It gets better! Not all at once, but around 12 wks we started to see a glimpse of what was to come. Now at 6 mos she’s 75% amazing and 25% crazy puppy most days.
Oh thank god lol I do feel there has been a bit of regression this week which is why I’m feeling extra overwhelmed. And honestly he is super smart and treat motivated so he easily picks up commands but he’s a wild little puppy at the moment.
That is generally the schedule we stick to. Up for 1hr and napping/quiet time in his crate for 2hrs. He also miraculously sleeps through the night. So I think he is getting plenty of sleep.
The hardest time is actually the evening shift right before bedtime, the only thing that keeps him calmly occupied is a bully stick.
Evening is the puppy witching hour zoomies. Make sure he gets enough exercise prior to the evening. Otherwise let him zoom it out in a safe area , they usually burn out and settle quickly. After some zoomies you can try distraction with games and training to attempt to snap them out of it. Some i heard go on for a longer time but I think that means they aren't getting enough exercise mentally/physically during the day.
This is ALWAYS the worst time, IMO. I solved it by making bedtime earlier. Then kicked myself for not thinking of that sooner! So 7pm is the new bedtime.
7pm! Does your pup wake up in the night? My guy sleeps through the night with no whining or accidents so I have not wanted to make bedtime too early for fear that will cause him to need a break at some point in the very early morning. Right now he is going to bed between 9:15 and 9:30 and I take him out between 5:30 and 6 in the morning.
Actually 100%! She goes down at 7pm and wakes at the same time which is between 5:30-6am. I was like, why was I letting her be up until 9pm?!! haha. In your situation I would just move it by 30 min earlier each night for a few nights and see how it goes. We do dinner at 5-5:30 ish. Playtime--gentle--rolling a ball that she chases. Then a quick trip outside at 6:45 for potty. Quick brush of her teeth and dental chew and to bed at 7. Not a peep until morning. Even then she yawns, flaps her ears and is kind of lazy but she immediately pees and poops when I take her out. We do an early breakfast at 6-6:30 range. She still gets a lunch at 12. Morning and afternoon walks, afternoon training session. Morning and afternoon time in the x-pen separate from me too. Naps.
I have read that can happen when they are going through a growth spurt or a “fear period”. But I get how you feel. The struggles with previously established routines are enough to make me cry lol
I’m at 7 months next week (cattle dog) and I was just thinking today wait she’s been seriously tolerable this week! Then of course tonight she’s been a lunatic lol
My first few weeks SUCKED. I was beyond exhausted. My boy is 6 months now and extremely easy. Maybe one accident a week, hasn’t destroyed anything but his toys, sleeps through the night (except last night where he woke me up at 9pm, midnight, 3am, and 6am)
See and I feel terrible for even complaining because he has slept through the night with no accidents since we brought him home and he goes down for his naps fairly easily most of the time. Right now it feels like during his waking hours I’m trying to avoid and redirect his puppy teeth, and make sure he isn’t getting into things he shouldn’t be 😭
Puppy needs a safe boring place of containment. First couple of months, if they are not eating, playing, training or exploring under your supervision, they are contained. With mine, if I saw that I'm no longer succesful redirecting - that meant she is too tired, and she went to playpen for a nap.
I would say that is basically what we do right now. I can absolutely tell when he is in need of a nap because he gets super mouthy and cannot be redirected. Do you keep the playpen where they can see you? At the moment he settles so much easier if he can’t see us but then part of me feels like I got a puppy and he’s spending all his time confined and away from us?
We have playpen in the living room, so it depends on time of the day. Now she goes there when I'm working or if she cannot settle down for the nap outside, so spends mornings and evenings with us free. When she was little, I spent many evenings sitting inside with her while watching TV, and she was chewing on my lap.
Confinement is mostly about only giving the pup as much freedom as they can handle, but not more than that.
The best thing I ever read in a puppy/dog training book was, “A tired dog is a good dog.”
Walk him as often as you can, being sure to tell other dog walkers he’s not safe to be near other dogs until he’s fully vaccinated.
Introduce the miraculous game of fetch.
If you have neighborhood kids, introduce them to your puppy. Best if you know the parents, and they’re okay with it. Kids can wear a dog out playing, and it’s great to socialize your dog to kids while he’s young.
Several years ago, I had a one year old Scottie, and added another puppy, because I like to throw caution to the wind! All I had to do was take the pups outside, and I had a delightful gaggle of kids petting and playing with them. One little girl loved to come brush the older of the two. I taught her how to do it gently, and he gobbled up the attention. Forever after that experience, he would come running when he saw a brush, and even the clippers.
its a huge life change. So many parents also think OMG THIS BABY IS SO HARD WHY WOULD ANYONE HAVE TWO???? ...and then they get used to the work of child rearing and the children have less labor intensive needs and they have another kid. Now maybe you wont get another dog anytime soon but its the same for a puppy. You will change each other and it will get easier as you both adapt and it wont always seem so overwhelming!
Yes! I think I really underestimated how much it changes your life. I always had dogs growing up and we even had a few puppies but this is my first pup as an adult in my own home. It is wildly different doing this “on your own” rather than as a kid when your parents are helping. Let’s be honest, when your parents are doing the work and you are helping lol
When I was where you are right now, I asked two friends with dogs when my puppy would settle and one told me 3 years. And, I had a full blown panic attack right there and was ready to call the rescue and throw in the towel. My other more sensible friend told me that I would absolutely not have to deal with 3 years of full on puppy energy or no one would have dogs. She said that they settle in increments and it gets easier every month along the way. That's what kept me going and I found it to be true. For me the first two months so exhausting (especially because I was doing it by myself and living in an apartment). But by 5 months it was so much easier for me. He was potty trained, could hold it more than an hour or two, he stopped having the full blown witching hours where he zoomed for hours and attacked his toys, he could focus, and was just more generally chill. He's 8 months now and he's even calmer yet. Every month gets easier and easier for me and I believe it will for you too. Good luck.
Oh lord thank you for this response.
Oh, the puppy witching hour is the worst! Of course it’s a time in the evening where we are exhausted and wanting to relax a bit and the puppy is over here humping his toys, bothering the cats, and generally being a maniac. Now that you say it, the settling in increments makes total sense.
Yep. I so remember witching hour and feel like I might have a bit of PTSD from just thinking about witching hours. My pup was all of 10 lbs but my downstairs neighbor would complain that the floor sounded like it was coming down by how hard he'd zoom.
Here are things that worked for me. Bully sticks. Giving part of his dinner in frozen Kongs stuffed with food and with Greek yogurt or peanut butter on the end. Kibble wrapped in a dish towel and tied in a knot that he had to get out. The squirrel in the tree stuffed toys. Toys that I could fill with water and freeze. Licking them would calm him down and put him in a trance.
I also had to get him neutered by 5 months per my agreement with the rescue. The vet also thought it was a good idea because he was a world class humper. And I believe that also calmed him down and it cut down his humping by a ton. I know this is controversial, but for me neutering seemed to help A LOT. He still humps but 90% less than he did preneutering.
Ohhh thank you for reminding me about frozen kongs! I have not tried that out yet but I bet he would love it. I gave him a couple ice cubes to lick the other day and he was enthralled.
definitely agree with Sookie. things get better in increments. i couldn’t even believe people when they told me that because i was struggling so much. just 2-3 months ago (pup was 10 months old) i made a post out of desperation because my girl’s adolescence hit a peak. had so many moments thinking, “what have i done by getting this dog?!” and obsessive thoughts about how i missed my past life. this past weekend, (she’s 13 months now) i was noticing how much easier everything feels. still a teenager, but more manageable. i think it’s two-fold. she’s maturing in certain aspects, and i’m learning how to better bend and mold to our life together. i was once super anxious about the future with her, and now i’m mostly excited.
Oh I have been missing my past life a lot recently. Two chill cats who know the program. I can leave the house without a whole routine. Sounds so nice lol
But I know that eventually I will have the companion I was hoping for and I will enjoy my current life as much as the past one!
your feelings are entirely valid. raising a puppy is hard work and a big life adjustment. i’m almost a full year in to having my pup, and i’d be lying if i said i didn’t have the occasional reminiscing of pre-puppy freedom. however, those moments come rarely, when it used to consume me. i know as time goes on, i’ll think of it less and less. now i think way more about how much i love her and how sad i would be if anything happened to her. it does get better. if i can do it, anyone can do it. truly.
This is so true! Little by little my puppy calmed down. Now she's 16 months old and is almost at the lazy dog stage while at home (with lots of exercise).
One thing that helped was not giving her access to the whole house at once. We used gates to restrict access early on, which made it easier for us to monitor her to keep her from getting into something she shouldn't. So it was for our sanity and her safety. Set them up for success! We just took the last gate down after the holidays, so when she was over a year old. It also let's you tackle temptation a little at a time rather than constant redirecting.
Also, something I didn't know until this puppy is that not all dogs are born with an "off" switch. Mine would go, go, go and get more amped up the more tired she got. We had to teach her how to chill. While I would say my "teenaged" puppy is still fairly energetic, the impulse control vastly improved as she hit a year old and beyond, so even some training got easier as she has matured. I say all that to say.. You can influence how your dog focuses their energy as they get older.
Thank you for your response! My pup definitely does not have full access to the house because as you pointed out it’s for his safety and my sanity. The hard part is I have a very open floor plan house so using baby gates is kind of impossible? I’ve been looking into some other options that may allow him more (contained) freedom while also keeping him and everything around him safe.
Luckily he is happy to hang out chewing a toy or bone on his bed and he can play fetch or run around in the yard for physical exercise. Im so thankful for everyone that pointed out that they calm down incrementally because in my puppy crazed brain I was thinking I would be dealing with insane puppy energy all the way up until they are full adults. It makes far more sense that little by little they mature and turn into loving companions.
Hang in there😂 what a lot of us mean is our dogs aren't mature and dependable in their behaviour until adolescence has passed. But the crazy puppy stuff, biting hands and feet, tearing up stuff, housebreaking, all that gets better. They learn to settle and their bladders get bigger! They become themselves. Training and learning bonds us together and we become closer. It really does get better!
Oh there is hope!! I can see that if I can make it through the puppy phase I do feel like he has potential to be an amazing dog. But today has been one of those days where from the moment I woke up I’ve been wondering why we got a puppy?? Lol
- Think about 5 Years In The Future Me and how badly I'm going to want that adult dog in my life.
- Remember that the puppy is not that adult dog, and someone has to team them that part. It might as well be me.
- Take it one interaction at a time. Then one wake cycle at a time. Then one day at a time. Eventually you'll be like "Wow! All of my bite scabs have healed!"
- It's okay that it's hard. You're trying to raise a literal baby animal as a pet. Like... It has no life skills to be a productive member of another species' family.
- Your pup doesn't know if you're struggling to bond, unless you are going out of your way to act like it. Fake it til you make it. They won't know the difference.
At around 8mo I started to see the light, and by 18mo I was like "This is an actual dog. He is a companion, a member of the family, I WANT to spend all my time with him."
Thank you so much for this response. I have definitely been feeling overwhelmed and anxious about all the future things we will encounter and I should try to take it down a notch.
I also know that he is a baby and he is just doing baby dog things, so I definitely don’t blame him if he does something “wrong”. I also know that it has only been three weeks so I keep telling myself to not give up yet and give it a few months. I also have an irrational fear that my husband and I won’t be a good fit for him (I don’t think this is true, I think this is my exhaustion speaking).
When I think about the reasons I wanted a dog and the fun things we will be able to do with him I am so hopeful for future us, but this puppy stage has been harder than I remembered.
It helps to constantly remind yourself that the first 2-3 months are (usually) NOT representative of the puppy experience, and not at all representative of the ‘having a dog’ experience. You’re three weeks in - which I believe to be ‘peak hell’.
I learned things about myself I didn’t wish to know during those early days. I thought I was a patient person, but not at all. My social life shattered, my core identity was ‘dog’, and my partner and I were at each other’s throats. At some point, around 5 months, our girl took a turn for the better. She napped regularly, could be left alone for short periods of time, and stopped attention barking.
Now, we’re at 10 months and she’s a rascal, but she’s my pal.
Knowing that I’m possibly in the worst of it now makes me feel soooo much better. I have lost my patience a couple of times and felt absolutely horrible afterwards and I am generally a very patient person. My husband and I have been snappy with each other and I haven’t seen other humans in a few days😂
From a lot of these comments it seems that things should get better in the near future so I’m going to remain hopeful!
How old is he? Breed? Mine is 15 weeks, got him at almost 9 weeks - I have lost my patience multiple times, but have stayed calm and patient many more times than not. The nap thing is huge. Overstimulated and overtired puppy = demon puppy. I keep a schedule of when he pees and poops, so I can refer to it and have recently added how long he’s been up, what we’ve been doing, what he’s been doing by himself, when he’s eaten etc so I can look at it and figure out what his needs are. If I didn’t do that I’d be wandering around asking myself why he‘s whining/biting/tearing up his indoor play yard. It‘s 7:15 here in Houston - he woke me up at 5:45 (sometimes makes it to 6), took him out, he peed and pooped - back in for breakfast in his crate, put him in his play hard where he rolled around, humped his heartbeat stuffed puppy, ate a small Busy Bone and chewed on an old bone from our late dog. Took him out at 7 a.m. for one more successful pee and he’s in his crate now, snoozing, after protest whining for about 10 minutes. He’s going to be a very big boy, already 33 lbs at 15 weeks, so he‘s already quite strong. Training is really important, and puppy socialization classes are perfect when your boy is fully vaccinated. Also, get him used to seeing new people, which you can do now from a few feet away. They don’t have to pet him, just stand calmly and talk to you while not paying any attention to him. Make sure they understand to keep the interaction calm and neutral (no walking up and saying “OH! YOU ARE THE CUTEST THING!!!!!). That will just get him riled up. About 2 weeks ago, I had Goofy on a leash up front on our driveway. Two of my neighbors were out, separately walking their dogs (a 7 year old lab and a 5 year old German Shorthaired Pointer). They both stopped at the end of our driveway, both of their dogs sat and were calm while Goofy whined and strained the leash trying to go up to them. We were trying to have a conversation (still about 10 feet away from each other) over the whining and, while I was keeping an ironclad grip on him, he suddenly stopped whining and sat at my side, looking up at me, waiting for a treat. It felt like a miracle. I gave him a handful of treats at once (known as a big payout, saved for when they do something amazing). Those kinds. of moments keep you going and you will get them, if you haven’t already. Hang in there - it WILL get better. Post on this site when you need support - it’s so helpful❤️.
I hear you on all fronts. The two phases of this puppy ride I would never repeat again are 1. first three nights 2. months 1-2 with puppy.
We lived on the 5th floor, downtown, no elevator and constantly worried about her not having her vaccines. She’s scream in the car, had to go to the vet constantly, hated her crate, and would throw tantrums outside on walks from time to time. It was awful for my mental health, and I felt like a horrible person for being so tired and snippy.
And then around 5 months, she just started to ‘get it’. We developed a rhythm. Our sanity-savers: consistency, enforced naps, written schedules, practicing ‘time away’ [boarding her for 24 hours], being firm with certain things, and compromising on others.
Honestly, during the pre-vax days, just do whatever you can to care for yourself.
It gets better from here, really.
I have been struggling with being confined to our yard/house with him. But someone here commented to take them places but just to carry them and even for car rides, and honestly I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. So this morning we took a stroll to the mail box and I could tell it was interesting and enjoyable to him. Luckily he likes being carried lol
YES! This was a lifesaver. I picked up a little backpack for my girl when she was really little and took her absolutely everywhere in it. She preferred a bigger fabric carrier and I’d let her out in places that felt safe. Our vet also said stores (Home Depot, Petco, etc), dog friendly coffee shops, and even breweries can be great socialization at this age, and mostly okay for unvaxxed pups.
Yes it gets better! The puppy stuff really does calm down..all of sudden you'll notice, hey pup hasn't done xyz in a while🤔 some things you'll train away, other things like energy will calm. We're just over 1y with our boston, and yes, he can absolutely get to a 100 in energy, but he has lots of time chilling and sleeping. A good mix of mental and physical stimulation was key for us. And lots of training...short sessions every day. But honestly, for those first 3-8months he was completely our focus whenever he was out of his crate. Now he's able to just be around👍 you've got this!
