When do dogs blend into the background of family life?

[Circletime27]

If ever?! I’m new to dogs, I’m a cat person. Cats do their own thing, they’re there for a fuss and food but generally they’re just in the background of family life, always there for love and attention but don’t really demand too much.

We have a 7 month old pup. He’s fantastic and we all love him but the impact has felt like when I first brought dc1 home, it really has felt like that big of an adjustment. It’s all much easier than when he first arrived but I’m still finding that most of my day is filled with what he’s doing, what he’s eating, getting him down from jumping all over people, stopping him from barking (too much) etc etc.

Maybe I’m not very adaptable to change, I don’t know, I think DS was probably 2 or 3 when life started to feel like a new ‘normal’.

When do dogs/puppies not demand so much time and attention? Or am I being naive? I’m not sure I’ve even explained any of that very well!

[SunnyUpNorth]

I just came on to post a very similar post and found this thread. I completely understand where you’re coming from. We have an 11 month old cocker spaniel. He is so lovely and such a good boy in so many ways but I do get pangs of claustrophobia and wonder what we have done.

I’m not hugely experienced with dogs and I think part of the problem is that I don’t know what’s just puppy behaviour will ease off, or what needs to be trained out of him or what is just his personality.

For example he has started to get really barky and over excited when he sees another dog but can’t get to it, eg across the road, through a fence etc. He still wakes really early, around 5.30/6, which is particularly painful at weekends when my kids sleep quite late now. I thought he would grow out of that but no signs of it yet. He is terrible at being left on his own (we have been referred to a behaviourist for that but it took months for the appointment to come through and typically it was just at lockdown) so I pretty much never leave him unless I have to so my life feels like it has become very small as I’m basically housebound or restricted to where he can go.

I love the walks, he is so sweet and loving, he is generally a very good boy. I feel like he has the makings of a great dog but that I am going to mess him up by not knowing how to train him properly.
He gets loads of love and attention, plenty of walks, enrichment and I groom him a lot which I do like doing. But I do pretty much do everything for him so he is totally obsessed with me and follows me everywhere and cries if he can’t be near me. It’s exhausting. Lockdown is helping with him bonding more with DH and the kids.

[MuseumOfYou]

Seven months old puppy are a pain in the arse

Tell me about it. I know what you mean; I enjoy taking him out and all the usual care but looking forward to when I don't feel I have to wonder what he's up to when he's not in my eyeline.

[LochJessMonster]

Hot weather = easy puppy! They are too hot to cause any trouble.

At 2years my dog settled down and I started to enjoy him.

[Circletime27]

Had a really great day with pup today and he did feel like he just blended in. He slept in the kitchen am and pm for 2 hours each time with no fuss and Sunbathed in the garden whilst I was cooking tea oh and he walked quite nicely on the lead. I don’t know why he was so easy today when yesterday I was tearing my hair out!

[rjebgf]

My small dog believes he is in charge of the household.

[StarShapedWindow]

Our dog is 2.5 and I find her very easy these days. The first year was tough, a big adjustment but she’s now in a good routine and I adore having her. She follows me about in a very non-demanding way, she does like to ‘share’ my food and she does like to sit on me for a cuddle but in general she is a very undemanding member of the house.

[vanillandhoney]

Mine is two and I can finally leave a room and go upstairs or to have a bath and not worry about him getting bored and causing mischief.

But I think it depends on the breed, the personality of the dog and how much training you do. Dogs should fit around you to a great extent.

[Clymene]

I hate to say this but you're not in the teenage phase. They go through a phase when they're lovely and easy about 1 and then they turn into bastards again when they're about 18 months.

Our dog is very much part of our family and fits in like a cat sometimes (I have no idea where he is at the mo for example, just that he's asleep somewhere!). But I have a cat and a dog. And the dog is much more in your face. My car needs feeding once a day and then just gets on with things. The dog needs feeding more, walking, entertainment, brushing, cleaning ... but he's also a brilliant addition. Like another kid basically!

