Tips for surviving puppy motherhood? 🐶

[GinThereDoneThat]

Hi all, a new poster here and wondering if you have any "pro tips" for a puppy coming to join our family in early May.

I haven't had a puppy for a long time despite being an experienced dog owner, and I'm feeling a bit rusty

What a cutie. She's gorgeous.

Takes after her mother

Our dog was an absolute menace. We got him at 12 weeks and at first he was like an angel dog. Then he settled in and the nipping started, he would bite absolutely anything or anyone. He didn’t care if you yelped if you cried if you walked away.

I was ready to give up because we have young children in the family who visit a lot and I was really worried he would nip one of them and scare them. As it is I should not have panicked. We got a dog trainer to come to the house and she told us he was completely normal. He has grown out of it completely. My neighbour has a baby and he has never so much has licked her although I am still cautious.

He sleeps through the night (from 9pm till 10am) and he cat naps all day. He is friendly to other dogs (sometimes a little too much!).

One thing I’d say is no matter how tempting feed him only dog food. Alfie will sit and beg for meat etc and often turns his nose up at his dinner if he thinks he can have human food instead. We are trying to cut this out now but it would have been easier if we never let him have people food in the first place!

As he is a beagle his recall is hit and miss but he is mostly okay unless there is another dog. He is 7 months now and we have been advised to have him done as he has a problem with his boy bits. I’m hoping this makes him less interested in other dogs a little bit!

Good luck and most of all enjoy!
Take lots of pictures as they get so big so fast!

GinThere Unless you post a photo of yourself, how can we know

Yes will be taking lots of pictures whilst she's still a nipper - soon she will be a big lump on the end of my bed forever 😂

Be prepared to worry and think you are a terrible parent and get the puppy blues. I have felt extremely anxious and have had a dicky tummy since the dog arrived 3 weeks ago. I don't suffer anxiety I felt the same overwhelming feeling after my DS was born. But I have to say it's getting better I am not worrying so much and the dog is doing well. It's like having a baby without all the lovely hormones to keep you going . But you will do fine and all will be alright in the end.

Good luck everyone. Stock up on the enzyme cleaner for wee accidents! Torch for night time wee visits and lots and lots of things for pup to chew. They chew. A lot. Better nylabones and Kongs than you or a wall!

Here's our 8 week old Bonny who came on Monday happily enjoying her crate and settled very well. My tips are

• dark blanket around crate to make a cave, crate not too big.
• adaptil spray - smells like bitches boobs apparently!
• toy with heart beat thing in it (Amazon)
• smelly shoes nearby - a breakthrough in crying prevention
• a smelly top you've worn
• tiny amount of shredded chicken in food
• moldex ear plugs for night (owner NOT pup) 😂

@Tinkobell awww she's so cute! What breed? Mine's Nancy yes I deffo need to get chicken and adaptil!

Cockapoo....but more cocker than poo we think! She's a right whirlwind!

@Tinkobell oh god.. Nancy is a cockapoo too!! God help us

tinkobell what heartbeat you did you buy?

*toy!!!

I'm here with a 9 week old cockapoo puppy too! After a week we seems to have got her from waking 5 times in the night to 2!

It's deffo the best time of year to get a puppy.

Very cute giraffe

We pick this dude up a week Wednesday:

@Giraffe31 - spooky could we have sisters? Got mine from Edgeware?

@Lamblossom - the toy I got is called AFP little buddy. I'm told a loud ticking clock nearby is also very good though.
just had a great fun out on lawn with a bowl of warm water!
SMelly shoe is proving a constant comfort to our pup she sticks her nose right down into it for max pong inhalation! 😬

Smelly shoe Inhalation

Sorry here's the pic!

Tinkobell that's spooky but ours is a Barnsley lass!

@katmunchkin we've got a German shorthaired pointer puppy too! We picked him up last Tuesday so he's 10 weeks old Now - wee ball of mischief!

This is Oscar. We've had him around 5 weeks now and hes settled in brilliantly.
Teeth are like bloody needles though

Green with envy here! Beautiful puppies, enjoy, they grow so quick.