New puppy blues

[OliveDuck]

We lost our 16year old dog last year and recently welcomed a new fur baby into our life . Wow what a shock it has been. We seem to have forgotten how challenging having a new pup is . Interrupted sleep, potty training, shark teeth on us and constant watching his every move . There are days I feel close to tears and regret getting him . I feel so awful for feeling this way . Is it just me feeling the puppy blues ??

There's loads and loads of threads on this very thing!

it will get better soon

any pics of the land shark??

I felt exactly the same way a few weeks back. Mine is 4 months old now and already easier than he was at 3 months. It will get easier. It’s completely normal puppy behaviour but I too had forgotten how hard this stage is.

It will get better and it will be worth it.

We have a puppy and have already forgotten the small amount of incontinence, crying and chewing (and that was only one thing in the house) that happened in the first couple of weeks.

Ours is nearly 8 months old now and is as easy and chilled as his predecessor. And he has all of his lovely adult teeth!

Awwww this was me when we got our first puppy. I found her so challenging and such hard work that I honestly wanted to take her back. I didn't bond with her at all. I posted something very similar to this on a FB Group and someone told me to stop looking at her as a problem and an inconvenience and look at her as the 'baby' that she is. She wasn't biting us to be naughty, she was a puppy wanting to connect with us and didn't know the correct way to do this. So it was our job to show her the right way.

We were also advised to buy a crate and give her 'forced crate rest'. Our girl as a puppy just didn't stop, or sleep, or rest! She was mental and constantly wired and we had to watch her like a hawk which was exhausting. So we took the advice and got a small crate which we covered in a blanket. We started to pop her in several times a day, cover it with the blanket and let her settle. We were very lucky because she seemed to like the crate and didn't cry. She seemed to find it soothing, cosy and safe and she started to have big sleeps, which puppies need. Once she had slept well she was a much better behaved dog and while she was sleeping I knew she was safe so could actually get on with some housework or even just sit and have my lunch in peace. It made a massive difference.

Once she was old enough to go on longer walks she also improved a lot. I will say that its such a short time of their life and it passes quicker than you think. By the time she was 6 months old she was much better, much more chilled and I actually fell in love with her. We have the most wonderful bond now, she is my girl. I think back now to those days when I wanted to take her back and I am so glad that I stuck it out because she has become the most amazing family dog. We all adore her so much.

Try and remember that your puppy is not being naughty. They just need to be shown the right way to behave, where they are supposed to toilet. and the things that are acceptable or not. It will take time to do this but they will get there. In the meantime unfortunately you do need to have bags of patience.
Good Luck!

Thanks and at least I feel better knowing it’s not just me . You just forget how challenging having a puppy is .

Thanks for that . It’s not just my poor puppy parenting skills.

It really is! Its almost as challenging as having a human baby! It is hard work but I promise you it will get better and this period will be over soon and the puppy will settle, learn where to toilet and be less excitable when they can have decent walks every day. You will get there. And when you do it will all be worthwhile.

Soo glad I read your post. I feel exactly the same & pleased it's not just me. I'm ready to give up but know I'll regret it.

Another one here who had forgotten what it's like and is finding it tough going. He's 10 weeks now and is sort of settling into a routine but it feels like 1 step forward 3 back. It will be worth it though like a pp said they are just babies.

Ahhh puppies are full on twats. God made them cute so they can systematically ruin your life, and you forgive them and forget 😂

Hold in there OP- my most recent pup is now coming up to 2 years, and she’s an absolute legend of a dog. Could have returned the furry little bugger about 4000 times in the first 4 months though - joking, kind of🥴

We were on a Facebook group with the rest of the litter owners. It was such a relief when another owner posted 'is anyone else's puppy a bitey little twat'?

How old is he OP? I found I got to the point where I didn't think I could take much more biting and then he just stopped. It was almost overnight, as though it just clicked that it hurt and we didn't like it.

Trust me it does get easier . Our pup is now 18 weeks, sleeping 7 solid through the night, few accidents in house and evening zoomies are far less stressful. I couldn’t imagine my life without him now . Stick with it and you will come out the other side 🐾🐾❤️