Getting a puppy next week... what have I done?!!! (Light hearted)

[roastbeetrootsalad]

light hearted

So next week we bring home our new little puppy. We spent some time with him last weekend... he's totally bonkers and wants to chew EVERYTHING!!! My house will be ruined and smell of dog won't it?!

Please tell me that I haven't ruined my life and all the great things we have to look forward to!

So as not to drip feed.. I have a DH, we have no children, pup is an RSPCA rescue , crossbreed of all sorts!!

Thank you for rescuing, we have 3 rescues.
Just be prepared, harder work than a baby 😁🐶

I have two tiny foster puppies with me at the moment, and after 50 odd foster puppies (plus our own dogs, cats) our house isn't ruined. But it takes a lot of work, and you reap what you sow - so everytime you let them carry your slipper around when they are cute is a shoe you might be saying goodbye to later. I am queen of the 'off the sofa, scoop up puppy, and run to the back door' competition
Hard work in the beginning will pay off later, and remember that they are leaving everything they know too so it can take a long time to learn to trust and settle in

I'm absolutely ready and willing to put in the graft at the beginning to teach manners! I'm determined not to fall for the cuteness because I know it'll be making a rod for my own back later

I'm very excited but also petrified of what the next few weeks months will bring!

One important thing to remember. Puppy regret is a real thing. Kind of like pnd after having a baby. It will seem hard and too hard and even harder. Join the puppy support threads. Socialise it. Love it. And remember. It’s just like a small baby. It will cry when u leave it. Deep breaths.

I personally love the puppy phase. But I know lots of people find it very hard.

I think it is wise to really acknowledge that you will think 'why did we do this' - the shock of having to think about them all the time, feeling tied down when you are building up the time they can be left and they cry when you go for a wee, all the mopping up of their wee/poo, the chewing of something you like, the boring bit when they can only walk a short way and not nicely at all and it all goes on.
In the length of time its taken me to write this, I've rescued DHs slippers that he left downstairs, taken them out into the garden to toilet as one showed signs (but the other has just weed on the floor), and substituted a toy for them thinking about chewing the sofa.
I've had lots and lots of puppies, we're set up for them (I even have a yoga mat specially to sleep next to the crate), and go through a new set frequently - but its still a bit of a shock everytime! My current little friends are teeny so on 7 meals a day so you are constantly feeding them. Oh, and everyone has an opinion on what you should do with puppies, so you have to find your own way to some extent.

Best piece of advice: training starts the moment you have introduced puppy to your home - believe me, they are quick little learners! So a sit for putting food down, big praise, toilet command & treat when doing business outside (your dog will go on command :) ! At 8-10 weeks your puppy will naturally follow you around. Use this! Get puppies attention by patting your leg, say walk or heel and walk a few steps. Rinse repeat! (Your dog is learning to walk nicely on the lead.)
Keep to short & sweet training sessions - always finish on a high!

And when you are tired, frustrated, sad, angry and ready to give up, look at his cute little face and remember he will pay you back in kindness and loyalty!

I thought of this thread this morning. Another shock is not getting up in your own time and waking up gently with a cuppa. Instead I levitate out of bed as soon as the puppies wake up, run downstairs, open the back door, let them out of the crate and usher them into the garden, stand on the deck freezing while being over excited when they do wee/poo. Then they try and chew my dressing gown so toys have to be substituted, and its time for them to eat and me to put the kettle on. And it goes on until they sleep again and stare lovingly at me

I have a serious complaint about the lack of photos on this thread!

Snoozy puppy

Oh I want to munch him up!

Our latest addition Daisy and snuggling our Newfie Ava!

Here are my pups, although they are 5 and 1 now.

here

@vodkaredbullgirl they are lush!

He is my wee man

Mine are uncle and neice lol. Black lab is 1 of my friends dogs pup, she kept 1 of the other pup. Then she bred from that pup and we got 1 of her pups.

24 hours until my life is no longer my own!!!!

Best of luck! Ours is now 12 months old and still hard work. Definitely harder than a baby. We need a picture please!

So exciting!

My top tip is the put the work in to toilet train the pup, you'll have a less stinky house if it's pooping and peeing outside sooner rather than later.

We’ve had our 10 week old lab for a week. It was something DH wanted (I’m happy with small furries like rabbit/ guinea pigs) so he does everything for him but of course it’s not like I can just ignore him.
DH sleeps downstairs on the sofa as pup is not ready to be on his own and we can’t leave him to howl (kids/ neighbours etc) I honestly can’t see when he’s going to be able to sleep back in our bed. This is the longest we’ve ever slept apart

He's home! He's settled nicely, we've had 2 poos on the carpet accidents but he's already learning sit/stay very quickly , and we've been introducing his crate throughout the day. He's having a little power nap in there right now

This totally outing as I've sent it everyone but here's a little picture of him

He's lovely. What is he? Enjoy and congratulations.

😍😍😍 beyond cute. God I love puppies!!!

We have no idea what he is! The mum is some sort of cross breed (unknown exactly what!) she was pregnant when she arrived at rspca, no idea what dad was!

He's beautiful. We've got a terrier/cooker spaniel Cross and he looks similar. One in the litter was all black.

Night 1 went surprisingly well! He's settled so quickly and is a quick learner! He's going to be an amazing addition to our little family