Overwhelmed with New Puppy

[Daschy16]

I am hoping someone can please give me some advice or words of comfort.
I finally got an 8 week old puppy yesterday. This has been my dream for years and I have been so excited for ages.
She is gorgeous, curious and very sweet natured so far. She loves a cuddle and her toys, and has come out of her shell very quickly. I am just feeling very overwhelmed, which I feel is absolutely ridiculous as its only day 2. I am crying and have no idea why.
I haven't been able to get her to toilet outside - shes terrified when we go outside - she cries and violently shakes. I then feel like I'm being cruel and then bring her inside where she continues to shake for a while. This has meant lots of indoor accidents, but she has used the puppy pads a few times. I know accidents are par for the course, but I am worried that she will never go outside and that she may even struggle with walks due to nerves once she has her final vaccines.
I am concerned she isn't eating or drinking enough, and shes also been sick twice.
We are crate training with me sleeping in the living room with her. She slept well last night, but I am so worried it was a fluke. Selfishly, I am also concerned that I won't ever be able to sleep in my bed again.
I live myself, and whilst I have supportive parents who have offered to help, I feel too ridiculous to say that I am struggling already.
Sorry for the long post, just hoping that someone has a word of wisdom please

Speak to the breeder 🙂

Don't worry, the puppy you see now is going to be very different in 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, and in 3 years.
My own puppy didn't do anything outside for 3-4 days. Then it clicked and went very quick from thete.
First walk on the lead? Terrified. Another one a few days later, and he was perfectly fine.

He spent his first nights curled against me in bed, but is now totally ok sleeping in his cushion (although also very ok being curled up against me, thanksfully!)

I was very overwhelmed as well, it is a shock on the system, and like you I was a solo owner. I remember going to puppy class and feeling like a single mum, everyone else came there as a couple.

Now, my boy is 3yo, and he's as good as gold, and has been for quite some time.
Puppy blues is very normal. Puppies are not fun, but that doesn't last.

My dog was completely agoraphobic for the first six months of her life. I got her in the January and it was very cold and whenever she went out she would hide in the bottoms of hedges and cry.

She's eleven now and loves nothing more than getting in the car for a long walk out somewhere. It can feel as though it's always going to be like this when you get a new dog, but they really do grow up and get more confidence and learn to do all the things you need them to. Don't despair!

Thanks all for the really helpful comments and words of encouragement.

She is an absolute wee gem, and i know this is all me expecting too much, and being a bit of a shock to my system. She is currently napping at my feet peacefully.

I have managed to coax her outside with some chicken as suggested and she was enjoying a good sniff, which is encouraging, as I think I was worrying that she would be terrified of outside and never want to go out for walks or toiletting. I can see now that was silly.

I am getting a bit more support from my family now, and I am focussing now on going at her pace.

She is only a baby, so give her time to adjust. She's had a massive change in her life.
Having a puppy is always hard. I've had dogs for over 30 and my current two were incredibly hard work as puppies. Persevere, be consistent and do some training & socialisation classes. You'll find out that all the other puppy pawrents are finding it hard, too, but it will ultimately be worth it. Good luck 🐶

The raw honesty of this made me laugh.

I raised a guide dog puppy recently and I remember within a few days of him coming to us thinking "thank God we can hand him back in a year". I may have had that thought a few times over his first weeks, what with the regular accidents in the house and baby shark teeth. But he developed into an absolutely amazing and mostly well behaved dog & I cried when he had to leave.

So I get it. The puppy stage is incredibly hard even if you've had a dog before you can forget quite how hard it is.

But it does get easier soon @Daschy16 I've never had a puppy who would shake to be outside but your little one may still be upset from leaving their first home and the weather won't help if it's windy or rainy. Just keep being nice and gentle with the puppy and they will calm down and become more confident soon.

Ah, I’ve just remembered the time I spent out in the rain with a big brolly, holding it over the puppy while i got wet 🤣
He wouldn’t go out and wee if it was raining so I had to work hard to make sure he didn’t realise 🤣

When we got our lab I was so overwhelmed. I felt like there was this presence in the house, he would have accidents, cry at night etc. After 9 years, we had to let him go a few weeks ago. He was the best thing to ever happen to us and will always have a piece of my heart. Keep going, one day you won’t be able to imagine life without her - it’s just rough at the start!

