I've failed as a dog owner...

[Anxiousdogowner6]

I have an almost 8 month old puppy. I got a dog because I spend a LOT of time by myself (no family or friends) and wanted a companion for in the house and walks. I don't work and have depression and anxiety and thought I had everything to give a dog.

I bought a pup recommended for first time owners, a known lapdog and calm breed.

However, he's been anything but. He's extremely energetic and has been full on from day one! He still bites and jumps up and destructs things in the house. I am still watching his every move in the house and I have become so anxious. I feel panicky all the time. I can't relax. I feel trapped. I can't do anything in the house any more - he chews books/paper and barks at the hoover etc. I feel so restricted.

Is this dog life? Will it ever get better? Should I re-home him? I worry that I'm just not suited to having a dog, he's causing me so much anxiety!!!

How have you tried to train him?

What breed is it?

8 months is still very very young. Have you taken him to any puppy classes?

You are at quite a low point in puppy ownership! He’ll get better, then he’ll relapse around 18months. Then he’ll be your buddy for life.

Agree with Pp, it’s well worth joining classes and getting support.

You also need to puppy proof your house, and join some FB groups about dogs. When you understand what he’s thinking it gets a bit easier.

Some of that sounds like puppy behaviour that they will likely grow out of but you do also have to work hard on training the kind of behaviours you want long term. Have you done any training or gone to any puppy classes? Have you socialised him with other dogs?

One of my dogs was the same, I trained and trained and felt I was getting nowhere, then suddenly, pretty much overnight, she calmed down at 10 months, all the training I had done kicked in and she was like a different dog entirely.

What breed is your pup?

How much time do you spend walking him?

It's a Shih Tzu. I have a partner(we don't live together) who has a lovely dog and they socialise together. I haven't done puppy classes as I've trained him at home - he's good at sit, stay, come, wait. I do enrichment games with him and use a flirt pole etc but he is so energetic nothing tires him out! And he gets excited so easily which leads to biting and jumping up.

Training is key. Consistent constant. I've a 9 month old pup and it's constant. If you can't afford puppy classes, there are plenty of training tips on YouTube. Zac Grorge is great. Also put everything away so nothing about to chew. Shoes etc in a room pup is not allowed. Stick with it, it does get easier.

I do minimum two 30 minute walks a day, sometimes longer.

Oh for goodness sake ! you got a dog because you have depression and anxiety and now you are anxious over it being a puppy ?!!!

biting - I guess you mean puppy mouthing ? and I expect you give it a suitable toy when it does this to distract it.

I also guess you attend puppy training classes every week, and puppy is getting regular exercise by being taken on walks every single day despite the weather and of course it gets walked early when it is hot etc.

also guessing puppy is a king charles cavalier spaniel ? it will be snapped up when you hand it in to your local no destruction animal charity.

So couple of things. 8 months is a horrible dog age ( can be later in larger breeds). It sounds like dog is bored. How much exercise/ training does it get? Does it have chews/ puzzles? Can you restrict where it can get to give you some breathing space ( our 19month old setter will still cause havoc given too much freedom/ not enough exercise). Join the puppy thread on here. It is a phase and you will get through it just double down on the training, make sure the dog gets enough mental and physical exercise and remind yourself of the positive behaviours you have helped embed. Because there will be some

I have puppy proofed but he always finds something! He has taken to pulling up the trim around my laminate flooring!! Or digging into the carpet. Or digging into the sofa. Or pulling on the rug.

Do go to classes - he’ll enjoy it, you’ll probably enjoy it, you’ll meet other dogs and owners and can commiserate about adolescence. And you can ask questions and get the practice wrong and be corrected and it will tire him mentally and he’ll sleep wonderfully after. Even the sniffing around when you arrive 5 mins before is good for him.

But to answer your question, yes, calm will come. Do you remember how you were bitten to pieces by those needle teeth and suddenly you realise it’s been a week? It’s more gradual than that but the calm does seep in.

He has lots of chews but has kinda gone off them in the last few weeks. He previously loved pigs ears and bully sticks. I've tried everything you can get in a pet store lol.

He's a puppy.. they need a lot of stimulation.. their size means nothing. Persevere. In a few months if you put the work in he'll be a joy, if you don't he won't !!

Very normal for his age. Dogs don’t mature until they are 2-3, sometimes older. Get enrolled in a good ongoing training class and just ride it out. Dogs are hard work. Puppies are horrific. Teenagers are worse. Then they settle down.

So what we do/did was if he dug in the sofa he was removed, same with rugs/carpet. We have a pen as he still can’t be completely trusted on his own. Is he crate trained, does he settle? Teaching down time is a god send with our dog.

It's a Shih Tzu and I walk him at least twice a day for 30 minutes each. We train every day and I always make him wait for his food before I put it down, make him sit before he leaves the house etc. He just can't sit still, stop jumping around and biting. He's so full on. He has endless energy.

I will check out the training videos, thank you for that suggestion.

This is just a phase OP, most dogs go through it. Crate train for when he’s unattended if he keeps finding something to chew, even if just until he gets out of this phase. Lots of mental stimulation like frozen kongs/lick mats. And invest in a good dog trainer x

4 of my dogs are Shih tzus and I’ve owned the breed for many years, they are amazing dogs. Full of energy as pups but do calm down when they are older. Look up Kikopup on youtube specifically the leave command. They are easy to follow vids and you will have fun teaching your pup. Also look at what you are feeding him, if it’s Royal Canin, Pedigree or Bakers you are basically feeding him pure carbs. Find a food higher in meat content, diet makes a huge impact on behaviour.

I do remove him, I put him in the kitchen, but he always goes back to whatever he was doing. Some things just seem to get in his head and he can't leave them alone!

But it's a puppy of course he does all those things they settle with age might also want to get him neutered. Puppies aren't quiet and placid they are full
Of energy you need to do more with him to use the energy more walks play fetch in a park hat kind of thing but they grow out of the crazy energy and eating everything's please don't give up on him it's not his fault

So create invisible boundaries. Lead on in the house, keep away from anything he’s not allowed until he learns. It’s hard work getting a puppy trained up but you reap the rewards for the next 10+ years you have a happy well behaved dog

he is bored !

At what age do they calm down?

I feed him royal canin, uh oh!