Doggie Blues or ?

[OhOhIDontKnow]

I read the post about the person who didn’t think she wanted the puppy within a week of getting it but I think this may be something else.

I got my dog as a puppy. He is now 11 months old and I’m not sure I can do this anymore? Can this be puppy blues so long after? This is not the first time I’ve wondered, “What the hell did I do?” But this has been the most serious I’ve been about it. What have I gotten myself in for here?

Maybe it’s just becuz he can easily overtake me physically? I have a back full of metal and he is 73 pounds now. He does listen to me quite well but today, I don’t want a dog. Is this going to go away?? Please help!!!

11 months can be a difficult time as your dog is in fulll blown adolescent and things can and usually do get easier as they get older.

You may not want a dog but you have one so I would look at ways of making it work for you both.

What are you specific issues?

if it is hard to walk him? - get in a dog walker a few days a week to give you a break.

Have a couple of 121 training sessions to make specific behaviours easier to deal with.

We go through the various puppy stages so quickly that you don't seem to get a break. Early biting stages and toilet training, followed by toddler stages, boundless energy, more immaturity, then teenage years = more energy plus strong ness, wanting to push boundaries, and all this before 2 years old. My dogs are far quieter and more settled at 5. I was driven mad up until about 2 years trying to keep up with the changes in them

You're bang in the middle of the teenage stage which, IMO, is ten times harder than the puppy stage - simply because they're stronger, bigger and much more confident.

What aspects are you struggling with?

I think in all honesty it took me until our lab was 18 months to not have WTF have I done/don't think I can cope thoughts. It's in the last two months really that I don't think that has crossed my mind at all. He's settling into a lovely steady, calm rhythm and it's made the world of difference to me feeling calmer and more relaxed about him.