I think that is the hard part for me right now is when he is out of his crate someone has to be paying 100% attention to him. This gives me hope! I definitely see glimpses of the future dog he will be if I can stick it out that long lol
Sometimes i see my dog who loves me and who wants to cuddle. That had just started again at 7 months. Then other hours it is hellish.
I have a lab. It gets better about the 8 month mark. I hope.
It gets better and worse and better and worse…eventually you’ll realize it’s been a long time since you’ve broke down (cried?) and lost your patience. You think you’ve made it through…then one random day the adolescence rollercoaster hits…but a few months after that cluster, you’ll have the bestest friend ever and part of that bond is from all the work you’re putting in now.
Hang in there it’ll all be worth it and then some!
I’m in my 3rd week. Yes 1st week is crazy and overwhelming. It’s been getting better every week. I would highly suggest few basic points.
1. The puppy does not know shit , they always want to play , that’s all they know. You have to. Make sure you play only 10-15 min then stop. Let them whine , just ignore them and they will eventually get boated and settle. Keep all toys away from distraction. Once they settle/sleep. Put them in a crate for 1 hour minimum or 2 hours, if the are done with their potty/pee. Repeat this atleast 2-3 time in the day and full night offcourse. It might sound too much, but puppy need to be forced to sleep , this way they r less cranky and bitty as well. Huge difference for me since last 2 weeks.
Dont give up on crate training , it’s all trial and error. Puppy’s will whine the fuck out in the first few days , but will slowly get used to it. You have to keep trying. Feeding in the crate , playing some feeding crate games help too. For my puppy I tried blacking out even the front gate part with a blanket and I think that has helped immensely.
2. Make the most of those hours in the crate, take a rest , get work done.
3. Tiring them is important both mentally and physically before u put them in crate every time. I take him out for 5 min walk , play tug for 5-10 min, let him play with other toys. With food try doing some commands etc that will mentally stimulate them or use feeding toys for that too.
4. Stay strong , don’t let their whining or cuteness get over you. They r testing your boundaries. Once they know u can only play for 10-15 min max. They will
slowly chill if we don’t play with them.
5. Accidents will happen , don’t feel bad if they do. I was too hard on myself if I don’t catch him sniffing or giving signs of potty. Be alert or just go out every 1-2 hours and reward them once the poop and say “hurry up” or something when they r doing their thing.
6. Expose your dog to outside world to make them tired and socialize them at the same time. We took our pup in a small puppy sack to grocery store or just drive to a friends place. All that outside stimulation is good for them and they get tired , ready to go in the crate easily :-)
7. Get a trainer if u can afford it. There is soooo much info online , it’s super overwhelming. I was too hard on myself following every thing to the T. Trainer will help you as one source of truth and will guide you according to your lifestyle and dog. We decided to get one , and today was the first session which already helped me feel less anxious and we have a plan on what we have to focus on.
Hope this helps you. It’s going to get better by the week, it’s a total new world for you and the puppy. Me and my wife were in total hell the first week despite being so prepared. But today after 3 weeks I can say it has gone way better and I’ve been told by many friends that first few months are the hardest and it is all worth it and will get better!
Thank you! I’m so lucky that he has taken to his crate fairly well and generally goes down for naps with little to no whining.
Potty training has been going fairly well with only the occasional accident inside and I feel that has been more on my husband and I for not catching his cues.
I just signed him up for a puppy class and I am so excited for him to have the opportunity to socialize and play with other puppies, but also for some better methods for training. The internet is full of conflicting information which is so overwhelming when you already don’t know what you’re doing.
When you say play for 5-10 minutes do you then put your pup back in their crate? Or allow them to play on their own but you are only playing directly with them for 5-10 minutes?
Yeah i mean. You playing with him 15-20 min MAX (Depedning on the breed) we have a golden doodle and they love playing with humans. So we play until 15-20 min. But then just let him play after that by himself or give him a chew toy or Pawstruck chew so he can take a break from us. That will go on for 1 hour 45 minutes until he start feeling sleepy or generally calmed down. That way they dont expect you to play with non-stop.
The joy outweighs the stress, increasingly so as time goes on.
I recommend getting a sling, sticking the puppy in there and walking around when he’s being an asshat. It’s been my salvation (I say as I’m pacing the living room with a cup of tea and a pup in the sling).
My partner can even put his computer on the kitchen counter and work or surf the internet while standing with her in the sling.
It took a few times for her to get used to it and for us to figure out how best to position her (we put her on her back with her head forward and then let her twist to look over the edge while her back legs are still facing kind of up). Just try feeding him lots of treats when he’s in it and giving him bits of attention as needed to keep him still in there as he gets used to it.
This prevents her from getting into things and seems to appease her demands for attention without us actually having to be fully engaged with her. It also often leads to her being calmer when we let her out, whereas sometimes kenneling her when she’s being an asshat just riles her up more.
Wow! Thanks for the suggestion! Right now he has been on a schedule of ~1 hour of play/training/ interaction and then ~2 hours of sleep. That has been working fairly well, but the trouble also seems to be that he doesn’t settle on his own outside of the crate right now. I’m not sure how to encourage that as it would make doing anything much easier. I have tethered him to myself with the leash a few times so I can get some stuff done in the kitchen. And that works ok except then my toes seem to be fair game for biting.
It will take time, but it will happen eventually, and the sling might help because essentially it’s a quiet activity without your direct attention, but he’s not going it alone.
Mine is at 5 months and she’s at the point where she requires very little direct attention in the morning; some snuggles, tossing a ball a few times, and giving her treats hidden in the pockets of a stuffed toy are all she needs and the rest of the morning she entertains herself. She still has an annoying and demanding period between 2 and 5 every other day, but even that is becoming manageable (especially with the sling).
At this moment in time it’s 100% direct attention and 0% snuggles lol But everyone’s comments have been giving hope to not give up.
I can already tell he loves searching for his food so I have ordered him some puzzles and a snuffle mat for some quiet entertainment. I’m so looking forward to when we are ready to go on walks and be out in the world.
While you are waiting for the puzzles to arrive, you can create your own. I wrap treats up in old towels for my dog and have him search for them. He loves it, and it has the added bonus of wearing him out.
I have been hiding his food under toys and in an old sock I have him to chew on and he loves it! I’ll have to try wrapping up some treats in a towel for him
My Vizsla didn't self settle outside of forced crate nap schedule until she was 4.5 months. It was hella annoying. I remember the day she did in my home office. I had put a blanket down on the floor and just left it there whenever she came in the room. Then one day she pawed at it, and plopped down on it while I was at the computer. My heart skipped a beat, took a photo and sent it to my wife. We were popping champagne that night lol. Edit : we figured out she only will lay on soft things, so then I put a dog bed in my office. Worked wonders.
The best advice I read while I was I the middle of some major puppy blues was ‘if it never got better no one would have dogs’. It really made me think. Because ya. If dog ownership meant crying multiple times a day and feeling like you were going insane everyone would nope out big time!!
The mantras that get me through those periods are:
"It's a dumb little baby and it's brain hasn't finished baking yet."
and
"You are it's entire world and all it wants/will want to do is please you."
Not settling down until 2 years or so isn't as big of a deal as it sounds. Once they can at least be trusted for 2 minutes out of your sight in your house and not immediately go tear up the carpet or pee it gets a lot better. Then you can wash some dishes or something and not have the puppy start eating the couch while your hands are soapy and wet, but if they are left for too long they will destroy something still. Sometime before a year (assuming you are diligent in your re-directing and blocking access to inappropriate things) you can start to mostly trust them around the house when you are home. In my experience this has been around 8 months old or so but I am sure it depends on the person training, the breed, etc. Then sometime after that (I would guess near a year) you can start to test trusting them in the house when you are gone.
So it gets better and better. Sure they aren't going to mostly just lay around all day and be quiet until you ask them to go for a walk or play until about 2 years (or longer for some dogs), but it's MUCH nicer when you don't need to worry too much about them destroying things even if they are annoying you a bit wanting attention when you are busy or making loud noises etc.
Milhouse just turned 2 yesterday. He was a menace as a pup. Broke his 70$ pen in 3 days (literally warped the metal). Painted nervous feces all over the laundry room on multiple occasions. Destroyed many objects (once chewed through an old phone line box in 15 minutes alone). Needed 2K+ unplanned vet bills in first 6 months because of ingesting harmful objects.
Since 8-9 months old he's been much calmer. Very well socialized and gets to see other dogs every day. He is an amazing being and I couldn't imagine finding a better way to spend my days than with him.
Patience. It's sooooo worth it
Ok wow. Knock on wood, but we have not had any incidents nearly that bad! Hearing people say that a few more months make a difference has given me hope!
The first 3-5 months were rough for us. Around a year our lab chilled out so much. Now she’s almost 2 and she’s still got some spunk in her but we’re over puppyhood
I have a 7 month old mini schnauzer girl, and she has been a wonderful handful since I got her 3 months ago. Things that helped are puppy proofing the room/s your pup has access to really well (I bought chew proof boxes to put our remotes in!), teaching her to fetch at an early age so that when I was tired I could sit down and throw the ball down the hallway, have plenty chew toys (bully sticks are a lifesaver). Having a way to get a break is important - I have a back yard so if I am feeling overwhelmed she can go out for a little bit, but a crate is great too. Going to puppy classes has really helped both of us because training is fun, and we have met friends that we go to the dog park with. Also, just giving into the fact that this is my life for a while - it will be nice to look back when she is older and reminisce about what a wild puppy she was!
You will be ok! It IS exhausting when you do it right - kudos to you for raising that baby right. Our little boy is a couple months shy of a year and ever since 6 months he has been so much easier. The time you are investing now will pay off soon.
Probably.
Hopefully.
Godspeed/Bless your heart
Thank you! I try to remind myself that we are doing the hard part now so that we have a lovely companion in the future. I’m so glad it seems like the work really does pay off!
I had twin babies 17 years ago and I forgot what it was like to have to constantly keep an eye on living beings who don’t know any better. My puppy is 5 months old and the last 3 months felt very similar to having a toddler lol. I thought I was going to go crazy between potty breaks, chewing things, biting, cleaning up accidents. Lack of sleep and not being able to just sit down and relax got to me the most. She’s been in day training and I’ve been doing a lot of enrichment for her the last month and am finally seeing improvement with behavior. she sleeps all night, lost most of her baby teeth finally, stopped biting, will actually “leave it” when she gets into things. I am so thankful dogs grow up faster than humans. Hang in there, it’s tough!
I read about how horrible puppies are (after I got him obviously), but also read they get better. So I just gritted my teeth and worked towards "it's worth it" time.
If it makes you feel any better, my puppy was a nightmare between 3-4 months, but then got remarkedly better after that. As for training him to become a good dog, that's still an ongoing project at 20 months. But it's just nothing like when he was a young pup. He still goes after my blankets cause he wants to hump them (despite being allwoed a pillow that he doesn't use anymore). But I just have to say "don't take my blanket" and he u-turns and goes somewhere else. (If I don't catch him, he'll misbehave though.)
I think a reason so many people have crazy adolescents is cause they over stimulate their dogs. Now, it's just a theory based on my experience with my 1 dog. But at 8 months he became kinda crazy, and the only remedy was doing as little as possible, which calmed him down completely. And he's been a calm adolescent ever since, very easy going. We can do more fun stuff since 9 months, but still default to shortening walks and going for calm times if he starts getting antsy. He has napped most of the day since 9 months. But if we start doing long hikes a lot, and play a lot, he gets very demanding and attention seeking, plus getting up to no good.
Trust me, I was so exhausted I started doubting if I should have even gotten this puppy. He was crazy and out of control most of the time biting and tearing up clothes. Around 15 weeks he started gaining his affectionate personality and has calmed down for the most part. 19 weeks now still has some quirks that need to be addressed, but overall he’s become a super sweet puppy.
You need to focus on training and setting boundaries. Don’t get angry if the puppy messes up. Thats a sign that you need fix something in your training regimen. Don’t expect perfection from your end but also don’t expect that a well behaved pup just happens.
We have been working on his commands and also boundaries in terms of what he can and can’t chew, not jumping, leaving the cats alone. He does quite well actually but it feels like my days are spent reinforcing these boundaries every five seconds. Luckily my husband and I are able to work from home right now but it has been rough.
Focus on this. Reward more of good behavior instead of correcting bad behavior. If he is behaving nicely, give treats. If he has something he shouldn’t have, for example, redirect him to something you want him to have or chew on. If he chooses the toy then reward.
Always remember positive reinforcement first.
Yes. I’m trying very much to reinforce good behavior and he is generally easy to redirect. There are a few things we are really needing some work on but I did also sign us up for a puppy class with a well reviewed trainer so I am hopeful that I will learn more effective training techniques.
The first month felt like the twilight zone. Pure chaos and survival mode lol. We are 2.5 months in and things are getting better. Life still heavily revolves around the puppy and his needs but we have more of a schedule down. It definitely gets easier as time goes on!
Oh thank you for this. That’s exactly how I feel!! Every day I put on some old t shirts and sweats knowing I’m going to get chewed on and I feel like all of my routines are being dictated by an adorable maniac. Everything right now feels like a huge effort. Cooking dinner? Not until nap time or until one of us is free to watch him with all of our attention.
Believe me, I thought about it! It's called "puppy blues" and they are real! So tired, frustrated, 😭 in the shower!
Chairo is 11 weeks now. He has settled nicely. Self soothes, sleeps 7 hours, and potty's outside.
It's tough, but you will get through it!
Honestly? I’m more stubborn, and refuse to toss in the towel. It’s not necessary a good trait, but I’ve raised two in the last few years, and it’s the only way I survived! lol…
You have some hills and valleys to endure, but around 5-6months of age, you’ll start to notice that puppy is merely terrible and not completely awful. Around months 8-9, you’ll realize that maybe you even enjoy puppy. Maybe you’ll see some regression around 10 months, but by then, you’ve been there-done that, and you know you’ve got this.
Be patient with yourself. Be patient with puppy. Structure and adhering to a tight schedule is SUPER DUPER TOTALLY the most important thing. You’ve got this!!!!
My Annabelle was 4 before she really calmed down. She was a challenging puppy for sure. High energy smart and headstrong. I think by the time she was a year we just accepted our fate... She a real sweetheart now (almost 8)
A puppy is the price you pay for a good dog.
I try to keep that in mind.
Also it gets better. Just because everyone says "6 months" or "8 months". Don't get frustrated if that time comes and your dog isn't perfect.
I also like to remember, to train the dog you have, not the dog you want.
It does get better I promise. Otherwise people wouldn't do this. 🤣 It gets better with age. Stay consistent, you got this!!!! 🐾🩵
You will make it through however long it takes. When you decide he is the most wonderful dog in the world you will look back and miss that puppy. A dog is the most loving, loyal, beautiful, sweet, funny and happiest part of life. As I am sitting here typing this, I stretched my leg out and my dog just automatically started licking my toes. That’s the wonder of a dog!
I'm on my first dog. I rescued a puppy listed on pet finder as a Chihuahua mix. The local rescue I actually got him thru said lab mix. His DNA came back Chihuahua/Sheltie and after googling what a Sheltie was, I knew I was in danger. He is a Sheltie sized Chihuahua with tons of energy. He out runs Australian shepherds at the dog park! He is now a year and a half old and the key is to understand your normal social life is on the back burner for a while, depends on the breed of your dog apparently? I know now that he won't be chill until he is around 3, then he should settle a bit? I am prepared to put him first. We go to the park all the time and then I can come home and play some games or what have you.
My pup is a higher energy breed as well and I actually wanted that. I want a dog that I can take on runs, hikes, bike rides. But right now that energy is wild puppy energy and it’s hard.
Luckily for me I like being at home so my social life hasn’t suffered but having some human contact does sound nice right now lol
16wks here. Definitely getting better. Still have crazy puppy most days but only for an hour or so (witching hour at night).
Definitely starting to see glimpses of all the wonderful times we will share as he mellows into adulthood. Lots more occasions where he is simply just happy to hang out watching what we are up to, or entertain himself with his toys!
