Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

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

Original poster

Wish we had never bought new puppy.

106 replies

Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:06

Bought a new puppy 4 months ago, he's now 6 months. I feel like it's the biggest mistake ever. Him and my 6 year old dog still don't get on, there's a lot of fighting and jealousy. I have developed a bad back and struggling to walk them together, puppy is strong and just pulls constantly, so having to do four separate walks a day, although other family members do help. I try to keep him out of certain rooms but he just throws himself at doors and manages to get them open, when shut in the Kitchen for a short time he whines and scratches woodwork. He has pulled wallpaper off 2 rooms in the past week, caused £200 worth of damage to trainers and coats etc ( despite reminding teenagers not to leave shoes where he can get them ). He constantly whines to go out and no sooner has he come in but wants to go out again- I can't not let him out in case he wants to wee. I am constantly up and down. Tried to have a one hour lie in this morning after dh had left as I have been on nightshifts over the weekend but even then I couldn't as he was whining and scratching the kitchen door. Our other dog is miserable, I am miserable, just don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Whisky2014 · 08/01/2018 12:07

Shock horror...he's acting like a puppy.

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:08

Just to add he has loads of toys, chews etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:08

Thanks for the useful advice.

OP posts:
abbsisspartacus · 08/01/2018 12:09

Your right to regret having a puppy it's clearly not working for you

WaitrosePigeon · 08/01/2018 12:09

It’s fucking hard! I think it’s harder than having children... Shock

abbsisspartacus · 08/01/2018 12:10

Toys and chews do not make up for human interaction and training can you rehome?

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:10

It certainly is Waitrose.

OP posts:
abbsisspartacus · 08/01/2018 12:11

At least kids grow up some dogs never do

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:11

He is getting loads of interaction/ walks/ playing etc. He is not being neglected !

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 08/01/2018 12:11

What training have you done? The puppy sounds bored and with possible separation anxiety. What breed is it and your other dog?
Stair gates could keep them separate but stop the door scratching.
The teenagers need to take responsibility for their stuff or you need to check there's nothing out.
You don't get lie ins when you have a puppy.

WaitrosePigeon · 08/01/2018 12:11

Sorry I wasn’t much use there was I. I totally understand how you feel, though. The crying at the back door makes me want to stick needles in my eyeballs.

Whisky2014 · 08/01/2018 12:14

Well, it's hard to give you sympathy. I mean, you have a dog so you must have known what it was like training that one and if for some reason that dog was older when you got it, you should have carried out more research, asked others with puppys what it entails. And it's this kind of thing that puts pressure on animal charities to step in which then rely on other people to fund it. So Yeh, you got a puppy. It will get better when it's older. But you have a puppy so you should suck it up. Or make this puppy another statistic and rehome it.

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:15

We have a stairgate on the stairs but I honestly think he would jump over one to the kitchen, he is jumping over a similar height of fence to get into part of the garden that we are trying to keep him off as new lawn has been laid.
He is a cocker spaniel. older dog is a cockapoo.
He certainly does have separation anxiety. He is never left for more than a couple of hours maximum.

OP posts:
OurKelly · 08/01/2018 12:15

My best friend went through this when she got her puppy. She was in tears most days. Puppy is now 9 months and SO much better but honestly I'd rather have 5 babies at the same time than a puppy. It does get better.

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:17

I don't want to re-home., I guess I just thought it might be easier with 2 dogs but clearly not, I don't remember our older dog being this bad and I had 4 youngish kids then too !

OP posts:
averylongtimeago · 08/01/2018 12:17

He sounds bored. What training have you done? Do you go to a dog training class?

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:19

Ourkelly - thanks for the positivity. I am sat here in tears but that's probably just exhaustion from the nightshifts.

OP posts:
katmarie · 08/01/2018 12:19

Re the back door thing, fit a dog flap. Ours go in and out as much as they please without whining. It's a godsend.

It sounds like your puppy needs more training, it's becoming bored and destructive. Do you do dedicated training sessions with it? Spending 20 minutes two or three times a day will work wonders on behavior as well as giving it some mental exercise. Also with the walking what are you doing to address the pulling? We practice with the lead at home, I walk my six month old puppy up and down the garden or the living room to get her used to not pulling, she pulls a lot at the moment and it's taking some time to improve but we will get there.

Kidssendingmenuts · 08/01/2018 12:19

Firstly has your puppy been done? Your older d g may be jealous that he still has balls. My own pooch did this, never got on with other intact males.
Secondly you really need to either get him into training classes or get a dog trainer. This will really help you in the long run, they will also help you regarding the pulling though in the meantime look at halti's. You can get them cheap at b&m for about £4 or from pets at home. These instantly stop the pulling. He may not like it at first but he will get used to it.
If you can afford maybe put him in daycare once a week or get a dog walker for once a week with a small pack so he also gets used to other dogs.
I do feel for you, it's hard and it does get easier but only if you help yourself by getting him trained and getting him done. X

Changednamejustincase · 08/01/2018 12:21

It'll pass. In another 6 months or so you'll notice he doesn't annoy you anymore. He'll have stopped chewing, won't pull on the lead and will let you have a bit of a sleep in.

Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:21

I need to try to book into a dog training class, I've been trying to research that. Have people found it makes a big difference as opposed ?I'm trying to train him to walk to heel, and he knows the basic , sitting and bringing a ball back.

OP posts:
Original poster
Babyroobs · 08/01/2018 12:23

Kids- He has a harness, not a halti, are Halti's stronger than other types of harness? What age can I get him done at ? My other dog is a bitch by the way so no jealousy there !

OP posts:
Whisky2014 · 08/01/2018 12:24

I Have an 11 year old dog and my brother has a e year old. I look after his dog quite often and my old girl hated her to begin with. But now they are more friendly and the 3 year old dog always runs back on walks to wait on the older one! Its so sweet. I agree just give it time.

Shadowboy · 08/01/2018 12:25

Some spaniels just don ‘do’ heel! I was always taught a bored dog will never sleep. So if he’s difficult to settle he is likely bored. Have you tried agility? Spaniels are often pretty good at it. We never have two of the same sex of any breed at home (we help with 2 breed rescues) as it is much more likely to cause issues.

What causes the fighting? What’s the trigger?

Ginandanything · 08/01/2018 12:25

Your first responsibiity - apart from the DH and DCs - is to the older dog. If his life is being made an absolute misery, then perhaps you should think seriously about finding a new home for the puppy. Things may not get better on that front when the puppy is older.