Are you sure it was a reputable breeder as there wouldn't be many who would time their litters to coincide with going home to new owners around Bonfire Night.

The puppy stage can be extremely challenging for many people. I have 4 kids and I would genuinely rather have another than raise another puppy. I adore my dog now but those puppy months were overwhelming.
Also please ignore people prodding you for a reaction. You have the puppy now. Comments should be aimed at supporting you through the tricky early days.

You know nothing about the OP. I live very rurally our nearest fireworks display is 10 miles away (I know because I’m thinking of going) the majority of my neighbours are elderly Ive not heard or seen a single firework. Secondly I live in a triple glazed house even if there were fireworks I and my dogs wouldn’t hear them. Thirdly maybe the OP has enough common sense to not take her dog into the garden if fireworks are going off. And lastly her “reputable” breeder may have established all of this. Or maybe she didn’t. What are you for hoping here? That the OP confesses that she bought the puppy from a puppy farm that her neighbours have been letting off fireworks every night for 2 hours for the last 2 weeks so that you can tell her what an irresponsible owner she is and make her feel even worse by telling her about the problems of getting a dog from a puppy farm/back yard breeder
The OP has the dog now regardless of its background, she’s committed enough to start a thread of here asking for help. Be kind and supportive offer genuine advise.
OP this is your dog now it is really hard in the beginning and you’ll have times when it doesn’t go how you hoped and you’ll make mistakes training him most are rectifiable sometimes it’s trial and error what works for 1 dog may not work for your and days when you seem to be going backwards and you wonder why you’ve got a dog. Training of anything dogs horse etc is not linear. But if you persevere seek advise you will get there. I understand the book easy squeezy puppy squeeezy or something similar I’ve just bought for one of my DCs who’s recently got a puppy is very good you can get it for under £10 of Amazon.
Lets have a photo of your new dog. 😀

Aww, just take it easy, at her pace, stay calm, this all sounds normal. Some great advice on here. You’ll be best pals in no time op. Ps you need to pay the Puppy Tax - pics please.

Puppies are worse than babies for breaking someone's spirit.

When we got our current dog it was very unplanned and at 5 weeks old (rescue situation) so that added extra shittiness but I remember crying most evenings/mornings and was regularly stepping barefoot in sloppy hidden turds 🤢

Follow the great advice already given and it'll get easier very soon. 8 weeks is still a tiny little baby so pup will be very overwhelmed and adjusting to change, poor little things 😔 When our dog reached about 12 weeks she was completely different. She's 8 now and is the treasure of my life and every time I see a new grey hair or she gets a bit of a stiff leg from sleeping too long im reminded that we really dont get enough time with them compared to how wonderfully unconditionally loving they are 😭 youll feel the same! Hang in there.

Thanks All for the advice - puppy is settling in well now. She loves going outside now for a good sniff around - I cannot wait for us to be cleared so we can spend more time outside. The advice about tempting her outside with treats worked wonders and now shes very confident!

I also have a one on one training session bookee to help build both our confidence, and to help me ensure that I am able to help her be a happy and confident dog.

To the accusation that I purchased her from a puppy farm. To be clear, this was absolutely not the case. I did a lot of research to find a reputable breeder who specialises in the breed and genuinely cares about the dogs and where they are going. I verified this, and would never support a puppy farm. So please do not continue to accuse me of using a puppy farm - it is untrue and offensive.

I have also obviously not been taking her out when fireworks have been going off.

Thanks again to those with the advice and reassuring words - hugely appreciated. After 1 week, I couldn't imagine life without her!

I have a mini sausage puppy well 6 months now and it's been hard. Never had a puppy before so didn't realize was it was going to be like. I can't get mine to poo on walks he will only do it in my garden.
We had the same where we couldn't take him out till after his injections. It got a bit easier after we could take him in walks.
I have no advice just looking for reassurance it will get better.

Sal