Puppy's wearing us to a frazzle!

[Alfaspyder]

Hi everyone!

Please tell me that puppy life gets better!

For years, I've looked at couples enviously on Bamburgh beach, running with their cockapoos and their labradors, playing catch and watching them run free. I've bagged my husband for years and finally, I won.

Berkeley arrived 5 weeks ago and I thought he'd be the baby I never had. Oh dear, how wrong I was.
He'll play in the garden for an hour, not wee, then wee on our carpet.
He sits in front of us looking cute, then grins at us with his furry mouth whilst emptying a cupful on our tufted Wilton.

When we eventually encouraged him to walk on a lead around the village, he stops at every lamppost and sniffs the scent of other dogs, but chooses to abstain rather than degrade himself by urinating in a public place.

We're at our wits' end!
Please, someone tell us that it gets easier!
Perhaps I should have bought a stuffed dog on wheels with a handle...

Go on FB. Join this group. Read the guides, religiously. They will help you.

It gets better, housetraining is an absolute bloody pain in the arse but keep with it, make sure you clean up accidents with an enzyme cleaner not just floor cleaner/bleach.

We used puppy pads (right next to the door then move them outside) & some stuff I bought in Pets at Home that encourages them to go in a certain place.

Lots of treats and praise when he gets it right, ignore & clean the accidents

It does get better! I would lock myself in the bathroom and cry with our puppy, it was so so stressful and even though I had endlessly researched and watched every positive reinforcement training video on the internet before we got her, it was so relentless and difficult and just such a 24/7 job, constantly alert to this bitey pooey not even cuddly being. She’s a year now and is such a sweet well behaved thing (stick with positive reinforcement training!). I would say at around 5 months when she got adult teeth there was a big milestone of relief because she stopped biting us, and then she just got better and better every month after that. Stick at it, soon you will have the lovely dog you were imagining x

This is normal - the "puppy blues" are a thing!

Puppies are like babies - a pain in the arse. But it will get better, I promise.

The group GiantCheeseMonster is fantastic. I joined their puppy group (£15 a month, proceeds go to charity) for more intensive support and it was an absolute godsend in the first few months.

Puppies need to wee a lot, and activities like eating,waking from a nap or playing in the garden = another wee / poo. Don't bring him in until he has eliminated! Carry him around and try again in 5 minutes if necessary.
He's too young to gibe you much warning (he may sniff a bit but you may get nothing!) so it's best to take him out regularly; presuming he's around 13-15 weeks, given how long you've had him? I'd suggest setting an hourly alarm to take him out, plus go out after every meal, nap or playtime as well. Once you start getting into a routine, you can start increasing intervals gradually.

Puppy blues are a thing. Usually hit at about 3 weeks. Well done for getting to 5 😬! It will get better.

At least you are house training in the summer. I ended up with a chest infection, having stood outside in the freezing cold rain/snow for hours each day with our ddog. It was worth it though, as she never has accidents now at 3 years old.

Have you read the easy peasy puppy squeezy book? It's fab! And definitely worth getting a copy.

Hang in there, the puppy stage is tough thats why they're cute

It does get better - our pup is 7.5 months now and we haven't had an accident indoors since about 17 weeks.
The teenage phase is a whole other challenge but mostly fun

@Dogoodfeelgood

It does get better! I would lock myself in the bathroom and cry with our puppy, it was so so stressful and even though I had endlessly researched and watched every positive reinforcement training video on the internet before we got her, it was so relentless and difficult and just such a 24/7 job, constantly alert to this bitey pooey not even cuddly being. She’s a year now and is such a sweet well behaved thing (stick with positive reinforcement training!). I would say at around 5 months when she got adult teeth there was a big milestone of relief because she stopped biting us, and then she just got better and better every month after that. Stick at it, soon you will have the lovely dog you were imagining x

Thank you! That is so helpful! It's made us both feel so much better! xxx