[SilverBangle]

Dogs don’t “blend into the background”. They should be a valuable part of your family. You’ll need to spend around 2 years training dog to behave in a socially acceptable manner around people and other dogs, at least 2 walks a day, mind games and interaction through play and cuddles on the sofa - if dog is allowed on the sofa. Holidays will, ideally, include the dog as s/he is an integral member of your family. Dog should not be left on it’s own for more than 4 hours at a time.

Or you could throw it out the garden and not bother with it at all - many do 😥

[AgathaX]

Seven months old puppy are a pain in the arse. You're on the cusp of their adolescence, the training you have hopefully put in is getting there but there is a long way to go.
In another year your dog will be calmer, 18 months much better still. Essentially though, what you put in now in terms of training will pay back in bucket loads further down the line.

[Scattyhattie]

Adult greyhounds tend to blend into the sofa, occasionally they get up to change sleeping positions so you know they are alive. Meal & walk times they become a bit more animated like a real dog. They've stealth of a ninja to steal food and go from being comatose a room away to feeling cold nose under your hand at mere rustle of a packet

[oldtownroad]

Depends on the dog. Like children I guess? My first dog didn't calm down until he was about 2, until that point he would have to be kept on the lead (which meant REALLY long walks) and would chew absolutely everything. He had the snip age 2 and it really helped, although could have just been a coincidence. My second dog was literally fine from day 1, never felt like she was hard work. Same as my kids come to think of it

[HoffiCoffi13]

Ours is nearly 10 and I barely notice him . He just potters around. Gets excited when it’s time for a walk then comes home and potters around/sleeps again. I think he was about 4 before he really settled though.

[whateverhappenstheremore]

Aged 3 mine calmed down

[Honeyroar]

It does get easier when they’re a bit older than yours is, even better when they’re middle aged. Then one day they’re gone and you would KILL to go back to the times when they were young and had their whole lives ahead of them.

We always have at least two dogs, so they’ve always got company other than you. They may be demanding and take up a lot of your life, but there’s probably no other creature on the planet that loves you more than it loves itself..

[OVienna]

Our dog arrived at about 2 yrs old. He's a rescue. It was like having an 11 month old toddler again, only much stronger. Similar sort of vibe. Took about 6 mo to adjust to our new 'parenting' role.

[krustykittens]

Slychomping we have tried all sorts with her, but once in the house, she either needs to be in your lap or shoving her nose into your face! We love her to bits, though!

[nearlyfinished1moreyear]

I echo what others have said it depends on the breed. I have an 8yr old staffy and he's VERY hyperactive, despite numerous walks/training. When we meet people they often assume he's only about 2yrs old. He's very loving though and so that balances things out

[Eckhart]

He's still only a baby, really. You can't get used to him until his behaviours are a bit more predictable. Maybe 18 months - 2 years old. Give it a bit more time, it'll all feel more normal. Whether it's just that we get used to the change or whether they blend in, though.. bit of both, maybe?

[Snoopdogowner]

I completely get where you're coming from. My 11 month old is hard work and there always seems to be something, last week he hurt his paw which required an emergency vet trip (not great timing) and now we are able to walk him as he has recovered, he's acting up on walks. When you think you've solved 1 problem, another 1 pops up. I hear around 2 to 3 years old things settle down, but we are definitely in the throws of puppy/teen behaviour. It is constant and hard work, lots of worry but i hope one day things will feel better

[nicky7654]

I have two adorable Staffies and really desperately want another. I love my two furbabies but am desperate for a puppy now. I adore puppies 😍

[Circletime27]

I think it’s about my ability to relax around him. I never feel like I can really relax. Hopefully once he’s better behaved at home that’ll help.

[CherryPavlova]

Our dog is nearly four. We’re his third home. We’ve had him about two and a half years.
He doesn’t blend in; he dominates our lives in a way I’d never have thought possible. Much more omnipresent than the children ever were.

If we sit and relax he puts his head on us.
If we put on a coat, he sits by the door.
If we eat he follows every mouthful.
He follows us from room to room. He doesn’t like being alone.

[Pipandmum]

He won't reach teenagedom until about a year. My dogs are 8 and ten and while they do their own thing much of the day they are still always in the same room as me, always happy for a tummy rub and will demand attention if they feel you have been ignoring them. That plus dog walks and feeding they do dictate a schedule.