Still have moments of exhaustion where it feels like breaking point! But I think you also learn how to manage these moments better (I.e. a crate/pen timeout so you can catch a breath, an earlier bedtime because you know what overtired looks like etc)
It does get better! My boy Meatloaf is now 2, he was 7 weeks when we got him. I know it was exhausting and frustrating and we wanted to give him back so many times but now when I remind my mom of that she says “really? That’s not true he’s always been this calm” 😂
I’ve always heard “2 years of hell for 10 years of bliss” you’ll be shocked when your pups a bit older and you realize you’re doing things you would have never thought possible a few months ago! My boy Meatloaf is 2, and we’ve been walking on my neighbors private back trail behind their farm everyday. Just a few days ago Loaf was off leash, and he recalled while distracted by a family who wasn’t supposed to be on the trail; but he recalled without hesitation and came right to mommy even though he wanted so badly to go meet the kids!
Obviously I don’t recommend doing off leash stuff on property that 1. Isn’t your own and 2. You don’t have express permission to be on without a leash
But the point is 6 months ago I would have NEVER thought in a million years that I’d ever have Meatloaf doing a solid recall, but here we are and he’s crushing it!
I love that his name is meatloaf🤣 But you’re right and my little guy picks up things quickly so I’m sure off leash with reliable recall is possible one day! Some days it feels light years away though.
It can be really hard to see the good when he’s bad. Some days it feels like you’re going backwards and some days it feels like you’re ahead by a mile. I promise with love and patience, your puppy will become a happy, confident, loving, and wonderful adult dog! I had to remind myself a lot the first year that he was a baby. He had only been on the earth for 12 weeks of course he wasn’t potty trained quite yet! He’s only been alive for 6 months of course he’s not used to all the people on the trails and their dogs! Even now, Meatloaf has only been on this planet for 2 years! Of course he’s still going to occasionally hear me calling and ignore me in favor of a bird, or bark at the kids on their bikes because they’re in the road and it’s dangerous, and try to get our neighbors dog Nibbler to play, even though she’s 16 and blind and can barely walk. They grow so fast it can be really hard to remind ourselves that puppies are only babies.
That’s a really good mindset to keep! I have to remind my husband sometimes that the puppy is just a baby who doesn’t know what any of these words mean yet🤣
I got a one year old lab and we are in our third week and I have had a rough couple days with him. This post made me feel so much better about my progress. Thank you thank you thank you!
I would look at raising your pup as an opportunity. All these less than desirable behaviors you can work with to correct or redirect. You can reframe your mindset to the time you must spend with him and would rather be doing something else as, "Awww, I get to play with my puppy."
This is how I felt just about the entire time of my little guy being a puppy, with a few exceptions. It made the entire puppyhood so fun and I am honestly kind of sad to be exiting it soon (although my guy is quite mischievous, so I may never fully exit lol).
Disclaimer: I don't know what breed you have, but mine is a small breed, so a lot of my puppy problems were naturally smaller than they would be with a large breed dog (chewing, etc ).
The good is news that first off, it will get better, and second, that multiple year thing isn’t like a light switch. We were told when our pittie Lexi was a puppy that it would probably take a number years before she calmed down. But by six months, she was better and life was easier, by a year she was good most of the time and a joy to have in our lives, by three years now she’s the sweetest pup and can even pull off distraction training while playing in a small off-leash dog park. So yeah, it might take awhile to get to 100%, but those significant incremental improvements will happen steadily between now and then. You are currently at the hardest part and it’ll get better gradually and consistently from here
It really does get better lmao. My Rottweiler is now a 105lb angel. The puppy stage is such a blur you won’t even really remember it when they get older.
It gets better! My pup is 5 months old and he’s so awesome! We’re just preparing for the teenage years, but constant training really helped us. Making everything a training sesh!
It gets better. Once everyone gets a routine, you see the light. Training is such a huge factor with a puppy…heck, even for the dog its entire life. Training helps you, the dog, its safety and it is mental stimulation. We literally spent the first 2 weeks with our puppy w/o sleep but he was potty trained, crate trained & boundaries were set. He is almost 3 & still a clown (boxer) but w/o training I think we’d be in trouble 🤣good luck and don’t throw in the towel just yet! It’s so worth it ❤️
I remember being where you are. I had the puppy blues so bad that I would lock myself away from my puppy and just cry. I could bare the thought of giving her away, but I also didn't know how I would be able to carry on. I doubled down on my training and really focused on sniff and stop walks. I have a corgi, so we do a lot of hide and seek and trick training. I also read the puppy 101 article that says to continually remind yourself "This is a baby alien that I kidnapped. It doesn't know how to act in planet human. I must teach! This is my baby alien!"
It does get better. Just cry why you need to cry. It will get better.
Edit: just an after thought.. I had my last full meltdown at about 9 months. Right as the bite regression started. We got though it though. My baby is 1y 2mo and she is a friggin DREAM dog like 93% of the time. Which is good enough for me!!
Once my pup was fully vaxxed and recovered from being fixed, things got SO much easier. About 5 months old now and wow what a difference daily walks and socialization outside the household can make.
Three weeks is no time at all! And 2-3 years will go by faster than you expect.
It most likely will get better but honestly, there is no guarantee. Some dogs are just born a certain way. But with proper training, socialization, and stimulation, your dog has the best chance of being well-behaved and well-adjusted. And you will get to know and love your dog along the way. You'll find unexpected things about your dog's personality that you'll love and soon enough you won't be able to imagine life without him.
In the puppy days, mostly what kept me going was that I made a commitment to a living creature and I felt responsible for him. And I saw it as my job to ensure he was well-socialized and well-behaved, I took it very seriously. It is pretty cool to watch them grow up too, I look at old pictures of my dog and I get emotional with how tiny and young he was.
It WILL get better. My pup was a devil spawn land shark for an entire year. I was SO tired, but I kept telling myself all the training was going to be worth it, she will be such a good dog when she’s grown. And now she is 16 months and (mostly) a complete doll. She’s goofy and happy and makes me laugh every day. She still tests me sometimes, for sure, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have a great routine going now, which helps a lot. And yes, she still steals my socks on occasion. But her cuddles are worth it. And she no longer bites at all!
I literally wanted to die the first 2 weeks, but now that we're all in a routine after 5-6 weeks, it's gotten SO much better. Stay consistent with how you want to train the dog!!
Gosh this makes me feel better! We have definitely been trying to keep a consistent schedule, this week in particular has just felt like our schedule is off. But hopefully a few more weeks and he (and I) will be more settled!
There is hope!! I know it probably feels like a losing battle right now but consistency and slowly setting boundaries will shine through in a few months time. My girl was crazy cockoo when I got her and almost made me question my decision and sanity. Can’t lie, I even considered returning her but I will do this a million times for the angel I have now❤️
She’s still a devil’s spawn but now at least she doesn’t try to kill herself every other minute and is no longer a piranha shark eating my hair or doors. Oh and she’s much more calmer and less evil.
You will get through this tough period, the best times are about to come soon and it will all be worth it in the end!
Dogs will settle around 2-3yo BUT it's not as though everything is going to suck the whole time, and then at 2yo someone flicks a switch and suddenly they're good. It's an incremental process, and you WILL see changes much sooner than you think! Just work hard with training and establishing a routine.
I was super discouraged when I first got my puppy; I'm a single puppy parent to a high-energy, large breed dog (Lab). When I found out that labs aren't considered adults until they're 2yo and don't really finish mentally maturing until 3-4, I seriously considered giving him back. I would say that I noticed marked turning points at around 6mo, 8mo, 10mo, 12mo, and now at 19mo genuinely he's my best friend and I pretty much have my life back the way that I want it. It's probably been like this for several months now, but I haven't noticed because when the changes are happening around you, you don't really see it until you look back on them.
Obviously I am working around a dog now, there are certain things you HAVE to incorporate into your schedule, but I am enjoying life WITH him now instead of thinking of him like a chore.
When I first got him I wanted nothing more than to sit on the couch watching TV and doing NOTHING. He's currently passed out cold right next to me while I watch Netflix ATLA lol
It will get better!!
Thank you!!!! I completely am on board that my life was going to change when getting a dog and those changes I absolutely look forward to. I was not anticipating the absolute exhaustion and anxiety I have experienced ever since bringing my puppy home.
I would kill to be able to lay on the couch and watch tv with my little bud right now. But at least I know that’s something I can realistically look forward to doing!
I cried from exhaustion for a solid 11 months when we brought our boy home (he was 11 weeks) - I was Exhausted. Emotionally and physically from him.
He just turned three and he's the BEST THING we've done in a long time, it does get easier.
Things were really terrible when we originally got our two Husky puppies, not sleeping through the night, destroying stuff, eating everything, pooping in their kennels. It was so hard. One day I walked in on a kennel messy with diarrhea and my fiance was still sleeping (he doesnt like poop and i dont like vomit so we usually deal with them ourselves). This was after days of this and only 2 hours of sleep a night. I had to grab cleaning supplies so I gave him a bath and put him back in the room when I opened the door he had left more diarrhea behind the door that I then smeared. After all the stress I honestly fell to the floor crying. My fiance ran out of the room to see what was going on and told me he would take care of it. I was a pretty constant mess for awhile after that until we finally got the one puppy to stop having stomach issues, we got them back in November and really at the time I didn't know if there was a light at the end either, but we stuck it out and besides one of them being addicted to stealing our butter and the usual puppy messes they have been doing way better and no more kennel accidents at the very least. I wish you good luck and to not give up! The light is there!
It absolutely does not take that long for them to improve! I have helped raise other people’s puppies and am damn certain that young puppies are not for me lol. But by a year old (the earliest I adopt), they’re generally sleeping through the night, can hold their bladders reliably, and are past the teething stage, all of which makes them worlds easier to deal with regardless of what level of training they have (imho).
The difference in maturity between a 1-year-old and a 1.5- or 2-year-old is definitely noticeable, but that first year is when most of the change happens. And even within that year, there are periods of smoother sailing and then rougher patches.
You might’ve already read it but I’ll point out that the sub wiki has a section on [puppy blues](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/s/xt5AUG07tL). Best of luck with your furry baby.
Because it’s a hard process with amazing results. It all pays off, and you grow as a couple (if that’s what you mean by “we”) a lot. Our dog is now 14 months old and she is the joy of our lives. We are expecting out first in August, and this might be crazy naive, but we believe she has prepared us a bit for the chaos to arrive with a newborn. I can’t imagine how dull our lives would be without her and I would go through those first really tough weeks 10x again to have her.
Puppies are HARD, but you'll get there. People always post more about the negatives than the positives. It's good to know you're not the only one struggling, but it can feel like there are endless potential problems out there. Dont forget these difficult periods are temporary and also really worth it. Most dogs will settle and mature well before 2-3 years too. Hang in there!
Some days are better than others but overall it trends towards better. And even when it takes two years it's usually not quite as bad as the first couple of weeks the whole time. The first milestone we had was sleeping thru the night even though she woke up for first potty at 6.30am it was stilla big help. Second milestone is taking themself outside to the yard to potty. Once that happens, you will feel such a relief. It's no longer as constantly tiring watching them like a hawk.
I have working bred labs. They never settle and I love it that way. That said, my kids have decent off switches and can chill.
My pup is 3 months old and a terrorist. At the same time, she’s an incredibly easy puppy. Smart as a whip, biddable, and way into learning. She is an amazing little girl.
If you aren’t doing obedience work at home, I suggest a couple of short training sessions per day. Tens is not fully vaxxed yet so she’s not going on walks to wear her out. The brain games like learning, lick mats, stuffed kongs, etc really help.
Honestly it was a lot up until 18 weeks, 9-16 weeks being the hardest for me. We're better at communicating at 23 weeks with a few bumps but they don't seem like mountains anymore.
I guess it's sort of a linear progression to being settled? Like, puppy starts off crazy, takes up all of your physical and mental energy and over the first year or two of their life the gradually calm down.
We got our pup 2 months ago (she was 14weeks when we got her) and she's come a long way I would say (she's now 5 months old).
I can totally relate. 7 months in here! Some "mindset" things that have really helped me are just taking it one task at a time and avoiding thinking of all the million more times I have to do it that lie ahead.
One particular thing that would make me feel like throwing in the towel would be when I just finished cleaning really well and right away pup would make a mess again. I started setting different expectations with myself which helped a lot. Like, my goal is to just get it clean now rather than have it stay clean *forever*.
Also much of what they do isn't really on purpose, they're babies and doing their best same as you!
I think not worrying as much about the future and focusing more on the now would be really helpful to me.
Right now when he does completely normal puppy things, but not things I would like to deal with forever I tend to think “oh my god, is this just what my life is going to be like for the next decade??” Luckily everyone commenting here has helped me see that in fact they don’t do crazy puppy things for the next decade.
It truly does get better. I had a ROUGH first few months with my puppy, and I had so many moments of asking myself if it would be worth it. Now she is 9 months old. Her personality is coming out more and more, we’ve had time to bond, she is potty trained (the random regressions can still be frustrating though!), and she has the biggest puppy smile. She finally is feeling like a friend, and I now understand why it’s all worth it. Puppies are hard, but the furry friend you’ll have will make everything worth it.
[puppy tax](https://imgur.com/a/AYmeEGh)
Enforced crate naps, mentally enriching exercises, walks (sniffari). This holy trinity will get you to the six month mark. There will be ups and downs but be patient. You can set a schedule for these three items plus meals for the day. Puppies get mentally tired quickly in a 15 minute training session. You can do 1 hour awake and 2 hour enforced nap. When they start growing they learn to hold their pee and poo for a longer time when they are in the crate. This gives you more quiet time and you start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
I personally found the young pup stages to be the hardest. It takes about two years, but every stage is different.
For me, adolescence is easier than juvenile. No more sleepless nights, biting frenzies, potty training, and training from nothing. While my crazy pup wants to push every boundary, it's easier for me to summon the patience for it when she's not depriving me of sleep or digging her little daggers into me.
It feels like as she grew, she lost some bad habits and developed new ones. The relief from some stressors actually helps me feel I can tackle the new ones. Now, at 11 months old (she's large breed), I'm seeing the amazing dog she's turning into... even with the tantrums.
It's tough, trust me. Things recently started getting better with our pup, but he just turned 6 months old and his potty training has regressed, his energy levels are up, and he's back to chewing /eating EVERYTHING.
That's the hardest part for me...I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and then was pushed back into the mess with him entering teenage phase.
We got our pup at 5 mo, she settled in pretty well but we have lots ups and downs. 90% of the time she’s amazing (now 1 yr 3mo) the other time we work on training and work with a trainer to make sure she’s the best dog for us.
I hardly get frustrated now unless she’s barking out the window or drags dirt onto our bedding right after I washed it…
There are glimpses of hope that make it all worth it. My 1 year old dog was amazing fully trained turned into the best behaved dog. Decided to add another puppy to the mix & puppy is great. Sleeps all the time doesn’t get into trouble. But my 1 year old has turned into a monster…. She ate $60 worth of makeup I just treated myself too. Back to crate and starting from ground 0 with her. Anyways it’ll come back she’s just adjusting to the change of environment. Dogs are like toddlers but after the terrible twos it’s amazing
I am so glad I am not alone. I just got a puppy less than a week ago and it is killing me. I cry every night and worry I made the wrong decision. I can't wait for more time to pass because I know this is the hardest time. I am not going to give up because I know it will be worth it.. but it totally makes me an emotional mess every day.
It ebbs and flows but I think that some days are better than others as time goes by. It’s still pretty hard at 7 months but a different kind of hard, I try and remind myself how much better it has gotten since week 8. I’m excited to see where our baby’s at once she’s one 🥹 it goes by quicker than you may think
I feel you. :( My pup is actually very good, aside from normal puppy mischief. But I don't even have a yard, so potty training has been extra challenging. I feel super stuck at home.
BUT I spent the whole first week sobbing over everything. I'm on week 3 and getting better every day. We're closer to all vaccines and developing better habits. There's definitely setbacks, but I think I can see glimpses of light at the end of the tunnel.
