Feeling depressed with puppy

[Kindnessdosnthurt]

I'm not here for people to tell me I am a bad person. I need a hand hold.
We just rescued a 6 month puppy and he is very good. However my kids are not giving him the space he needs and I'm just so overwhelmed. I'm constantly saying don't do this, don't do that. I'm worried it'll end up making the puppy bite the kids or something. I haven't stopped crying, I feel so depressed. I have mental health issues on and off.
Honestly I feel like a bad person and I don't know what to do. I was expecting to be happy but I'm really not and it's hard for me to say that. I feel like giving him back before the kids get too attached but I also feel sorry for the puppy going through it.

How old are your children?

Puppy blues is very much a real thing!! I remember getting our dog (now 4 years old) and thinking what the fuck have I done can I send him back?!
I promise it does get easier but does take work investing in training etc.
couldn’t imagine life without our dog now and he’s part of the family x

Ps crates are very much recommended with dogs around children so they can have their own private space and teach the children when puppy is in there it isn’t to be disturbed x

The youngest is 4.

Owning a puppy is hard, there's no doubt about that. But the rewards when they are a little older and well-trained and socialised are enormous. I wouldn't be without my 7 year old dog now, but I felt exactly the same as you - overwhelmed and exhausted by him.

I would really recommend spending time training him. It builds a bond with the puppy, controls his mad tendencies (which is normal puppy behaviour) and will set you up nicely for when he grows out of the puppy phase.

Also, tire him out with walks (let him sniff loads, it exhausts them!), google ways to use his food to train him and wear out his fizzy brain with mental exercises. And - this really helped when I finally worked it out - make sure he gets plenty of sleep during the day. Overtired puppies are dickheads.

Very much agree with the point about crates too, especially with excited children around. He needs a break too!

My kids were older when we got the dog but i very nearly gave him away. I got through just by taking one day at a time, doing classes and having a trainer come to house. I also went away for a couple of nights and the break from the puppy really helped. He settled down and now we all love him to bits, such a positive enthusiastic presence in the house. Crate sounds good or just somewhere he can have some space, good luck!

Our dog is 4 and a half. he came to us at 6 months old, four years ago, and I honestly thought what have I done. He nipped all the time, wouldn't walk etc and was quite difficult. Now he is one of the great loves of my life. He has calmed down, grown up and is just one of the family.

The crate is very helpful, he sleeps in it at night and goes in it when we eat because he is very greedy!

He is very happy and we love him. He is also a rescue. Please remember all new relationships take time, and that includes animals.

Good luck.

Puppy blues are a real thing and that applies with rescues too. It's a hugely overwhelming life change for everyone.

I would make sure the puppy has plenty of space and enforce it with physical barriers if needed - child locks, baby gates and a pen or crate to keep the puppy safe.

Your youngest is only four so they'll need a lot of reminding at first.

How long have you had the puppy for ?
Have you owned dogs before?
Why did you get the puppy?

Sorry for so many questions but the answers will help inform responses.

Thank you, I was hoping today I would feel better but I've not had much sleep and I'm not really eating much either. Which is making me feel sick and headache. I am still tearful. I'm surprised how much it's affecting me. I should be happy. He's started jumping up at the kids and scratched them accidently of course but that now scares the 4 year old. We put him in the crate when the kids and dog can't be supervised. It's just way too much for me, I just can't rest. Honestly, I don't feel like I can do this.

@Kindnessdosnthurt
All I can say is I feel your pain.
I'm really struggling with my puppy, mainly due to my inability to sleep and constant worrying.
I just keep reminding myself that it will get better.
It's like a flipping mantra 🙄, one day I might actually believe it!!
Stay strong.

If you genuinely feel like you've made a mistake then speak to the rescue about returning her.

However it's totally normal to feel scared and overwhelmed when you have a new baby animal in the house to take care of - it won't feel like this forever and if you put the work in you'll have a wonderful companion.

You need some support. Do you have family/friend who can come over for a few hours over the next few days? Also are you on the Facebook group Dog Training Advice and Support? This is a great group run by dog behaviour experts who have written a guide for owners to follow then will answer individual questions. This will keep you right.

Puppies are hard work and are not all bundles of joy. Also, if you have just got him, then he’s adjusting to you, and you to him.

This may sound silly, but when we got a puppy, I hadn’t comprehended that we were getting another personality in the house, a creature with its own thoughts, wants, needs and thoughts. (Another child/person to look after).

How are your children interacting with Ddog?

Puppies are really hard (and quite horrible for the most part) but you will need some kind of separation between the children and pup. Room dividers are really good. We have an open plan downstairs and we have one that runs the length of the main area to allow our cat to come and go without being bothered by the dog when she was a pup.

Nobody talks about how hard it is. It does get better but only if you create good habits now and are able to manage things with them all. If not then no harm in admitting it's not working and speaking to the rescue.

If the children won't leave the dog alone you might need to reconsider keeping the dog. Puppies and children sometimes don't mix it sounds difficult and you don't want the dog biting them.

How are you getting on now OP?