Puppy blues

[whenwillthemadnessend]

Is this normal. Our pup is a very good boy so far. But today I'd happily send him back

He has a bit of a sloppy bum. All outside but still gross ( jabs last night maybe why).

He has eaten cat poop before I could get there ( again reason for runny bum? )

He smells really doggy today

I'm bored of the monotony of feed train play poop

I like the sleep bit

I miss my cats as they are not coming to sit on my lap now ( I'm spending tonight in another room with them. )

He is my dh dog I'm a cat person!!!

I'm just not bonding.

Any tips.

He has 6 days before he can be put on floor

Maybe that will help.

It's normal, and it's almost certain that you will bond eventually. Keep up with training and play - the play will help the puppy bond with you, which will make the training easier. And once you start to see results from the training, you'll find the puppy much easier to love.

And give your cats time too. They and the puppy will learn to co-exist. Puppies are a seriously long term project and it can feel overwhelming at times.

Puppies are hard work but stay consistent with your training and itll pay off in the end.

What's he eating? My spaniel gets bored of dry kibble but gets runny poo with too much wet food so it's a delicate balancing act.

It took several months for me to bond with my dog and I was the one that wanted him initially. Puppy blues is common but it will pass.

What got me through that period was remembering that they do grow up quickly relative to us and eventually I would get that faithful adult dog that I so wanted.

Thank you for the encouragement he is enrolled on an 11 week training class after Xmas and I can't wait. We are working on the basics and he has had very few accidents so we are very lucky. It's just so relentless.

Tonight I'm going in the kids playroom with tv and my cats and a glass of G&T and having a dog free evening. Dh can deal with him.

He is on the breeders kibble and I'm giving him a probiotic. I'm hoping it's just side effects from the jab last night he is bright otherwise.

I will join you with the blues. Had our puppy 4 days and it has been a massive shock to the system. Lots of routine. Days I feel like I’m getting nowhere & wondering what I have done in getting him

What did you expect? He’s a puppy. They get upset stomachs, they get dirty, they eat things they shouldn’t. And it takes a long time to get them trained and fitting in with your life. I don’t think people should really have dogs if everyone that’s going to need to look after them isn’t really on board, like the ‘it’s my husbands dog thing.’ It doesn’t really work unless he’s going to be around all the time to do the looking after him.

You just have to keep doing the routine, day after day. It gets easier. I’d say try to enjoy it. He wants to be loved and will be the most loyal best friend if you let him.

That sounded much harsher than I meant it to. I just really don’t know how people can be surprised that having a puppy is so much hard work. There’s so much information out there about getting a puppy and everything says it’s a lot of work.

Takes a while. I cried a few times at the relentlessness of it and it was me that wanted the puppy. You do have to put in a lot of hard work to end up with a well behaved dog but it’s totally worth it in the long run. You can expect puppy to be a jerk for a little while yet but one day you’ll look down and realise he’s stopped being a dickhead and you quite like him really

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

That sounded much harsher than I meant it to. I just really don’t know how people can be surprised that having a puppy is so much hard work. There’s so much information out there about getting a puppy and everything says it’s a lot of work.

Whilst I agree a lot of things online also set unrealistic expectations.

The list of training and socialisation can feel overwhelmingly. In fact my puppy was ill so much that this took a back seat which actually didn't matter that he didn't do half the number of commands as a puppy because he learnt them at 2 years of age so it didn't matter but as a first time puppy owner you feel you have to do it all in the first few weeks.

And don't get me started on all the 'toilet train in a week' because it often takes more than that for a dog to be reliable and ask to go outside.

If I could go back in time it would be to tell myself that finding it hard work is ok. That you don't have to be this perfect puppy owner as they learn at their own rates and do not under any circumstances compare your puppy to those in puppy classes that seem perfect whilst yours is running rampant

It's normal to find it hard. It is hard. It gets easier and better and then you start to have fun with them, the bonding comes and then you start to have some moments where it's wonderful and all makes sense.
There's ups and downs but after a while they are your pal and you are theirs.

But yes, my goodness the start is tough.

biteyshark always gives lovely supportive advice and clearly knows what they're talking about.

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze, I expected it to be hard work, but I didn’t think it would be harder than looking after a newborn baby! It stirred up anxiety in me that I hadn’t felt for a very long time. I don’t think reading about having a puppy can ever fully prepare you for actually having one.
@whenwillthemadnessend, it will get better. If you put the time in, you will have a loyal and loving companion.

I expected it to be hard work, but I didn’t think it would be harder than looking after a newborn baby! It stirred up anxiety in me that I hadn’t felt for a very long time. I don’t think reading about having a puppy can ever fully prepare you for actually having one.

I definitely found it harder than a newborn baby. But I was expecting it to be. I read loads. I spoke to friends who told me it was more work than a baby. Its a lot of work. But the rewards in time are huge.

I'm honestly not finding it harder than a baby but I guess baby's at leader or more portable and don't pee or poo on the floor.
Nappy's are a god send

For me it's like potty training a toddler and teaching a toddler what's acceptable but then I got pupster at 11 weeks. I dread to think of it a 8 weeks.

I found it harder than a baby. I knew what to do with our baby, I had that maternal instinct, instant unconditional love. I really disliked our pup for a very long time.

It does take time. Thankfully they develop much faster than babies so it was worse but over a lot quicker.

Keep taking some time for yourself and your cats.

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

That sounded much harsher than I meant it to. I just really don’t know how people can be surprised that having a puppy is so much hard work. There’s so much information out there about getting a puppy and everything says it’s a lot of work.

The trouble is you forget, I have a puppy and she isn’t my first but I don’t remember being this tired of everything. We have had our cocker 11 weeks now and we are exhausted, had a night in a nearby hotel last weekend for some sleep (my daughter had pup for the night).

Yes good point about the unconditional love.

Today was a better day. I had some time in town with a friend and pups bum has got better

Counting down the days until he can be put on the pavement!! Only 4 I think

If he had jab weds can he walk following weds or Thursday?