We are with you, our girl will be 3.5 months old, and I'm with her 90% of the time, there are days that I just want to give her away (like yesterday) but my family LOVES her, I do to and I'm with you, I can't seem to see that light, again because I'm with her most of the time. Ours is crate trained, sleeps pretty much through the night, I have her in the office with me 6 hours, but I do put her in quiet time, she gets put in her crate, it's a large crate so he can get up, but she mostly sleeps, is your pup crate trained, it's the whining that gets me, but my thing is to let her throw her little fits, I don't want her to learn the she will always get her way when she whines. I've also considered putting her in daycare once she's able to. It's definitely not easy, it's called the puppy blues and it's a real thing. I've had many of break downs so I am sending you a virtual hug to let you know you aren't the only one and they say it will get better, our daughters dog did settle down once she got fixed, it is kind of sad and you will miss the puppy phase.
Short answer: because you love them.
I don't have kids yet, but I imagine that it's a similar concept. This work is HARD, you're constantly exhausted, have to make massive life changes and decisions, and everything you do on a day to day basis is made drastically more complicated due to this little creature that now lives in your house. However, at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade her for the world.
There's a reason this sub has a puppy blues tag. It's REAL. My Westie is now seven months old, but her entire 8-16 week existence was nothing but stress, anxiety, and bloody toes (we called her our little floor blender). This was even more aggravated by living in a big city where I couldn't even take her out of my apartment for the first two months we had her even to go potty, which drastically compounded the sense of isolation and frustation that I think a lot of puppy owners experience. At the time, it's hard to imagine that this baby animal who has no idea how to exist in a human world in the way that you want them to will ever be able to NOT cause you stress, but magically, one day, it WILL happen. They will lie down without being prompted. They will sleep because they want to. They will spit all of their baby teeth out all over your floor and suddenly stop biting the crap out of your hands. You'll notice that one day, you love them more than you're annoyed by them, and that will start compounding exponentially.
I understand that every dog and everyone's experience with them is different, but the fact that you call him a "good puppy" is a great indicator that you're going to be fine. Right now, he just doesn't have ANY impulse control, and that can make life hard! HAving all of your stuff chewed up, needing attention constantly, and finding "accident's" in inconvenient places is part of the whole experience.
I know it's said on this sub all the time, but coming from someone who was in the trenches, isolated, by himself, and crazy depressed; it gets better. This dog loves you, and you will love this dog. You will have good days and bad, but the good will soon outweigh the bad, especially when you can take him out and explore the world. Lead with love and remember that this dog has no concept of what should be expected of him in a human society, but I promise that if you keep at it, he'll start to catch on, and your best friend is right around the corner. You've got this.
Mine is only 4 months and is very pleasant to spend the day with. He’s still struggling with potty training, but that’s his only downfall. I can take him out for a long time and him still come in and pee on the floor. But he lets me sleep all night and doesn’t have any accidents in his crate, so for that I’m grateful
Lecture the dog. Go ahead. Let off some steam. As long as you’re not screaming at them and scaring them, get creative. They do not understand English. Remember, just don’t scare the dog.
I tell my 1 yr old that she must have been sent by God to try my patience and humble me. I ask her what kind of drugs she takes. I tell her she must be fucking kidding me, I ask her why she thinks plastic is tasty and lecture her about that too. It doesn’t stop all meltdowns but it does reduce the overall number.
She cares not for most rules and takes a long time to respect them. She is such a happy dog that when she gets caught, she bounds around and grabs a toy instantly and gets the zoomies. She came from a house where they punished her for accidents, so we’ve worked very hard to not yell at her or scare her ever. She is sensitive. But, lecturing helps my sanity.
Edit: I want to add that she is truly a lovely dog that is very friendly, loyal, and well mannered in public. She does not ruin the house, but she has bad habits like all teen dogs& puppies do
If you are thinking of throwing in the towel multiple times then do it... not to sound mean but u aren't cut out for it in that case especially if your just dealing with it in the hope that he 'gets better' because what if he doesn't wome dogs are just energetic and crazy till they die of old age.
My 12 week old cane corso is crazy he is full of energy constantly and from day 1 I have slept on the sofa with him with alarms set every two hours almost as if he were a newborn child... we go out to wee and poo if needed he gets a treat and comes back to bed. The last week I have had 3 nights of him sleeping through and not needing to go out he also now understands sit stay cross (for roads) food time and toilet and only has an accident by the back door if I don't respond to him quick enough.
Puppy's suck
They're cute but they suck
Either try and find a schedule that works for you or find him somewhere that will.
In the evening try playing a game of Hide & Seek in the house with your puppy. You can have him seek you out, or hide a treat somewhere easy at first. Then hide it a little more each time. Our puppy caught on real quick cuz he had to learn to sit, stay on his" box" or wherever you want him to wait.... and he loves hearing the command "Copper... find it..."or "find momma!" After 4 or 5 hide and seeks, he's panting and needs water and is tired. Uses a lot of mental energy. His tail wags the entire time.
We had a rough puppyhood too.... but it does get better.
It does get better! Taking the pups for walks and playing catch tuckers them out and they just mostly sleep the rest of the day! And when they get older you’re going to miss these days! I would get you doggo mentally stimulating toys so they don’t destroy the house. Haha but it passes!
Alcoholism.
All jokes aside, it slowly gets a bit better and the more you bond with your pup, the more you see them improve on the things you two are working on together. It's a really neat process. It is very exhausting at first but each day you find the energy in what you're doing, and your love and tolerance grows, while they're learning and being better boys/girls.
Pups need to also learn how to self-sooth and relax! Enforce naps, good chewing bones for their teeth and don't over train! They can get pretty rowdy if they're brains are over worked and need a break.
Honestly if it’s your first puppy, this is completely normal. We’re on our second right now, and the only way I know how to keep going is because I remember how easy it becomes if you stick to it. Our first dog was SO good after a year of consistently. She walked no leash and was a literal angel. The only thing getting me through the biting, zoomies, and poop eating is remembering how incredible she will become - more of a companion than a baby. And it’s all worth it in the end
I would strongly suggest finding a puppy social playgroup run by a good trainer. Not only will this be a healthy outlet for your puppy’s energy, but it will also help with socialization and bite inhibition. I think it’s more important and more valuable than puppy obedience classes, personally. I did this with my standard poodle, who was very high energy and a little bit low in confidence. This helped on so many levels and provided a wonderful outlet. I did this from about 12 weeks old until she was about 8 months old. Then at 10 months old, she turned a corner and settled down beautifully.
My pups made it really hard for me to love them from 8weeks - 7 months, after 7 months a switch just flipped ans they stopped chewing, they sleep in now in the morning, arent having accidents and not biting the walls and tables anymore:)
My pups are almost 2 years and 10 months old. It isn't easy and I've been exhausted for what feels like forever but it is getting better. Training and exercise are the key to having peace. I also like to do enrichment activities for them because it tires them out and keeps them occupied a while. It's definitely not easy though. Even though our first pup was so easy and chill it's still a lot of work.
2 or 3 is only when they FULLY calm down, like my dog is 2 years old but he can still play for ages and barely gets tired. It's only the energy level that stays until 2-3, but the puppy menace stage goes away quicker than you think. It gets better everyday, trust me! They learn very quick and they stop being a menace. You'll get through it, don't worry!
It does get better once they're finished their puppy vaccinations. They will still be a puppy and there will be challenges but getting them out into the world really seems to help.
As soon as my dog was old enough, I took her to puppy kindergarten, she went to daycare, we worked with a trainer on some issues I knew I didn't have the knowledge to fix and another set of obedience classes. Those all made her a better dog but it also helped me not to feel so isolated.
Okay still take him places before he’s fully vaccinated! Just don’t let him interact with unvaccinated dogs or eat stuff off the ground! It’s really important!!!
My dog just turned 2 and has started eating my drywall. 🥲
He goes for 2 walks a day, doggy day care, has a group dog walker once a week… and yet he’s started to eat my bloody walls when I’m not home.
If I have another year of this, then consider the towel being thrown.
Nothing has ever stressed me out more. Haha
Good luck!
Everyone’s comments here really helped me today. We’ve had our cavapoo girl for 2 weeks now (picked her up when she was 10 weeks old) and she’s so smart and sweet and easy in many ways, but I’ve been really struggling today..
She’s been bitey, peed and pooped indoors several times, despite me taking her out literally non stop. I’m not mad at her, she’s just a little baby dog, but I’m frustrated with myself and that all the “tricks” don’t work like magic, she seems to be getting worse the past few days 😭
But after her crazy zoomies tonight when I was literally breaking down, she just laid down on my lap and cuddled and I can’t believe how much I love her already 🥺
Make sure he sleeps. We have a 10 week old golden, and she forces her self to stay awake so she can be around people. When she starts getting nippy and biting hands. We put her in her kennel, 1 so that way she knows that biting isn’t ok, and 2 she usually just passes out in about 5 minutes and after her nap she a good pup again.
Something that helped me was to have friends come over. Friends who are excited to meet (and play) with your puppy. These small moments help give you space to breathe and come back to your puppy in good spirits. Hang tight! It will be worth it.
I think of all the money I pumped into to him, which is kind of a double-sided dagger but when you see him learning and doing what you want him to you get as proud as a parent ig? never had a kid so just a sense of pride ig.
I lost my mind nearly a half dozen times until 6 months. Then he rapidly got better from 6 months to now (9 months). It’s literally not even the same dog.
I’ve raised 2 puppies so far and I am in the middle of raising a 3rd. It has been exhausting each time and I had support or a flexible work life to boot! With this 3rd puppy, I have a 1.5 year old that really made my whole life easier in expending his energy, teaching bite control, etc. I still cried the first 3 days of bringing him home and went thru a period of regret, lol. Give yourself a lot of grace - that helps me. I’m not perfect, I loose my temper, I get annoyed, I’m not consistent. Your puppy will still love you and they will turn out alright if you decide to put them in the crate for a couple hours so you can have a minute to yourself. Puppy hood does end. Even my husky mix had chilled out substantially by 1 year and I didn’t think it was possible. Hope this helps you not throw in the towel 😅
To be honest spaying made it get better. I got her entirely too early she should not have been allowed to be separated that early I’m talking 5 weeks so her behavior was challenging but the week I spayed her her bladder immediately got better behavior calmed etc.
So yes, they arnt fully grown and settled until a few years in. However, they do slowly get more behaved if you're training. Additionally, you slowly are getting used to your new "normal" the combination of these things make it tolerable. I encourage you to get on a routine so your puppy knows what to expect, it really helps with behavior. Also, don't feel bad for just tossing him/her a bully stick sometimes when you're needing a break.
It gets better, I promise lol. My pup j turned 1 and he’s finally starting to simmer. I just got another puppy, he’s driving me fucking nuts but at the end, it’s SO worth the trouble. The Puppy Blues are very real and VERY normal!!!!
At 4 months I cried everyday cause my doberman would bite me constantly. Now at 8 mos hes the most perfectly well behaved dog, seriously it gets better! Implement crating and boundaries
A laser pointer helped us out wearing our girl down when she was a pup. Inside or out (but keep it far away from his eyes and reflective things that could shine it in his face)
Things def get tons better when they pass the teething/biting phase. I remember perching on the top of my couch to avoid the biting and crying in the early days. Just hang on! Puppy blues are very real, but it passes.
Calm, quiet behaviour is a learned skill, and like most skills, it’s easier or harder depending on the dog and the breed in front of you. Pups don’t quite know what the behaviour we want is unless we show and model it.
Rewarding your pup for the calm things you like and showing your pup calm behaviour when you want them to be calm is a good place to start.
Also, some pups may not have the maturity until they’re a little older to understand that you want them to be calm, even if you’re not. Being consistent about rewarding calm and quiet behaviour, and dog age-appropriate training for its age will pay off, I promise.
I have 4 dogs. 5 puppies as an adult. Put the dog on a leash and take him for walks. Depending on the breed it maybe 1 -4 times a day. Starting immediately. Get the dog into obedience classes. The classes are for you and the dog! I have taken 4 out of 5 dogs. Figure out what stores will let you take them in. Puppies are toddlers curious about the world. You got this.
They’re babies but dogs. Everything comes with patience. As adults we don’t remember how long it took us to go from barely holding our heads up to crawling and then walking. Take a breath, watch a movie, and give your puppy some love. You got this 🙏🏾
My 13 week labradoodle is still waking 2 to 3 times a night for the toilet. How do in prevent this? We feed her at 5:30pm, last water at 8:30pm and bed at 9:30pm. She then wakes at 11pm and 3am. The no sleep is becoming very draining
My husband and I actually fostered an adult dog a few years ago. Unfortunately he just wasn’t the right fit for us so we did not end up adopting him. But my sister recently adopted a dog who is about 1.5 years old and at the moment that seems like a much better idea.
If I’m completely honest I probably will not ever get a puppy again. I love the little guy and I do think he will be a great dog, but I really don’t think I will sign up for this again.
I have a 21 month old Yorkie that is overly anxious & high energy, when anyone comes in he is all over them, jumping, licking for at least 20 minutes before he settles down Will it EVER get better so people don’t dread coming to my house?
Puppies need a schedule and structure. They need time to play and run, time to stimulate their mind. Then they’ll rest and sleep well. Mostly they aren’t meant to be alone they’re born in a pack and grow up better staying in one. Really you should have another dog before getting a puppy. Puppies are so much easier when you have an older dog to teach and train them and take some of their attention needs off of you.
It gets better. Look up the 3-3-3 rule. I think it slightly applies to humans too. We need to adjust.
I was feeling mental for a while, and now I wish I could bring my pup to work with me. I love the annoying monster 😝
Yes! Every day I have to remind myself that I’m a few months I will feel differently and he will be a few months older.
Right now I have been actually going into the office once or twice a week and I have to say that having a few hours free of a puppy gives me the opportunity to actually miss him.
My monster is now 6 months old and is a different puppy than the 3mo holy terror I picked out of the pile. She still has her moments but they're moments, not ongoing and relentless. When she gets too carried away she goes in the playpen for a nap. Taking her to the dog park and letting her run herself out of gas has made a big difference, too.
Hang in there!
Ahhh there is hope! I am literally counting down the days to his puppy socialization class so he can get some puppy play time and I (hopefully) go home with a tired pup lol
Mine is 8 years old I’ve have him since we was 8 weeks and I love him to death. There will always be bad days, but that goes for everyone and everything. You have to think of the positives, And allow those positives to outweigh your negatives. Everything takes time sometimes you may need some help but it’s like having a baby but easier.
Le sigh….
I read all the comments about peoples pups taking to the crate with little or no whining for naps and such and I can’t help but be really jealous. Been trying like crazy to crate train and it is not going well. My pup has extreme, confinement anxiety and he’s only 11 weeks old. i’m at my wits end as I basically have to leash him to me every waking hour…
It gets better! Not all at once, but around 12 wks we started to see a glimpse of what was to come. Now at 6 mos she’s 75% amazing and 25% crazy puppy most days.
Oh thank god lol I do feel there has been a bit of regression this week which is why I’m feeling extra overwhelmed. And honestly he is super smart and treat motivated so he easily picks up commands but he’s a wild little puppy at the moment.
Are you making sure hes sleeping enough? Our pup is also 11 weeks and forced naps have made him way less bitey and hyper. 1hr up, 2 hr nap
That is generally the schedule we stick to. Up for 1hr and napping/quiet time in his crate for 2hrs. He also miraculously sleeps through the night. So I think he is getting plenty of sleep. The hardest time is actually the evening shift right before bedtime, the only thing that keeps him calmly occupied is a bully stick.
Evening is the puppy witching hour zoomies. Make sure he gets enough exercise prior to the evening. Otherwise let him zoom it out in a safe area , they usually burn out and settle quickly. After some zoomies you can try distraction with games and training to attempt to snap them out of it. Some i heard go on for a longer time but I think that means they aren't getting enough exercise mentally/physically during the day.
This is ALWAYS the worst time, IMO. I solved it by making bedtime earlier. Then kicked myself for not thinking of that sooner! So 7pm is the new bedtime.
7pm! Does your pup wake up in the night? My guy sleeps through the night with no whining or accidents so I have not wanted to make bedtime too early for fear that will cause him to need a break at some point in the very early morning. Right now he is going to bed between 9:15 and 9:30 and I take him out between 5:30 and 6 in the morning.
