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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

How long until you enjoyed your puppy?

43 replies

leanmeancoffeebean · 05/07/2021 10:55

Just looking for some perspective! Got a 9 week old boy, and he's very good in lots of ways. But he's hard work (of course!), and we haven't really bonded yet. I know puppies are tricky, and that hopefully we'll have a lovely dog at the end of the slog, but just wondering at what point you felt things turned a corner?

OP posts:

MajesticWhine · 05/07/2021 10:59

Mine is six months. He’s still a handful but improving. I was finding it really tough until about a month ago. He gives very lovely cuddles and sits on me all evening so that’s lovely.

MajesticWhine · 05/07/2021 11:00

YABU for not posting a picture

Keepyourdistance000 · 05/07/2021 11:00

I feel your pain. My Lab was really very hard work right up until about 8 months old, but this was also because she had some health issues.

At about 8/9 months she really turned a corner and I bonded with her, especially around the time of her spay.

We now have a lovely, placid Lab who everyone loves.

I would happily do the puppy days all over again.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 05/07/2021 11:01

20 months....

Original poster

leanmeancoffeebean · 05/07/2021 11:04

@30degreesandmeltinghere

20 months....

Don't say that 😂😭

OP posts:

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 05/07/2021 11:06

The first 4 weeks before she had had both jabs and could go for walks were the hardest. We carried her in a puppy sling but she was still mental in the house - once she could go outside for walks she calmed down a lot. Also once she was properly house-trained (about 12 weeks, I think, maybe a bit older - it’s all a bit of a blur!). She’s now nearly 11 months and a lovely dog.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 05/07/2021 11:07

The Pony has been a bloody nightmare!!

Giggorata · 05/07/2021 11:55

Pre jabs was the hardest time for me, too. Very energetic breed, that needed to be thoroughly socialised to be acceptable and safe. Think German Shepherd type. Plus the house training. I tried hard to enjoy the good bits…
Now at 6 months, it's much better, but still work needed on the times when she is excited about food or first thing the morning, as this breed gets a bit bitey at those times when young. She is also a big girl and could easily knock someone over, dancing about.

The award for the worse puppy ever still goes to Lab #1. She was the most manic pup we ever had and wore me out. When I look at her now, aged 9, she is Saint Lab the Good. 🙂

LadyCatStark · 05/07/2021 12:19

11 weeks exactly. My poor puppy was bitten by my parents dog in his first outing and I was so scared for him. That’s the moment I realised I loved him to bits already 🥰.

Puppypuppypuppy · 05/07/2021 12:40

Although I enjoyed lots of things about the puppy stage I don't think I really started feeling things had turned a corner until about five months in. Things just suddenly felt a lot easier between 5 and 6 months as he was toilet trained, chewing had calmed down, less biting and mouthing and he was much easier to manage because he able to have longer walks. I do think we bonded very quickly but the first few months were tough!

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 05/07/2021 13:00

The current puppy? At about 10 months, when she started to be a bit less destructive. She has been a bloody handful.

Love her now, though: had a great time with her out training yesterday.

makingmyway10 · 05/07/2021 13:06

About 6 months both times puppies are cute but such hard work . My puppy is now 2 and I adore her, I loved her straight away but she was hard work . However she was not my first dog so I knew it would pass and all would be well .

Thedogshow · 05/07/2021 13:10

About 7 months.

floatingboater · 05/07/2021 15:49

Around five months mine have become more reliable, less bitey, and a bit calmer!

Badmuthachuffa · 05/07/2021 20:24

12 weeks I started to love him properly. Week 9 I thought I might need to return him to the breeder. I felt overwhelmed and that I’d made a mistake even though I’d had a border collie before. I googled and saw that puppy blues were “a thing”. He’s still a chewing, nipping pain in the bum at times but I’ve been spending a lot of time training and socialising him which has made a real difference to him and to me. DH has loved him from day 1 . I found really learning about puppy behaviour and tailoring games etc to the strengths of his breed has helped. My puppy needs a job so I give him jobs to do. Also canine enrichment groups and breed specific or puppy groups helped! Good luck with your pup!

Original poster

leanmeancoffeebean · 05/07/2021 20:29

Week 9 I thought I might need to return him to the breeder

This is exactly how I feel at the moment. It's so hard!

OP posts:

DoubleTweenQueen · 05/07/2021 20:32

When she started to sleep through the night and be calm in the house - 5-6months. She is now nearly 10months and a gorgeous loving well-behaved girl - working line Springer Spaniel (I’m not going to work her, but we’ve done some gundog training with her and will do some more after her season).
She goes to bed in the evening really nicely, and is so sweet. Haven’t needed to leave her home alone yet, but when we leave her for her rest time she’s good as gold. We all love her a lot.

LadyCatStark · 05/07/2021 21:29

@leanmeancoffeebean

Week 9 I thought I might need to return him to the breeder

This is exactly how I feel at the moment. It's so hard!

Week 9 is officially the worst week! They should really tell you that before you bring your puppy home. Or better yet the breeder should keep them til they’re 10 weeks 😂.

Flaunch · 05/07/2021 21:33

I’ve enjoyed mine from the first day and he’s almost 6 months, in fact I keep thinking that he’s going to be a dreadful teenager as he’s been such an easy puppy and it’ll serve me right 😂

I completely adore him!

Chickpea22 · 05/07/2021 22:59

He is beautiful Flaunch.

BrownEyedGirl80 · 05/07/2021 23:13

Straight away! I think it was my reward for having ds waking every 1.5 hours from birth.DPup was an angel through the night and toilet trained straight away too.

Alannawhorideslikeaman · 05/07/2021 23:13

@30degreesandmeltinghere

The Pony has been a bloody nightmare!!

Ahh a pointy one. Always reliable for making you tear your hair out. Not quite the same as we got our pointy at 15months but I think I cried every day for 6 weeks

- only occasionally now at 4 years

BiteyShark · 06/07/2021 04:39

Several months. Hated the puppy months and the teenage ones made me turn to .

But he is 5 this year and is snuggled up to my back as he sleeps on the bed and will sigh very loudly each time I fidget as I can't sleep. Bloody love the furry pain in the arse.

Bloomingwild282 · 06/07/2021 06:02

I actually found the 1st 18 months very difficult. He was a very stroppy, reactive teenager but we're through it now and we all love him.

BusterGonad · 06/07/2021 06:22

I'm 11 months in and still can't tolerate a lot of her behaviour, the jumping up, the weeing when we get home after going out, the mouthing/biting. I honestly don't think I'm a dog person, I've always had cats. I must admit I regret agreeing to have her and that makes me feel like a terrible person. The house is always trashed, everything is covered in fur, my arm is shredded where she's jumped up in excitement. So much extra work on top of all the other house hold stuff I do. 😔

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