please tell me it gets easier - new puppy

[newpuppypanic]

I am so tired and sleep deprived I can barely keep my eyes open. We picked up our new puppy 2 days ago. She is a 10 week old Labrador. We have a crate for her to sleep in although during the day she appears to prefer a mat on the floor in the lounge.

Last night we were up every 90 minutes with her. She's not house trained and we're struggling to get her to go in the garden - she wanders around, does a lot of sniffing then comes in and wees in the house.

I am so tired I can't think straight. Please tell me it gets easier.

@Aligou I felt exactly as you did. Overwhelmed by the responsibility, at the life change, at how needy she was. It got so much better at around 4 months. Hang in there. My goldie is now seven months

@namechanged984630 Thank you:) I’m sure it will get better. 4 months seems like so long from now. Every day drags. I’m exhausted, worried, and resentful. Not fun.
@GeraltOfRivia. You definitely had a lot more going on than I do. Yet I still feel overwhelmed. And it’s just me and the pup most of the day. The lack of sleep and not eating much doesn’t help. The puppy diet is no joke. I would happily take back those pounds for a settled pup!

@AliGoldie it will be totally worth it in the end. I'll not pretend his new teen phase is easy. It has its challenges. But nothing like that first few bitey sleep deprived period at the start

@GeraltOfRivia. I think it’s that reminder that it will get easier and be worth it in the end that gets me through each day. So thank you. I also would say that this puppy is even more stressful than when my kids were babies. How is that possible?? I just don’t ever remember feeling this level of anxiety. Stressful sure, but this feels next level. Could be that our lives have been relatively quiet for quite some time before bringing her into the mix. It’s a bit of a shock to the system.

@AliGoldie the kids didn't have such pointy teeth as babies. And they tended to pee in a nappy not on the floor. Which I guess is part of it. But I think you're right, it's a shock. And so totally different.

I always assumed everyone was lying that it got easier or that my puppy was an anomaly as puppyhood was absolutely exhausting for us- I lost a stone due to sleep deprivation and lack of appetite from anxiety.

My boy is now 4 and so bloody easy going and flexible. I always thought I would be on edge with him in the house (pooing/chewing expensive things etc) but he can very much be trusted (mostly!).

It takes a while but you will find your groove.

PS my puppy was extremely mouthy and hardly slept/stood still.

Unfortunately they have to do everything wrong at least once in order to learn right from wrong.

I felt exactly the same as you with my lovely but clumsy Golden irish! I used to fantasise that someone would steal her (and treat her much better than me). The relentlessness of it, the total dependance, the not being able to leave the house without her, the toilet training, the poo eating! Now she's 5 months and so much better, a bit mouthy because she's teething but sher is much more confident and independent and a cuddly, lovely dog.

You'll get there, it IS worth it!

I had terrible post puppy depression. Really bad. My DH and I admitted to one another recently that at the time, we both regretted getting him but didn't want to express it to the other. It lasted about a month. I was so anxious I couldn't sleep.

Then all of a sudden we both fell deeply and totally in love with him so much so that we got him a sister and now DH and I are OBSESSED with our beautiful dogs. We adore them.

It takes time but something will click and you will fall in love. Don't return him. You just have to muddle through this tough baby/puppy period. It will be ok I promise