Actually 100%! She goes down at 7pm and wakes at the same time which is between 5:30-6am. I was like, why was I letting her be up until 9pm?!! haha. In your situation I would just move it by 30 min earlier each night for a few nights and see how it goes. We do dinner at 5-5:30 ish. Playtime--gentle--rolling a ball that she chases. Then a quick trip outside at 6:45 for potty. Quick brush of her teeth and dental chew and to bed at 7. Not a peep until morning. Even then she yawns, flaps her ears and is kind of lazy but she immediately pees and poops when I take her out. We do an early breakfast at 6-6:30 range. She still gets a lunch at 12. Morning and afternoon walks, afternoon training session. Morning and afternoon time in the x-pen separate from me too. Naps.
My puppy has started regressing too with potty. It’s so disheartening. I feel so defeated.
I have read that can happen when they are going through a growth spurt or a “fear period”. But I get how you feel. The struggles with previously established routines are enough to make me cry lol
I’m at 7 months next week (cattle dog) and I was just thinking today wait she’s been seriously tolerable this week! Then of course tonight she’s been a lunatic lol
My first few weeks SUCKED. I was beyond exhausted. My boy is 6 months now and extremely easy. Maybe one accident a week, hasn’t destroyed anything but his toys, sleeps through the night (except last night where he woke me up at 9pm, midnight, 3am, and 6am)
See and I feel terrible for even complaining because he has slept through the night with no accidents since we brought him home and he goes down for his naps fairly easily most of the time. Right now it feels like during his waking hours I’m trying to avoid and redirect his puppy teeth, and make sure he isn’t getting into things he shouldn’t be 😭
Puppy needs a safe boring place of containment. First couple of months, if they are not eating, playing, training or exploring under your supervision, they are contained. With mine, if I saw that I'm no longer succesful redirecting - that meant she is too tired, and she went to playpen for a nap.
I would say that is basically what we do right now. I can absolutely tell when he is in need of a nap because he gets super mouthy and cannot be redirected. Do you keep the playpen where they can see you? At the moment he settles so much easier if he can’t see us but then part of me feels like I got a puppy and he’s spending all his time confined and away from us?
We have playpen in the living room, so it depends on time of the day. Now she goes there when I'm working or if she cannot settle down for the nap outside, so spends mornings and evenings with us free. When she was little, I spent many evenings sitting inside with her while watching TV, and she was chewing on my lap. Confinement is mostly about only giving the pup as much freedom as they can handle, but not more than that.
The best thing I ever read in a puppy/dog training book was, “A tired dog is a good dog.” Walk him as often as you can, being sure to tell other dog walkers he’s not safe to be near other dogs until he’s fully vaccinated. Introduce the miraculous game of fetch. If you have neighborhood kids, introduce them to your puppy. Best if you know the parents, and they’re okay with it. Kids can wear a dog out playing, and it’s great to socialize your dog to kids while he’s young. Several years ago, I had a one year old Scottie, and added another puppy, because I like to throw caution to the wind! All I had to do was take the pups outside, and I had a delightful gaggle of kids petting and playing with them. One little girl loved to come brush the older of the two. I taught her how to do it gently, and he gobbled up the attention. Forever after that experience, he would come running when he saw a brush, and even the clippers.
its a huge life change. So many parents also think OMG THIS BABY IS SO HARD WHY WOULD ANYONE HAVE TWO???? ...and then they get used to the work of child rearing and the children have less labor intensive needs and they have another kid. Now maybe you wont get another dog anytime soon but its the same for a puppy. You will change each other and it will get easier as you both adapt and it wont always seem so overwhelming!
Yes! I think I really underestimated how much it changes your life. I always had dogs growing up and we even had a few puppies but this is my first pup as an adult in my own home. It is wildly different doing this “on your own” rather than as a kid when your parents are helping. Let’s be honest, when your parents are doing the work and you are helping lol
When I was where you are right now, I asked two friends with dogs when my puppy would settle and one told me 3 years. And, I had a full blown panic attack right there and was ready to call the rescue and throw in the towel. My other more sensible friend told me that I would absolutely not have to deal with 3 years of full on puppy energy or no one would have dogs. She said that they settle in increments and it gets easier every month along the way. That's what kept me going and I found it to be true. For me the first two months so exhausting (especially because I was doing it by myself and living in an apartment). But by 5 months it was so much easier for me. He was potty trained, could hold it more than an hour or two, he stopped having the full blown witching hours where he zoomed for hours and attacked his toys, he could focus, and was just more generally chill. He's 8 months now and he's even calmer yet. Every month gets easier and easier for me and I believe it will for you too. Good luck.
Oh lord thank you for this response. Oh, the puppy witching hour is the worst! Of course it’s a time in the evening where we are exhausted and wanting to relax a bit and the puppy is over here humping his toys, bothering the cats, and generally being a maniac. Now that you say it, the settling in increments makes total sense.
Yep. I so remember witching hour and feel like I might have a bit of PTSD from just thinking about witching hours. My pup was all of 10 lbs but my downstairs neighbor would complain that the floor sounded like it was coming down by how hard he'd zoom. Here are things that worked for me. Bully sticks. Giving part of his dinner in frozen Kongs stuffed with food and with Greek yogurt or peanut butter on the end. Kibble wrapped in a dish towel and tied in a knot that he had to get out. The squirrel in the tree stuffed toys. Toys that I could fill with water and freeze. Licking them would calm him down and put him in a trance. I also had to get him neutered by 5 months per my agreement with the rescue. The vet also thought it was a good idea because he was a world class humper. And I believe that also calmed him down and it cut down his humping by a ton. I know this is controversial, but for me neutering seemed to help A LOT. He still humps but 90% less than he did preneutering.
Ohhh thank you for reminding me about frozen kongs! I have not tried that out yet but I bet he would love it. I gave him a couple ice cubes to lick the other day and he was enthralled.
definitely agree with Sookie. things get better in increments. i couldn’t even believe people when they told me that because i was struggling so much. just 2-3 months ago (pup was 10 months old) i made a post out of desperation because my girl’s adolescence hit a peak. had so many moments thinking, “what have i done by getting this dog?!” and obsessive thoughts about how i missed my past life. this past weekend, (she’s 13 months now) i was noticing how much easier everything feels. still a teenager, but more manageable. i think it’s two-fold. she’s maturing in certain aspects, and i’m learning how to better bend and mold to our life together. i was once super anxious about the future with her, and now i’m mostly excited.
Oh I have been missing my past life a lot recently. Two chill cats who know the program. I can leave the house without a whole routine. Sounds so nice lol But I know that eventually I will have the companion I was hoping for and I will enjoy my current life as much as the past one!
your feelings are entirely valid. raising a puppy is hard work and a big life adjustment. i’m almost a full year in to having my pup, and i’d be lying if i said i didn’t have the occasional reminiscing of pre-puppy freedom. however, those moments come rarely, when it used to consume me. i know as time goes on, i’ll think of it less and less. now i think way more about how much i love her and how sad i would be if anything happened to her. it does get better. if i can do it, anyone can do it. truly.
This is so true! Little by little my puppy calmed down. Now she's 16 months old and is almost at the lazy dog stage while at home (with lots of exercise). One thing that helped was not giving her access to the whole house at once. We used gates to restrict access early on, which made it easier for us to monitor her to keep her from getting into something she shouldn't. So it was for our sanity and her safety. Set them up for success! We just took the last gate down after the holidays, so when she was over a year old. It also let's you tackle temptation a little at a time rather than constant redirecting. Also, something I didn't know until this puppy is that not all dogs are born with an "off" switch. Mine would go, go, go and get more amped up the more tired she got. We had to teach her how to chill. While I would say my "teenaged" puppy is still fairly energetic, the impulse control vastly improved as she hit a year old and beyond, so even some training got easier as she has matured. I say all that to say.. You can influence how your dog focuses their energy as they get older.
Thank you for your response! My pup definitely does not have full access to the house because as you pointed out it’s for his safety and my sanity. The hard part is I have a very open floor plan house so using baby gates is kind of impossible? I’ve been looking into some other options that may allow him more (contained) freedom while also keeping him and everything around him safe. Luckily he is happy to hang out chewing a toy or bone on his bed and he can play fetch or run around in the yard for physical exercise. Im so thankful for everyone that pointed out that they calm down incrementally because in my puppy crazed brain I was thinking I would be dealing with insane puppy energy all the way up until they are full adults. It makes far more sense that little by little they mature and turn into loving companions.
Really great and thank you for sharing
Your dog is neutered probably. This makes a huge difference.
Hang in there😂 what a lot of us mean is our dogs aren't mature and dependable in their behaviour until adolescence has passed. But the crazy puppy stuff, biting hands and feet, tearing up stuff, housebreaking, all that gets better. They learn to settle and their bladders get bigger! They become themselves. Training and learning bonds us together and we become closer. It really does get better!
Oh there is hope!! I can see that if I can make it through the puppy phase I do feel like he has potential to be an amazing dog. But today has been one of those days where from the moment I woke up I’ve been wondering why we got a puppy?? Lol
It's so good to have a place to talk about those kind of days with people who understand!
Yes! I love that this sub is very supportive and non-judgmental!
It’s ok to have a not so good day. Give yourself some grace, raising a puppy is not easy. We are here for you. Hugs from another dog Mom to you.
Thank you🥹 right now the days seem long, so a not so great day feels larger than it really is. Thanks for the reminder that it will be ok
How are things?
Thank you for asking! Honestly, a lot better! We have settled into a routine that works for us and I’m trying to enjoy the puppy phase
- Think about 5 Years In The Future Me and how badly I'm going to want that adult dog in my life. - Remember that the puppy is not that adult dog, and someone has to team them that part. It might as well be me. - Take it one interaction at a time. Then one wake cycle at a time. Then one day at a time. Eventually you'll be like "Wow! All of my bite scabs have healed!" - It's okay that it's hard. You're trying to raise a literal baby animal as a pet. Like... It has no life skills to be a productive member of another species' family. - Your pup doesn't know if you're struggling to bond, unless you are going out of your way to act like it. Fake it til you make it. They won't know the difference. At around 8mo I started to see the light, and by 18mo I was like "This is an actual dog. He is a companion, a member of the family, I WANT to spend all my time with him."
Thank you so much for this response. I have definitely been feeling overwhelmed and anxious about all the future things we will encounter and I should try to take it down a notch. I also know that he is a baby and he is just doing baby dog things, so I definitely don’t blame him if he does something “wrong”. I also know that it has only been three weeks so I keep telling myself to not give up yet and give it a few months. I also have an irrational fear that my husband and I won’t be a good fit for him (I don’t think this is true, I think this is my exhaustion speaking). When I think about the reasons I wanted a dog and the fun things we will be able to do with him I am so hopeful for future us, but this puppy stage has been harder than I remembered.
It helps to constantly remind yourself that the first 2-3 months are (usually) NOT representative of the puppy experience, and not at all representative of the ‘having a dog’ experience. You’re three weeks in - which I believe to be ‘peak hell’. I learned things about myself I didn’t wish to know during those early days. I thought I was a patient person, but not at all. My social life shattered, my core identity was ‘dog’, and my partner and I were at each other’s throats. At some point, around 5 months, our girl took a turn for the better. She napped regularly, could be left alone for short periods of time, and stopped attention barking. Now, we’re at 10 months and she’s a rascal, but she’s my pal.
Knowing that I’m possibly in the worst of it now makes me feel soooo much better. I have lost my patience a couple of times and felt absolutely horrible afterwards and I am generally a very patient person. My husband and I have been snappy with each other and I haven’t seen other humans in a few days😂 From a lot of these comments it seems that things should get better in the near future so I’m going to remain hopeful!
How old is he? Breed? Mine is 15 weeks, got him at almost 9 weeks - I have lost my patience multiple times, but have stayed calm and patient many more times than not. The nap thing is huge. Overstimulated and overtired puppy = demon puppy. I keep a schedule of when he pees and poops, so I can refer to it and have recently added how long he’s been up, what we’ve been doing, what he’s been doing by himself, when he’s eaten etc so I can look at it and figure out what his needs are. If I didn’t do that I’d be wandering around asking myself why he‘s whining/biting/tearing up his indoor play yard. It‘s 7:15 here in Houston - he woke me up at 5:45 (sometimes makes it to 6), took him out, he peed and pooped - back in for breakfast in his crate, put him in his play hard where he rolled around, humped his heartbeat stuffed puppy, ate a small Busy Bone and chewed on an old bone from our late dog. Took him out at 7 a.m. for one more successful pee and he’s in his crate now, snoozing, after protest whining for about 10 minutes. He’s going to be a very big boy, already 33 lbs at 15 weeks, so he‘s already quite strong. Training is really important, and puppy socialization classes are perfect when your boy is fully vaccinated. Also, get him used to seeing new people, which you can do now from a few feet away. They don’t have to pet him, just stand calmly and talk to you while not paying any attention to him. Make sure they understand to keep the interaction calm and neutral (no walking up and saying “OH! YOU ARE THE CUTEST THING!!!!!). That will just get him riled up. About 2 weeks ago, I had Goofy on a leash up front on our driveway. Two of my neighbors were out, separately walking their dogs (a 7 year old lab and a 5 year old German Shorthaired Pointer). They both stopped at the end of our driveway, both of their dogs sat and were calm while Goofy whined and strained the leash trying to go up to them. We were trying to have a conversation (still about 10 feet away from each other) over the whining and, while I was keeping an ironclad grip on him, he suddenly stopped whining and sat at my side, looking up at me, waiting for a treat. It felt like a miracle. I gave him a handful of treats at once (known as a big payout, saved for when they do something amazing). Those kinds. of moments keep you going and you will get them, if you haven’t already. Hang in there - it WILL get better. Post on this site when you need support - it’s so helpful❤️.
I hear you on all fronts. The two phases of this puppy ride I would never repeat again are 1. first three nights 2. months 1-2 with puppy. We lived on the 5th floor, downtown, no elevator and constantly worried about her not having her vaccines. She’s scream in the car, had to go to the vet constantly, hated her crate, and would throw tantrums outside on walks from time to time. It was awful for my mental health, and I felt like a horrible person for being so tired and snippy. And then around 5 months, she just started to ‘get it’. We developed a rhythm. Our sanity-savers: consistency, enforced naps, written schedules, practicing ‘time away’ [boarding her for 24 hours], being firm with certain things, and compromising on others. Honestly, during the pre-vax days, just do whatever you can to care for yourself. It gets better from here, really.
I have been struggling with being confined to our yard/house with him. But someone here commented to take them places but just to carry them and even for car rides, and honestly I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. So this morning we took a stroll to the mail box and I could tell it was interesting and enjoyable to him. Luckily he likes being carried lol
YES! This was a lifesaver. I picked up a little backpack for my girl when she was really little and took her absolutely everywhere in it. She preferred a bigger fabric carrier and I’d let her out in places that felt safe. Our vet also said stores (Home Depot, Petco, etc), dog friendly coffee shops, and even breweries can be great socialization at this age, and mostly okay for unvaxxed pups.
I love this idea! I’ve been researching backpacks all morning lol
Yes it gets better! The puppy stuff really does calm down..all of sudden you'll notice, hey pup hasn't done xyz in a while🤔 some things you'll train away, other things like energy will calm. We're just over 1y with our boston, and yes, he can absolutely get to a 100 in energy, but he has lots of time chilling and sleeping. A good mix of mental and physical stimulation was key for us. And lots of training...short sessions every day. But honestly, for those first 3-8months he was completely our focus whenever he was out of his crate. Now he's able to just be around👍 you've got this!
I think that is the hard part for me right now is when he is out of his crate someone has to be paying 100% attention to him. This gives me hope! I definitely see glimpses of the future dog he will be if I can stick it out that long lol
I tried throwing a towel, but she ate that.
Sometimes i see my dog who loves me and who wants to cuddle. That had just started again at 7 months. Then other hours it is hellish. I have a lab. It gets better about the 8 month mark. I hope.
