Struggling to bond with my puppy

[CharlieBoo]

Please don’t flame me.. I desperately want to love this little puppy with all my heart..

I’ve had him since October when he was 12 weeks old. He’s gorgeous, so super smart, very loving but he’s just so full of energy. I can’t seem to find enough time to wear him out!

I lost my old dog last year who was the same breed but a female. She was just the best, loveliest, gentle girl who only had eyes for me and I adored her. I missed her so much and I thought a new dog would help me heal and I could recreate that bond with another dog.

But… I just cant feel it with him. He’s just at everything, full of beans constantly. I’m out every morning walking him at 6 and then again when I get home from work. Twice I week I have a dog Walker just to give him some socialisation and to give me a morning off getting up so early.

I’m hoping that the love will grow and I will make a bond with him. Has anyone else been through this?

Very difficult to go from an old dog, to a pup, always comparisons. You are braver than me, no way would I have had another dog after losing my dog, no way could I go through that heartbreak again. The bond will come, but it takes time. Good luck Op

@fairylightsandwaxmelts makes a good point about puppy joints, but any class wears a dog out - ours was the kennel club good citizenship programme, which runs all over the place, and my livewire working cocker used to fall asleep knackered after an hour of learning a new task, even if that task was to lie on his mat and not move for a bit (that was actually his hardest ever trick - he wants to be on the move constantly)!