do start to get easier.

Hi double, you will be fine Yes it is hard work, especially at the beginning, but it is soooo much quicker than with a baby. They grow so incredibly fast.

You sound so prepared, I am sure you will cope really well. I can't wait to hear all about him over on the new pppy thread!

I keeping thinking that, Berry i.e. if one human year is 7 dog years, then 'stages' must go more quickly!

Spaniels are fab dogs, we did look at this breed too, we seem to deviate towards medium to large, busy beasts!

Thank you all, it's good to know I am normal. Still worried though!

I keep reading things about The Doghouse being mean and nasty, I must say I have found this to be a most helpful place to come.

Although, I have GUILT about not considering a rescue intially reading all the posts. I found this place after we bought the puppy and I don't regret buying a pedigree from a breeder at all. I do wish I had researched rescues though too.

What breed are you getting?

I don't blame you for being nervous. We get our new puppy on Saturday and although I'm excited I'm a bit concerned too. Our remaining dog is now 12 and it's been a long time since we had to deal with a pup. I've kind of forgotten what it's like, while remembering some of the best (worst?) chaotic moments from past dogs puppy years. I forsee lots of 'OMG, what have we done?' type moments in the coming months.

Good luck with your new addition.

i hopefully should have a rescue lab pup arriving with us on sunday and I am suddenly terrified! Why? I have waited so long and now it is almost upon us I feel like running for the hills!

i was like this nearly ten years ago when we got our lab pup

on our second visit to see him i had actually talked myself out of getting him i was so scared of making the wrong decision/huge committment

however, one look at his little face and i was completely convinced

out2lunch - that is heartwarming. The fact that my, pup (finger's crossed) has been rescued froma Welsh puppy farm makes me feel even more responsible and that I have to get it rght for him. I hope in a month or so I am helping prop someone else up on MN

Yes. Completely normal to be nervous. Don't worry you will be great. There will be days when you feel like you are going mad, but you love him/her to bits.

Sorry guys, didn't mean to ignore, we have had a week in Turkey for half term, where, given it will be a long time before I do this again, I felt no guilt whatsoever at lying on a sunbed for the entire time, apart from occasionally reaching for my cocktail or to summon the waiter etc etc!!

We are getting a Hungarian Vizsla btw, tomorrow!!!

WTFwasthat - you are doing a great job of asking all the questions that I will no doubt be asking next week, given you are a week or two further down the road than I am. I have read your puppy journey with interest, so glad it worked out for you How's it going at the moment? Any last minute tips to share?

hi doublemocha- i have to say that the anxiety before he got here was 1million times worse than the reality! He is amazing.. he loves us like we are his saviours and we love him back. It is a bloody pain as I have the cold from hell atm and am exhausted beyond belief with no chance of a lie in or a rest but I can honestly say, it is not as hard as i had made it in my mind. i think i overthought everything to such a degree it seemed terrifying! But it is OK. Housevraining is a pain but he is doing so so well. I am a wee/ poo ninja! it is hard while they can't go out. esp during school holidays but that will be history soon. my only tip would be to remember that everything is short lived. ie waking at night to pup crying, clearing up poo and wee, chewing etc. When I tell myself that, everything is ok. Plus, he/she is a DOG! and they deserve respect and love but they are dogs, not people. That's about it for now, but feel free to ask whatever you want as i was a wreck before pup arrived and previously when I had contemplated dog ownership

Is he here?

This is how I’m feeling about getting our new puppy in mid May. We are getting a black and white female Great Dane, and her name will be Willow. I’m excited, but also so nervous lol. Doesn’t help that our other dog is 13 years old and our cat is 12 years old, so we haven’t had a “baby” in the house for years lol. And our other dog is a Chihuahua, so there’s the size difference to keep in mind. I’m sure everything will be ok though. 😊❤️🐶

Be afraid - be very afraid!!
Puppies have to look cute because they are arseholes
Our Ddog is 2now and I love him but it was very very hard and I daily had “what the fuck have I done” moments
Join the puppy support thread on here for helpful tips and reassurance that it’s all worth it in the end.
BAH I’m jealous, I would love a Great Dane but DH thinks our Goldie is too big so I’ve no chance
Growing up we had a GD Boxer cross and he was so gentle and careful with the smaller animals,even when we had kittens. He didn’t stand on one once

A very old thread... still, I wonder if the OP is still around and might update us on how it went with the puppy, all those years ago...

Please be kind this is my first post on here! Just got a springer spaniel puppy and he's bonkers!!! I was warned he would be and did lot of research prior, but just didn't anticipate being this tired!! Takes me back to baby days . I'm feeling very guilty as almost regretting getting him anyone else go through this ??