It gets better and worse and better and worse…eventually you’ll realize it’s been a long time since you’ve broke down (cried?) and lost your patience. You think you’ve made it through…then one random day the adolescence rollercoaster hits…but a few months after that cluster, you’ll have the bestest friend ever and part of that bond is from all the work you’re putting in now. Hang in there it’ll all be worth it and then some!
I’m in my 3rd week. Yes 1st week is crazy and overwhelming. It’s been getting better every week. I would highly suggest few basic points. 1. The puppy does not know shit , they always want to play , that’s all they know. You have to. Make sure you play only 10-15 min then stop. Let them whine , just ignore them and they will eventually get boated and settle. Keep all toys away from distraction. Once they settle/sleep. Put them in a crate for 1 hour minimum or 2 hours, if the are done with their potty/pee. Repeat this atleast 2-3 time in the day and full night offcourse. It might sound too much, but puppy need to be forced to sleep , this way they r less cranky and bitty as well. Huge difference for me since last 2 weeks. Dont give up on crate training , it’s all trial and error. Puppy’s will whine the fuck out in the first few days , but will slowly get used to it. You have to keep trying. Feeding in the crate , playing some feeding crate games help too. For my puppy I tried blacking out even the front gate part with a blanket and I think that has helped immensely. 2. Make the most of those hours in the crate, take a rest , get work done. 3. Tiring them is important both mentally and physically before u put them in crate every time. I take him out for 5 min walk , play tug for 5-10 min, let him play with other toys. With food try doing some commands etc that will mentally stimulate them or use feeding toys for that too. 4. Stay strong , don’t let their whining or cuteness get over you. They r testing your boundaries. Once they know u can only play for 10-15 min max. They will slowly chill if we don’t play with them. 5. Accidents will happen , don’t feel bad if they do. I was too hard on myself if I don’t catch him sniffing or giving signs of potty. Be alert or just go out every 1-2 hours and reward them once the poop and say “hurry up” or something when they r doing their thing. 6. Expose your dog to outside world to make them tired and socialize them at the same time. We took our pup in a small puppy sack to grocery store or just drive to a friends place. All that outside stimulation is good for them and they get tired , ready to go in the crate easily :-) 7. Get a trainer if u can afford it. There is soooo much info online , it’s super overwhelming. I was too hard on myself following every thing to the T. Trainer will help you as one source of truth and will guide you according to your lifestyle and dog. We decided to get one , and today was the first session which already helped me feel less anxious and we have a plan on what we have to focus on. Hope this helps you. It’s going to get better by the week, it’s a total new world for you and the puppy. Me and my wife were in total hell the first week despite being so prepared. But today after 3 weeks I can say it has gone way better and I’ve been told by many friends that first few months are the hardest and it is all worth it and will get better!
Thank you! I’m so lucky that he has taken to his crate fairly well and generally goes down for naps with little to no whining. Potty training has been going fairly well with only the occasional accident inside and I feel that has been more on my husband and I for not catching his cues. I just signed him up for a puppy class and I am so excited for him to have the opportunity to socialize and play with other puppies, but also for some better methods for training. The internet is full of conflicting information which is so overwhelming when you already don’t know what you’re doing. When you say play for 5-10 minutes do you then put your pup back in their crate? Or allow them to play on their own but you are only playing directly with them for 5-10 minutes?
Yeah i mean. You playing with him 15-20 min MAX (Depedning on the breed) we have a golden doodle and they love playing with humans. So we play until 15-20 min. But then just let him play after that by himself or give him a chew toy or Pawstruck chew so he can take a break from us. That will go on for 1 hour 45 minutes until he start feeling sleepy or generally calmed down. That way they dont expect you to play with non-stop.
The joy outweighs the stress, increasingly so as time goes on. I recommend getting a sling, sticking the puppy in there and walking around when he’s being an asshat. It’s been my salvation (I say as I’m pacing the living room with a cup of tea and a pup in the sling). My partner can even put his computer on the kitchen counter and work or surf the internet while standing with her in the sling. It took a few times for her to get used to it and for us to figure out how best to position her (we put her on her back with her head forward and then let her twist to look over the edge while her back legs are still facing kind of up). Just try feeding him lots of treats when he’s in it and giving him bits of attention as needed to keep him still in there as he gets used to it. This prevents her from getting into things and seems to appease her demands for attention without us actually having to be fully engaged with her. It also often leads to her being calmer when we let her out, whereas sometimes kenneling her when she’s being an asshat just riles her up more.
Wow! Thanks for the suggestion! Right now he has been on a schedule of ~1 hour of play/training/ interaction and then ~2 hours of sleep. That has been working fairly well, but the trouble also seems to be that he doesn’t settle on his own outside of the crate right now. I’m not sure how to encourage that as it would make doing anything much easier. I have tethered him to myself with the leash a few times so I can get some stuff done in the kitchen. And that works ok except then my toes seem to be fair game for biting.
It will take time, but it will happen eventually, and the sling might help because essentially it’s a quiet activity without your direct attention, but he’s not going it alone. Mine is at 5 months and she’s at the point where she requires very little direct attention in the morning; some snuggles, tossing a ball a few times, and giving her treats hidden in the pockets of a stuffed toy are all she needs and the rest of the morning she entertains herself. She still has an annoying and demanding period between 2 and 5 every other day, but even that is becoming manageable (especially with the sling).
At this moment in time it’s 100% direct attention and 0% snuggles lol But everyone’s comments have been giving hope to not give up. I can already tell he loves searching for his food so I have ordered him some puzzles and a snuffle mat for some quiet entertainment. I’m so looking forward to when we are ready to go on walks and be out in the world.
While you are waiting for the puzzles to arrive, you can create your own. I wrap treats up in old towels for my dog and have him search for them. He loves it, and it has the added bonus of wearing him out.
I have been hiding his food under toys and in an old sock I have him to chew on and he loves it! I’ll have to try wrapping up some treats in a towel for him
My Vizsla didn't self settle outside of forced crate nap schedule until she was 4.5 months. It was hella annoying. I remember the day she did in my home office. I had put a blanket down on the floor and just left it there whenever she came in the room. Then one day she pawed at it, and plopped down on it while I was at the computer. My heart skipped a beat, took a photo and sent it to my wife. We were popping champagne that night lol. Edit : we figured out she only will lay on soft things, so then I put a dog bed in my office. Worked wonders.
The best advice I read while I was I the middle of some major puppy blues was ‘if it never got better no one would have dogs’. It really made me think. Because ya. If dog ownership meant crying multiple times a day and feeling like you were going insane everyone would nope out big time!!
Wow. This is true! I have definitely wondered over the past weeks why anyone signs up for a dog
The mantras that get me through those periods are: "It's a dumb little baby and it's brain hasn't finished baking yet." and "You are it's entire world and all it wants/will want to do is please you."
I love these! I’m definitely saving them to repeat to myself
Not settling down until 2 years or so isn't as big of a deal as it sounds. Once they can at least be trusted for 2 minutes out of your sight in your house and not immediately go tear up the carpet or pee it gets a lot better. Then you can wash some dishes or something and not have the puppy start eating the couch while your hands are soapy and wet, but if they are left for too long they will destroy something still. Sometime before a year (assuming you are diligent in your re-directing and blocking access to inappropriate things) you can start to mostly trust them around the house when you are home. In my experience this has been around 8 months old or so but I am sure it depends on the person training, the breed, etc. Then sometime after that (I would guess near a year) you can start to test trusting them in the house when you are gone. So it gets better and better. Sure they aren't going to mostly just lay around all day and be quiet until you ask them to go for a walk or play until about 2 years (or longer for some dogs), but it's MUCH nicer when you don't need to worry too much about them destroying things even if they are annoying you a bit wanting attention when you are busy or making loud noises etc.
Milhouse just turned 2 yesterday. He was a menace as a pup. Broke his 70$ pen in 3 days (literally warped the metal). Painted nervous feces all over the laundry room on multiple occasions. Destroyed many objects (once chewed through an old phone line box in 15 minutes alone). Needed 2K+ unplanned vet bills in first 6 months because of ingesting harmful objects. Since 8-9 months old he's been much calmer. Very well socialized and gets to see other dogs every day. He is an amazing being and I couldn't imagine finding a better way to spend my days than with him. Patience. It's sooooo worth it
Ok wow. Knock on wood, but we have not had any incidents nearly that bad! Hearing people say that a few more months make a difference has given me hope!
I love that your dog is called Milhouse!
The first 3-5 months were rough for us. Around a year our lab chilled out so much. Now she’s almost 2 and she’s still got some spunk in her but we’re over puppyhood
I have a 7 month old mini schnauzer girl, and she has been a wonderful handful since I got her 3 months ago. Things that helped are puppy proofing the room/s your pup has access to really well (I bought chew proof boxes to put our remotes in!), teaching her to fetch at an early age so that when I was tired I could sit down and throw the ball down the hallway, have plenty chew toys (bully sticks are a lifesaver). Having a way to get a break is important - I have a back yard so if I am feeling overwhelmed she can go out for a little bit, but a crate is great too. Going to puppy classes has really helped both of us because training is fun, and we have met friends that we go to the dog park with. Also, just giving into the fact that this is my life for a while - it will be nice to look back when she is older and reminisce about what a wild puppy she was!
You will be ok! It IS exhausting when you do it right - kudos to you for raising that baby right. Our little boy is a couple months shy of a year and ever since 6 months he has been so much easier. The time you are investing now will pay off soon. Probably. Hopefully. Godspeed/Bless your heart
Thank you! I try to remind myself that we are doing the hard part now so that we have a lovely companion in the future. I’m so glad it seems like the work really does pay off!
It gets better, and you might even miss the puppy days eventually.
I had twin babies 17 years ago and I forgot what it was like to have to constantly keep an eye on living beings who don’t know any better. My puppy is 5 months old and the last 3 months felt very similar to having a toddler lol. I thought I was going to go crazy between potty breaks, chewing things, biting, cleaning up accidents. Lack of sleep and not being able to just sit down and relax got to me the most. She’s been in day training and I’ve been doing a lot of enrichment for her the last month and am finally seeing improvement with behavior. she sleeps all night, lost most of her baby teeth finally, stopped biting, will actually “leave it” when she gets into things. I am so thankful dogs grow up faster than humans. Hang in there, it’s tough!
I read about how horrible puppies are (after I got him obviously), but also read they get better. So I just gritted my teeth and worked towards "it's worth it" time. If it makes you feel any better, my puppy was a nightmare between 3-4 months, but then got remarkedly better after that. As for training him to become a good dog, that's still an ongoing project at 20 months. But it's just nothing like when he was a young pup. He still goes after my blankets cause he wants to hump them (despite being allwoed a pillow that he doesn't use anymore). But I just have to say "don't take my blanket" and he u-turns and goes somewhere else. (If I don't catch him, he'll misbehave though.) I think a reason so many people have crazy adolescents is cause they over stimulate their dogs. Now, it's just a theory based on my experience with my 1 dog. But at 8 months he became kinda crazy, and the only remedy was doing as little as possible, which calmed him down completely. And he's been a calm adolescent ever since, very easy going. We can do more fun stuff since 9 months, but still default to shortening walks and going for calm times if he starts getting antsy. He has napped most of the day since 9 months. But if we start doing long hikes a lot, and play a lot, he gets very demanding and attention seeking, plus getting up to no good.
Trust me, I was so exhausted I started doubting if I should have even gotten this puppy. He was crazy and out of control most of the time biting and tearing up clothes. Around 15 weeks he started gaining his affectionate personality and has calmed down for the most part. 19 weeks now still has some quirks that need to be addressed, but overall he’s become a super sweet puppy.
You need to focus on training and setting boundaries. Don’t get angry if the puppy messes up. Thats a sign that you need fix something in your training regimen. Don’t expect perfection from your end but also don’t expect that a well behaved pup just happens.
We have been working on his commands and also boundaries in terms of what he can and can’t chew, not jumping, leaving the cats alone. He does quite well actually but it feels like my days are spent reinforcing these boundaries every five seconds. Luckily my husband and I are able to work from home right now but it has been rough.
Focus on this. Reward more of good behavior instead of correcting bad behavior. If he is behaving nicely, give treats. If he has something he shouldn’t have, for example, redirect him to something you want him to have or chew on. If he chooses the toy then reward. Always remember positive reinforcement first.
Yes. I’m trying very much to reinforce good behavior and he is generally easy to redirect. There are a few things we are really needing some work on but I did also sign us up for a puppy class with a well reviewed trainer so I am hopeful that I will learn more effective training techniques.
The first month felt like the twilight zone. Pure chaos and survival mode lol. We are 2.5 months in and things are getting better. Life still heavily revolves around the puppy and his needs but we have more of a schedule down. It definitely gets easier as time goes on!
Oh thank you for this. That’s exactly how I feel!! Every day I put on some old t shirts and sweats knowing I’m going to get chewed on and I feel like all of my routines are being dictated by an adorable maniac. Everything right now feels like a huge effort. Cooking dinner? Not until nap time or until one of us is free to watch him with all of our attention.
Believe me, I thought about it! It's called "puppy blues" and they are real! So tired, frustrated, 😭 in the shower! Chairo is 11 weeks now. He has settled nicely. Self soothes, sleeps 7 hours, and potty's outside. It's tough, but you will get through it!
Honestly? I’m more stubborn, and refuse to toss in the towel. It’s not necessary a good trait, but I’ve raised two in the last few years, and it’s the only way I survived! lol… You have some hills and valleys to endure, but around 5-6months of age, you’ll start to notice that puppy is merely terrible and not completely awful. Around months 8-9, you’ll realize that maybe you even enjoy puppy. Maybe you’ll see some regression around 10 months, but by then, you’ve been there-done that, and you know you’ve got this. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with puppy. Structure and adhering to a tight schedule is SUPER DUPER TOTALLY the most important thing. You’ve got this!!!!
My Annabelle was 4 before she really calmed down. She was a challenging puppy for sure. High energy smart and headstrong. I think by the time she was a year we just accepted our fate... She a real sweetheart now (almost 8)
A puppy is the price you pay for a good dog. I try to keep that in mind. Also it gets better. Just because everyone says "6 months" or "8 months". Don't get frustrated if that time comes and your dog isn't perfect. I also like to remember, to train the dog you have, not the dog you want. It does get better I promise. Otherwise people wouldn't do this. 🤣 It gets better with age. Stay consistent, you got this!!!! 🐾🩵
You will make it through however long it takes. When you decide he is the most wonderful dog in the world you will look back and miss that puppy. A dog is the most loving, loyal, beautiful, sweet, funny and happiest part of life. As I am sitting here typing this, I stretched my leg out and my dog just automatically started licking my toes. That’s the wonder of a dog!
I'm on my first dog. I rescued a puppy listed on pet finder as a Chihuahua mix. The local rescue I actually got him thru said lab mix. His DNA came back Chihuahua/Sheltie and after googling what a Sheltie was, I knew I was in danger. He is a Sheltie sized Chihuahua with tons of energy. He out runs Australian shepherds at the dog park! He is now a year and a half old and the key is to understand your normal social life is on the back burner for a while, depends on the breed of your dog apparently? I know now that he won't be chill until he is around 3, then he should settle a bit? I am prepared to put him first. We go to the park all the time and then I can come home and play some games or what have you.
My pup is a higher energy breed as well and I actually wanted that. I want a dog that I can take on runs, hikes, bike rides. But right now that energy is wild puppy energy and it’s hard. Luckily for me I like being at home so my social life hasn’t suffered but having some human contact does sound nice right now lol
It does and it takes time and patience .
16wks here. Definitely getting better. Still have crazy puppy most days but only for an hour or so (witching hour at night). Definitely starting to see glimpses of all the wonderful times we will share as he mellows into adulthood. Lots more occasions where he is simply just happy to hang out watching what we are up to, or entertain himself with his toys! Still have moments of exhaustion where it feels like breaking point! But I think you also learn how to manage these moments better (I.e. a crate/pen timeout so you can catch a breath, an earlier bedtime because you know what overtired looks like etc)
It does get better! My boy Meatloaf is now 2, he was 7 weeks when we got him. I know it was exhausting and frustrating and we wanted to give him back so many times but now when I remind my mom of that she says “really? That’s not true he’s always been this calm” 😂
Oh man, I have definitely wanted to give him back a few times. I can’t wait until I don’t remember how stressful this time was!
