Is it normal to feel like you don't know what you are doing?

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

Just that, really.

I feel like I keep getting things wrong. Went to the park this morning and it was quite overwhelming for BastardPup: he enjoyed himself but got over-excited towards the end and had a bit of a bark. Felt like you do with a new baby when they cry in public.

I'm also struggling with him in the car crate - it's too small really and awkward to get in and out of. I need a new one but DH is dragging his heels as we are skint and he has to research the Best Buy....

Yes perfectly normal and what's worse it looks like everyone else knows what they are doing. Remember whilst you are battling with a few things, others will be battling with different issues.

Oh and really you won't be getting it wrong. Training etc is like a marathon and takes ages I am still doing it at nearly 2 years and they change all the time.

Yup.

You get a huge amount of differing advice, try to follow it all and end up screaming. Different things work for different people/dogs. There isn't really a right and wrong way to bring up a puppy as long as you have the basics down.

Now you know BastardPup got overwhelmed, cut short the park next time. Leave at a good point. Barking is fine. Just remove him from whatever he is barking at, stand at a distance away and let him calm down. Use treats to distract him, ask him to sit/paw/down etc to get his focus on you.

Puppies are hard and there a usually about 3 different threads at one time by stressed out puppy owners asking what the hell they were thinking!

I have two, one from a pup and one rescue. I feel like this every bloody day 😂 they are between 5-6 years old.

They are like family members they do weird things all the time, barking at no one in the garden, walking into things, mad ten mins, knocking stuff over, grumping at DS4 then two mins later playing nicely. My house is just full of children including fuzzy ones. They are hilarious! Don't let it get you down, just mutter ffs and enjoy x