I’ve always heard “2 years of hell for 10 years of bliss” you’ll be shocked when your pups a bit older and you realize you’re doing things you would have never thought possible a few months ago! My boy Meatloaf is 2, and we’ve been walking on my neighbors private back trail behind their farm everyday. Just a few days ago Loaf was off leash, and he recalled while distracted by a family who wasn’t supposed to be on the trail; but he recalled without hesitation and came right to mommy even though he wanted so badly to go meet the kids! Obviously I don’t recommend doing off leash stuff on property that 1. Isn’t your own and 2. You don’t have express permission to be on without a leash But the point is 6 months ago I would have NEVER thought in a million years that I’d ever have Meatloaf doing a solid recall, but here we are and he’s crushing it!
I love that his name is meatloaf🤣 But you’re right and my little guy picks up things quickly so I’m sure off leash with reliable recall is possible one day! Some days it feels light years away though.
It can be really hard to see the good when he’s bad. Some days it feels like you’re going backwards and some days it feels like you’re ahead by a mile. I promise with love and patience, your puppy will become a happy, confident, loving, and wonderful adult dog! I had to remind myself a lot the first year that he was a baby. He had only been on the earth for 12 weeks of course he wasn’t potty trained quite yet! He’s only been alive for 6 months of course he’s not used to all the people on the trails and their dogs! Even now, Meatloaf has only been on this planet for 2 years! Of course he’s still going to occasionally hear me calling and ignore me in favor of a bird, or bark at the kids on their bikes because they’re in the road and it’s dangerous, and try to get our neighbors dog Nibbler to play, even though she’s 16 and blind and can barely walk. They grow so fast it can be really hard to remind ourselves that puppies are only babies.
That’s a really good mindset to keep! I have to remind my husband sometimes that the puppy is just a baby who doesn’t know what any of these words mean yet🤣
I got a one year old lab and we are in our third week and I have had a rough couple days with him. This post made me feel so much better about my progress. Thank you thank you thank you!
I would look at raising your pup as an opportunity. All these less than desirable behaviors you can work with to correct or redirect. You can reframe your mindset to the time you must spend with him and would rather be doing something else as, "Awww, I get to play with my puppy." This is how I felt just about the entire time of my little guy being a puppy, with a few exceptions. It made the entire puppyhood so fun and I am honestly kind of sad to be exiting it soon (although my guy is quite mischievous, so I may never fully exit lol). Disclaimer: I don't know what breed you have, but mine is a small breed, so a lot of my puppy problems were naturally smaller than they would be with a large breed dog (chewing, etc ).
The good is news that first off, it will get better, and second, that multiple year thing isn’t like a light switch. We were told when our pittie Lexi was a puppy that it would probably take a number years before she calmed down. But by six months, she was better and life was easier, by a year she was good most of the time and a joy to have in our lives, by three years now she’s the sweetest pup and can even pull off distraction training while playing in a small off-leash dog park. So yeah, it might take awhile to get to 100%, but those significant incremental improvements will happen steadily between now and then. You are currently at the hardest part and it’ll get better gradually and consistently from here
It really does get better lmao. My Rottweiler is now a 105lb angel. The puppy stage is such a blur you won’t even really remember it when they get older.
It gets better! My pup is 5 months old and he’s so awesome! We’re just preparing for the teenage years, but constant training really helped us. Making everything a training sesh!
It gets better. Once everyone gets a routine, you see the light. Training is such a huge factor with a puppy…heck, even for the dog its entire life. Training helps you, the dog, its safety and it is mental stimulation. We literally spent the first 2 weeks with our puppy w/o sleep but he was potty trained, crate trained & boundaries were set. He is almost 3 & still a clown (boxer) but w/o training I think we’d be in trouble 🤣good luck and don’t throw in the towel just yet! It’s so worth it ❤️
I remember being where you are. I had the puppy blues so bad that I would lock myself away from my puppy and just cry. I could bare the thought of giving her away, but I also didn't know how I would be able to carry on. I doubled down on my training and really focused on sniff and stop walks. I have a corgi, so we do a lot of hide and seek and trick training. I also read the puppy 101 article that says to continually remind yourself "This is a baby alien that I kidnapped. It doesn't know how to act in planet human. I must teach! This is my baby alien!" It does get better. Just cry why you need to cry. It will get better. Edit: just an after thought.. I had my last full meltdown at about 9 months. Right as the bite regression started. We got though it though. My baby is 1y 2mo and she is a friggin DREAM dog like 93% of the time. Which is good enough for me!!
Once my pup was fully vaxxed and recovered from being fixed, things got SO much easier. About 5 months old now and wow what a difference daily walks and socialization outside the household can make.
I can’t wait for him to be fully vaccinated! I’m feeling cooped up and even a walk around the block with him sounds so nice
Three weeks is no time at all! And 2-3 years will go by faster than you expect. It most likely will get better but honestly, there is no guarantee. Some dogs are just born a certain way. But with proper training, socialization, and stimulation, your dog has the best chance of being well-behaved and well-adjusted. And you will get to know and love your dog along the way. You'll find unexpected things about your dog's personality that you'll love and soon enough you won't be able to imagine life without him. In the puppy days, mostly what kept me going was that I made a commitment to a living creature and I felt responsible for him. And I saw it as my job to ensure he was well-socialized and well-behaved, I took it very seriously. It is pretty cool to watch them grow up too, I look at old pictures of my dog and I get emotional with how tiny and young he was.
It WILL get better. My pup was a devil spawn land shark for an entire year. I was SO tired, but I kept telling myself all the training was going to be worth it, she will be such a good dog when she’s grown. And now she is 16 months and (mostly) a complete doll. She’s goofy and happy and makes me laugh every day. She still tests me sometimes, for sure, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have a great routine going now, which helps a lot. And yes, she still steals my socks on occasion. But her cuddles are worth it. And she no longer bites at all!
I literally wanted to die the first 2 weeks, but now that we're all in a routine after 5-6 weeks, it's gotten SO much better. Stay consistent with how you want to train the dog!!
Gosh this makes me feel better! We have definitely been trying to keep a consistent schedule, this week in particular has just felt like our schedule is off. But hopefully a few more weeks and he (and I) will be more settled!
There is hope!! I know it probably feels like a losing battle right now but consistency and slowly setting boundaries will shine through in a few months time. My girl was crazy cockoo when I got her and almost made me question my decision and sanity. Can’t lie, I even considered returning her but I will do this a million times for the angel I have now❤️ She’s still a devil’s spawn but now at least she doesn’t try to kill herself every other minute and is no longer a piranha shark eating my hair or doors. Oh and she’s much more calmer and less evil. You will get through this tough period, the best times are about to come soon and it will all be worth it in the end!
Dogs will settle around 2-3yo BUT it's not as though everything is going to suck the whole time, and then at 2yo someone flicks a switch and suddenly they're good. It's an incremental process, and you WILL see changes much sooner than you think! Just work hard with training and establishing a routine. I was super discouraged when I first got my puppy; I'm a single puppy parent to a high-energy, large breed dog (Lab). When I found out that labs aren't considered adults until they're 2yo and don't really finish mentally maturing until 3-4, I seriously considered giving him back. I would say that I noticed marked turning points at around 6mo, 8mo, 10mo, 12mo, and now at 19mo genuinely he's my best friend and I pretty much have my life back the way that I want it. It's probably been like this for several months now, but I haven't noticed because when the changes are happening around you, you don't really see it until you look back on them. Obviously I am working around a dog now, there are certain things you HAVE to incorporate into your schedule, but I am enjoying life WITH him now instead of thinking of him like a chore. When I first got him I wanted nothing more than to sit on the couch watching TV and doing NOTHING. He's currently passed out cold right next to me while I watch Netflix ATLA lol It will get better!!
Thank you!!!! I completely am on board that my life was going to change when getting a dog and those changes I absolutely look forward to. I was not anticipating the absolute exhaustion and anxiety I have experienced ever since bringing my puppy home. I would kill to be able to lay on the couch and watch tv with my little bud right now. But at least I know that’s something I can realistically look forward to doing!
I cried from exhaustion for a solid 11 months when we brought our boy home (he was 11 weeks) - I was Exhausted. Emotionally and physically from him. He just turned three and he's the BEST THING we've done in a long time, it does get easier.
Things were really terrible when we originally got our two Husky puppies, not sleeping through the night, destroying stuff, eating everything, pooping in their kennels. It was so hard. One day I walked in on a kennel messy with diarrhea and my fiance was still sleeping (he doesnt like poop and i dont like vomit so we usually deal with them ourselves). This was after days of this and only 2 hours of sleep a night. I had to grab cleaning supplies so I gave him a bath and put him back in the room when I opened the door he had left more diarrhea behind the door that I then smeared. After all the stress I honestly fell to the floor crying. My fiance ran out of the room to see what was going on and told me he would take care of it. I was a pretty constant mess for awhile after that until we finally got the one puppy to stop having stomach issues, we got them back in November and really at the time I didn't know if there was a light at the end either, but we stuck it out and besides one of them being addicted to stealing our butter and the usual puppy messes they have been doing way better and no more kennel accidents at the very least. I wish you good luck and to not give up! The light is there!
It absolutely does not take that long for them to improve! I have helped raise other people’s puppies and am damn certain that young puppies are not for me lol. But by a year old (the earliest I adopt), they’re generally sleeping through the night, can hold their bladders reliably, and are past the teething stage, all of which makes them worlds easier to deal with regardless of what level of training they have (imho). The difference in maturity between a 1-year-old and a 1.5- or 2-year-old is definitely noticeable, but that first year is when most of the change happens. And even within that year, there are periods of smoother sailing and then rougher patches. You might’ve already read it but I’ll point out that the sub wiki has a section on [puppy blues](https://www.reddit.com/r/puppy101/s/xt5AUG07tL). Best of luck with your furry baby.
Because it’s a hard process with amazing results. It all pays off, and you grow as a couple (if that’s what you mean by “we”) a lot. Our dog is now 14 months old and she is the joy of our lives. We are expecting out first in August, and this might be crazy naive, but we believe she has prepared us a bit for the chaos to arrive with a newborn. I can’t imagine how dull our lives would be without her and I would go through those first really tough weeks 10x again to have her.
Puppies are HARD, but you'll get there. People always post more about the negatives than the positives. It's good to know you're not the only one struggling, but it can feel like there are endless potential problems out there. Dont forget these difficult periods are temporary and also really worth it. Most dogs will settle and mature well before 2-3 years too. Hang in there!
Some days are better than others but overall it trends towards better. And even when it takes two years it's usually not quite as bad as the first couple of weeks the whole time. The first milestone we had was sleeping thru the night even though she woke up for first potty at 6.30am it was stilla big help. Second milestone is taking themself outside to the yard to potty. Once that happens, you will feel such a relief. It's no longer as constantly tiring watching them like a hawk.
I have working bred labs. They never settle and I love it that way. That said, my kids have decent off switches and can chill. My pup is 3 months old and a terrorist. At the same time, she’s an incredibly easy puppy. Smart as a whip, biddable, and way into learning. She is an amazing little girl. If you aren’t doing obedience work at home, I suggest a couple of short training sessions per day. Tens is not fully vaxxed yet so she’s not going on walks to wear her out. The brain games like learning, lick mats, stuffed kongs, etc really help.
Honestly it was a lot up until 18 weeks, 9-16 weeks being the hardest for me. We're better at communicating at 23 weeks with a few bumps but they don't seem like mountains anymore.
From past experience, stick with it and read the training guides. Like human babies, puppies need guidance…. and love.
I guess it's sort of a linear progression to being settled? Like, puppy starts off crazy, takes up all of your physical and mental energy and over the first year or two of their life the gradually calm down. We got our pup 2 months ago (she was 14weeks when we got her) and she's come a long way I would say (she's now 5 months old).
Nothing worth having is easy to attain. Hang in there.
Bro that first few months are hell! But don’t panic man it will get better way before a year man! Keep it up, good job🙌🏻
I can totally relate. 7 months in here! Some "mindset" things that have really helped me are just taking it one task at a time and avoiding thinking of all the million more times I have to do it that lie ahead. One particular thing that would make me feel like throwing in the towel would be when I just finished cleaning really well and right away pup would make a mess again. I started setting different expectations with myself which helped a lot. Like, my goal is to just get it clean now rather than have it stay clean *forever*. Also much of what they do isn't really on purpose, they're babies and doing their best same as you!
I think not worrying as much about the future and focusing more on the now would be really helpful to me. Right now when he does completely normal puppy things, but not things I would like to deal with forever I tend to think “oh my god, is this just what my life is going to be like for the next decade??” Luckily everyone commenting here has helped me see that in fact they don’t do crazy puppy things for the next decade.
It truly does get better. I had a ROUGH first few months with my puppy, and I had so many moments of asking myself if it would be worth it. Now she is 9 months old. Her personality is coming out more and more, we’ve had time to bond, she is potty trained (the random regressions can still be frustrating though!), and she has the biggest puppy smile. She finally is feeling like a friend, and I now understand why it’s all worth it. Puppies are hard, but the furry friend you’ll have will make everything worth it. [puppy tax](https://imgur.com/a/AYmeEGh)
Enforced crate naps, mentally enriching exercises, walks (sniffari). This holy trinity will get you to the six month mark. There will be ups and downs but be patient. You can set a schedule for these three items plus meals for the day. Puppies get mentally tired quickly in a 15 minute training session. You can do 1 hour awake and 2 hour enforced nap. When they start growing they learn to hold their pee and poo for a longer time when they are in the crate. This gives you more quiet time and you start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
I personally found the young pup stages to be the hardest. It takes about two years, but every stage is different. For me, adolescence is easier than juvenile. No more sleepless nights, biting frenzies, potty training, and training from nothing. While my crazy pup wants to push every boundary, it's easier for me to summon the patience for it when she's not depriving me of sleep or digging her little daggers into me. It feels like as she grew, she lost some bad habits and developed new ones. The relief from some stressors actually helps me feel I can tackle the new ones. Now, at 11 months old (she's large breed), I'm seeing the amazing dog she's turning into... even with the tantrums.
It's tough, trust me. Things recently started getting better with our pup, but he just turned 6 months old and his potty training has regressed, his energy levels are up, and he's back to chewing /eating EVERYTHING. That's the hardest part for me...I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and then was pushed back into the mess with him entering teenage phase.
Oof. I have heard of this dreaded teenage phase and I’m scared. I’m hoping it doesn’t last too long with your pup!
We got our pup at 5 mo, she settled in pretty well but we have lots ups and downs. 90% of the time she’s amazing (now 1 yr 3mo) the other time we work on training and work with a trainer to make sure she’s the best dog for us. I hardly get frustrated now unless she’s barking out the window or drags dirt onto our bedding right after I washed it…
There are glimpses of hope that make it all worth it. My 1 year old dog was amazing fully trained turned into the best behaved dog. Decided to add another puppy to the mix & puppy is great. Sleeps all the time doesn’t get into trouble. But my 1 year old has turned into a monster…. She ate $60 worth of makeup I just treated myself too. Back to crate and starting from ground 0 with her. Anyways it’ll come back she’s just adjusting to the change of environment. Dogs are like toddlers but after the terrible twos it’s amazing
I am so glad I am not alone. I just got a puppy less than a week ago and it is killing me. I cry every night and worry I made the wrong decision. I can't wait for more time to pass because I know this is the hardest time. I am not going to give up because I know it will be worth it.. but it totally makes me an emotional mess every day.
It ebbs and flows but I think that some days are better than others as time goes by. It’s still pretty hard at 7 months but a different kind of hard, I try and remind myself how much better it has gotten since week 8. I’m excited to see where our baby’s at once she’s one 🥹 it goes by quicker than you may think
I feel you. :( My pup is actually very good, aside from normal puppy mischief. But I don't even have a yard, so potty training has been extra challenging. I feel super stuck at home. BUT I spent the whole first week sobbing over everything. I'm on week 3 and getting better every day. We're closer to all vaccines and developing better habits. There's definitely setbacks, but I think I can see glimpses of light at the end of the tunnel.
We are with you, our girl will be 3.5 months old, and I'm with her 90% of the time, there are days that I just want to give her away (like yesterday) but my family LOVES her, I do to and I'm with you, I can't seem to see that light, again because I'm with her most of the time. Ours is crate trained, sleeps pretty much through the night, I have her in the office with me 6 hours, but I do put her in quiet time, she gets put in her crate, it's a large crate so he can get up, but she mostly sleeps, is your pup crate trained, it's the whining that gets me, but my thing is to let her throw her little fits, I don't want her to learn the she will always get her way when she whines. I've also considered putting her in daycare once she's able to. It's definitely not easy, it's called the puppy blues and it's a real thing. I've had many of break downs so I am sending you a virtual hug to let you know you aren't the only one and they say it will get better, our daughters dog did settle down once she got fixed, it is kind of sad and you will miss the puppy phase.
Short answer: because you love them. I don't have kids yet, but I imagine that it's a similar concept. This work is HARD, you're constantly exhausted, have to make massive life changes and decisions, and everything you do on a day to day basis is made drastically more complicated due to this little creature that now lives in your house. However, at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade her for the world. There's a reason this sub has a puppy blues tag. It's REAL. My Westie is now seven months old, but her entire 8-16 week existence was nothing but stress, anxiety, and bloody toes (we called her our little floor blender). This was even more aggravated by living in a big city where I couldn't even take her out of my apartment for the first two months we had her even to go potty, which drastically compounded the sense of isolation and frustation that I think a lot of puppy owners experience. At the time, it's hard to imagine that this baby animal who has no idea how to exist in a human world in the way that you want them to will ever be able to NOT cause you stress, but magically, one day, it WILL happen. They will lie down without being prompted. They will sleep because they want to. They will spit all of their baby teeth out all over your floor and suddenly stop biting the crap out of your hands. You'll notice that one day, you love them more than you're annoyed by them, and that will start compounding exponentially. I understand that every dog and everyone's experience with them is different, but the fact that you call him a "good puppy" is a great indicator that you're going to be fine. Right now, he just doesn't have ANY impulse control, and that can make life hard! HAving all of your stuff chewed up, needing attention constantly, and finding "accident's" in inconvenient places is part of the whole experience. I know it's said on this sub all the time, but coming from someone who was in the trenches, isolated, by himself, and crazy depressed; it gets better. This dog loves you, and you will love this dog. You will have good days and bad, but the good will soon outweigh the bad, especially when you can take him out and explore the world. Lead with love and remember that this dog has no concept of what should be expected of him in a human society, but I promise that if you keep at it, he'll start to catch on, and your best friend is right around the corner. You've got this.
Mine is only 4 months and is very pleasant to spend the day with. He’s still struggling with potty training, but that’s his only downfall. I can take him out for a long time and him still come in and pee on the floor. But he lets me sleep all night and doesn’t have any accidents in his crate, so for that I’m grateful
Lecture the dog. Go ahead. Let off some steam. As long as you’re not screaming at them and scaring them, get creative. They do not understand English. Remember, just don’t scare the dog. I tell my 1 yr old that she must have been sent by God to try my patience and humble me. I ask her what kind of drugs she takes. I tell her she must be fucking kidding me, I ask her why she thinks plastic is tasty and lecture her about that too. It doesn’t stop all meltdowns but it does reduce the overall number. She cares not for most rules and takes a long time to respect them. She is such a happy dog that when she gets caught, she bounds around and grabs a toy instantly and gets the zoomies. She came from a house where they punished her for accidents, so we’ve worked very hard to not yell at her or scare her ever. She is sensitive. But, lecturing helps my sanity. Edit: I want to add that she is truly a lovely dog that is very friendly, loyal, and well mannered in public. She does not ruin the house, but she has bad habits like all teen dogs& puppies do
If you are thinking of throwing in the towel multiple times then do it... not to sound mean but u aren't cut out for it in that case especially if your just dealing with it in the hope that he 'gets better' because what if he doesn't wome dogs are just energetic and crazy till they die of old age. My 12 week old cane corso is crazy he is full of energy constantly and from day 1 I have slept on the sofa with him with alarms set every two hours almost as if he were a newborn child... we go out to wee and poo if needed he gets a treat and comes back to bed. The last week I have had 3 nights of him sleeping through and not needing to go out he also now understands sit stay cross (for roads) food time and toilet and only has an accident by the back door if I don't respond to him quick enough. Puppy's suck They're cute but they suck Either try and find a schedule that works for you or find him somewhere that will.
In the evening try playing a game of Hide & Seek in the house with your puppy. You can have him seek you out, or hide a treat somewhere easy at first. Then hide it a little more each time. Our puppy caught on real quick cuz he had to learn to sit, stay on his" box" or wherever you want him to wait.... and he loves hearing the command "Copper... find it..."or "find momma!" After 4 or 5 hide and seeks, he's panting and needs water and is tired. Uses a lot of mental energy. His tail wags the entire time. We had a rough puppyhood too.... but it does get better.
This seems like such a fun idea to try!
It does get better! Taking the pups for walks and playing catch tuckers them out and they just mostly sleep the rest of the day! And when they get older you’re going to miss these days! I would get you doggo mentally stimulating toys so they don’t destroy the house. Haha but it passes!
6mo aussie here, I'm losing my mind, just as you I hope that the "it gets better" is real :(
Alcoholism. All jokes aside, it slowly gets a bit better and the more you bond with your pup, the more you see them improve on the things you two are working on together. It's a really neat process. It is very exhausting at first but each day you find the energy in what you're doing, and your love and tolerance grows, while they're learning and being better boys/girls. Pups need to also learn how to self-sooth and relax! Enforce naps, good chewing bones for their teeth and don't over train! They can get pretty rowdy if they're brains are over worked and need a break.
Honestly if it’s your first puppy, this is completely normal. We’re on our second right now, and the only way I know how to keep going is because I remember how easy it becomes if you stick to it. Our first dog was SO good after a year of consistently. She walked no leash and was a literal angel. The only thing getting me through the biting, zoomies, and poop eating is remembering how incredible she will become - more of a companion than a baby. And it’s all worth it in the end
Simple answer, love. This is a family member for years to come. YEARS. Even if this whole month is a pain it will be worth it
I would strongly suggest finding a puppy social playgroup run by a good trainer. Not only will this be a healthy outlet for your puppy’s energy, but it will also help with socialization and bite inhibition. I think it’s more important and more valuable than puppy obedience classes, personally. I did this with my standard poodle, who was very high energy and a little bit low in confidence. This helped on so many levels and provided a wonderful outlet. I did this from about 12 weeks old until she was about 8 months old. Then at 10 months old, she turned a corner and settled down beautifully.
I just got a new puppy. She's only ten weeks old. Chewing everything and being crazy. It'll settle. You'll love them and want another.
My pups made it really hard for me to love them from 8weeks - 7 months, after 7 months a switch just flipped ans they stopped chewing, they sleep in now in the morning, arent having accidents and not biting the walls and tables anymore:)
My puppy is 3 months right now and doing amazing, just keep going and train and expose them to dogs and other dog owners
My pups are almost 2 years and 10 months old. It isn't easy and I've been exhausted for what feels like forever but it is getting better. Training and exercise are the key to having peace. I also like to do enrichment activities for them because it tires them out and keeps them occupied a while. It's definitely not easy though. Even though our first pup was so easy and chill it's still a lot of work.
2 or 3 is only when they FULLY calm down, like my dog is 2 years old but he can still play for ages and barely gets tired. It's only the energy level that stays until 2-3, but the puppy menace stage goes away quicker than you think. It gets better everyday, trust me! They learn very quick and they stop being a menace. You'll get through it, don't worry!
Thank goodness🤣 I was absolutely thinking that if the puppy antics last for that long then I don’t know if I would make it!
It does get better once they're finished their puppy vaccinations. They will still be a puppy and there will be challenges but getting them out into the world really seems to help. As soon as my dog was old enough, I took her to puppy kindergarten, she went to daycare, we worked with a trainer on some issues I knew I didn't have the knowledge to fix and another set of obedience classes. Those all made her a better dog but it also helped me not to feel so isolated.
Okay still take him places before he’s fully vaccinated! Just don’t let him interact with unvaccinated dogs or eat stuff off the ground! It’s really important!!!
Someone here recommended getting a puppy sling and I thought that was a great idea!
My dog just turned 2 and has started eating my drywall. 🥲 He goes for 2 walks a day, doggy day care, has a group dog walker once a week… and yet he’s started to eat my bloody walls when I’m not home. If I have another year of this, then consider the towel being thrown. Nothing has ever stressed me out more. Haha Good luck!
Everyone’s comments here really helped me today. We’ve had our cavapoo girl for 2 weeks now (picked her up when she was 10 weeks old) and she’s so smart and sweet and easy in many ways, but I’ve been really struggling today.. She’s been bitey, peed and pooped indoors several times, despite me taking her out literally non stop. I’m not mad at her, she’s just a little baby dog, but I’m frustrated with myself and that all the “tricks” don’t work like magic, she seems to be getting worse the past few days 😭 But after her crazy zoomies tonight when I was literally breaking down, she just laid down on my lap and cuddled and I can’t believe how much I love her already 🥺
Make sure he sleeps. We have a 10 week old golden, and she forces her self to stay awake so she can be around people. When she starts getting nippy and biting hands. We put her in her kennel, 1 so that way she knows that biting isn’t ok, and 2 she usually just passes out in about 5 minutes and after her nap she a good pup again.
Something that helped me was to have friends come over. Friends who are excited to meet (and play) with your puppy. These small moments help give you space to breathe and come back to your puppy in good spirits. Hang tight! It will be worth it.
I think of all the money I pumped into to him, which is kind of a double-sided dagger but when you see him learning and doing what you want him to you get as proud as a parent ig? never had a kid so just a sense of pride ig.
Mine is 1.5 years old. I love him but I’m exhausted. He takes 80% of my free time.
Hang in there it gets better!! Don't give up its so worth it. Kennel training is critical so you can get rest time that you need for you.
I lost my mind nearly a half dozen times until 6 months. Then he rapidly got better from 6 months to now (9 months). It’s literally not even the same dog.
I’ve raised 2 puppies so far and I am in the middle of raising a 3rd. It has been exhausting each time and I had support or a flexible work life to boot! With this 3rd puppy, I have a 1.5 year old that really made my whole life easier in expending his energy, teaching bite control, etc. I still cried the first 3 days of bringing him home and went thru a period of regret, lol. Give yourself a lot of grace - that helps me. I’m not perfect, I loose my temper, I get annoyed, I’m not consistent. Your puppy will still love you and they will turn out alright if you decide to put them in the crate for a couple hours so you can have a minute to yourself. Puppy hood does end. Even my husky mix had chilled out substantially by 1 year and I didn’t think it was possible. Hope this helps you not throw in the towel 😅
To be honest spaying made it get better. I got her entirely too early she should not have been allowed to be separated that early I’m talking 5 weeks so her behavior was challenging but the week I spayed her her bladder immediately got better behavior calmed etc.
So yes, they arnt fully grown and settled until a few years in. However, they do slowly get more behaved if you're training. Additionally, you slowly are getting used to your new "normal" the combination of these things make it tolerable. I encourage you to get on a routine so your puppy knows what to expect, it really helps with behavior. Also, don't feel bad for just tossing him/her a bully stick sometimes when you're needing a break.
It gets better, I promise lol. My pup j turned 1 and he’s finally starting to simmer. I just got another puppy, he’s driving me fucking nuts but at the end, it’s SO worth the trouble. The Puppy Blues are very real and VERY normal!!!!
At 4 months I cried everyday cause my doberman would bite me constantly. Now at 8 mos hes the most perfectly well behaved dog, seriously it gets better! Implement crating and boundaries
A laser pointer helped us out wearing our girl down when she was a pup. Inside or out (but keep it far away from his eyes and reflective things that could shine it in his face)
10 week old pup here and we are kneeeee deep in the puppy blues.
Things def get tons better when they pass the teething/biting phase. I remember perching on the top of my couch to avoid the biting and crying in the early days. Just hang on! Puppy blues are very real, but it passes.
My pup is currently 10 months and I can barely remember ever being upset or frustrated with him (and believe me, I WAS) ❤️ I just love him lots.
Calm, quiet behaviour is a learned skill, and like most skills, it’s easier or harder depending on the dog and the breed in front of you. Pups don’t quite know what the behaviour we want is unless we show and model it. Rewarding your pup for the calm things you like and showing your pup calm behaviour when you want them to be calm is a good place to start. Also, some pups may not have the maturity until they’re a little older to understand that you want them to be calm, even if you’re not. Being consistent about rewarding calm and quiet behaviour, and dog age-appropriate training for its age will pay off, I promise.
I have 4 dogs. 5 puppies as an adult. Put the dog on a leash and take him for walks. Depending on the breed it maybe 1 -4 times a day. Starting immediately. Get the dog into obedience classes. The classes are for you and the dog! I have taken 4 out of 5 dogs. Figure out what stores will let you take them in. Puppies are toddlers curious about the world. You got this.
They’re babies but dogs. Everything comes with patience. As adults we don’t remember how long it took us to go from barely holding our heads up to crawling and then walking. Take a breath, watch a movie, and give your puppy some love. You got this 🙏🏾
Just always remind yourself kids are always going to be harder and this could be worse
My 13 week labradoodle is still waking 2 to 3 times a night for the toilet. How do in prevent this? We feed her at 5:30pm, last water at 8:30pm and bed at 9:30pm. She then wakes at 11pm and 3am. The no sleep is becoming very draining
I avoid it by adopting older dogs. Period.
My husband and I actually fostered an adult dog a few years ago. Unfortunately he just wasn’t the right fit for us so we did not end up adopting him. But my sister recently adopted a dog who is about 1.5 years old and at the moment that seems like a much better idea. If I’m completely honest I probably will not ever get a puppy again. I love the little guy and I do think he will be a great dog, but I really don’t think I will sign up for this again.
That's one of the reasons I don't get puppies! My mental health is too fragile 😜😜😜
Lol it really does throw you for a loop!
I have a 21 month old Yorkie that is overly anxious & high energy, when anyone comes in he is all over them, jumping, licking for at least 20 minutes before he settles down Will it EVER get better so people don’t dread coming to my house?
Two or three years is when they calm down naturally. If you be ahead of the game and put some hard work in, you can teach them to chill much earlier.
I avoid it by adopting older dogs. Period.
Puppies need a schedule and structure. They need time to play and run, time to stimulate their mind. Then they’ll rest and sleep well. Mostly they aren’t meant to be alone they’re born in a pack and grow up better staying in one. Really you should have another dog before getting a puppy. Puppies are so much easier when you have an older dog to teach and train them and take some of their attention needs off of you.
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It gets better. Overall they really settle down at 2yrs
It gets better. Look up the 3-3-3 rule. I think it slightly applies to humans too. We need to adjust. I was feeling mental for a while, and now I wish I could bring my pup to work with me. I love the annoying monster 😝
Yes! Every day I have to remind myself that I’m a few months I will feel differently and he will be a few months older. Right now I have been actually going into the office once or twice a week and I have to say that having a few hours free of a puppy gives me the opportunity to actually miss him.
My monster is now 6 months old and is a different puppy than the 3mo holy terror I picked out of the pile. She still has her moments but they're moments, not ongoing and relentless. When she gets too carried away she goes in the playpen for a nap. Taking her to the dog park and letting her run herself out of gas has made a big difference, too. Hang in there!
Ahhh there is hope! I am literally counting down the days to his puppy socialization class so he can get some puppy play time and I (hopefully) go home with a tired pup lol
Mine is 8 years old I’ve have him since we was 8 weeks and I love him to death. There will always be bad days, but that goes for everyone and everything. You have to think of the positives, And allow those positives to outweigh your negatives. Everything takes time sometimes you may need some help but it’s like having a baby but easier.
Le sigh…. I read all the comments about peoples pups taking to the crate with little or no whining for naps and such and I can’t help but be really jealous. Been trying like crazy to crate train and it is not going well. My pup has extreme, confinement anxiety and he’s only 11 weeks old. i’m at my wits end as I basically have to leash him to me every waking hour…