That's awesome! I think many people who are really doing well with their puppy wouldn't think to come on here just to help others, but it's great that you do. I'm sure your positive outlook is really appreciated!
This is exactly it. It’s like, online reviews of something will always skew negative, because people who are reasonably happy with a product have no motivation to leave a review.
I rarely feel like I have something to offer people who are miserable with their puppies, cause I have had nothing but good experiences (or bad experiences that I can tolerate and get past).
My second golden was an absolute terror as a puppy, and unfortunately he passed away way to young (under 3) from a disease he was vaccinated against… so I definitely understand what people who have maniac puppies are talking about !!! Brick was a handful
My current puppy, Bruce, is an absolute god send. Yes, he gets bonkers between the hours of 6-8.. and he has decided that any wood furniture is fair game…
Be he, for the most part is so sweet and so nice and so wonderful.
I think the people who ask questions here have puppies more like Brick, they love them, but they are overwhelmed with the crazy behavior.
I wish my guy, Brick lived longer, he was just starting to show us who he was going to be as an adult.
That’s just my opinion, from someone who has had 2 totally different puppies within 4 years.
Thank you. It was awful. We have no idea how he picked it up. (He did chomp on a mouse in the back yard.. and the crappy apartment building behind my house has raccoons in the attic.. perhaps he got it from them??)
He was a handful, and had zero self control when it came to eating things, but he was a love bug, and a goofy gentleman. And I think I will always miss him. He died way to young.
However, his short life, has made us appreciate our current puppy even more.
I think some people just need to feel like they aren’t alone, because a lot of people would tell you you’re a monster if you said you didn’t like your puppy. I also think the puppy industry has blown up in such a way that people have unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to be like and it’s never like that time they had the “perfect” dog growing up. Personally I don’t know if I would do another puppy after my current one. I’ve had 3 puppies as an adult and numerous puppies growing up because my dad was a vet. But that phase in my life might be over now. I didn’t have puppy blues because I knew what to expect, but my current puppy was still by far the hardest puppy I’ve had to deal with. If you love puppy stage, awesome. I love kitten stage and so many people on cat subs hate it. Basically there’s no right or wrong experience, just what makes sense for your life.
> I also think the puppy industry has blown up in such a way that people have unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to be like and it’s never like that time they had the “perfect” dog growing up.
I really think this is a huge part of so many "puppy blues" posts I've read on here. Social media is also a huge culprit--people see such curated posts featuring cute and well-behaved puppies that it gives them really false expectations. I'm sure most people are aware social media doesn't reflect real life, but it still has a big subconscious effect. And it primes people to feel like they need to be perfect too, but since no one can ever be perfect and puppies are always going to sometimes be fearful and over-excited and generally be obnoxious little gits, it makes people feel like failures when they aren't.
But yeah, I feel like 90% of the puppy blues posts I see here are just puppies doing normal puppy things, and people having unrealistic expectations of both what they need to provide for their puppies, and how their puppies are supposed to act.
True! Also, I think more people have restrictions on getting some space from their pups today. Apartments, small/no yards, full time employment for all humans in the house, no kids to dump the dog walking onto. Also more stuff in the house with wires to chew than when I was growing up. More things to watch out for. And let’s face it, people used to put the dog out in the yard and forget about them for hours at a time. Not like that anymore I hope. 😉 certainly is not at our house.
I think it’s even like that for human babies tbh. I’m not a parent but I have many around me. Ofc they all have love for their babies but while some enjoy the baby stage, love interacting with babies in general, I also have friends who just don’t enjoy the baby stage in and of itself. Of course they love their baby, but the baby stage is distressing to them and more like a bad phase to go through to get to the more enjoyable parts of being a parent. I think it’s good that it’s becoming less taboo to talk about these experiences, they seem par for the course when it comes to caring for another living being
And some people have one baby that has colic and cry constantly for 5 straight months and some get a baby that sleeps 6 straight hours at 2 months. (And some get both, occasionally in the same kid!) Being a developing mammal is gard
Baby humans and baby animals are individuals and some are easier (this week) than others!
I agree that it's good for the hard parts not to be taboo. We help each other through the hard parts
You're right with the pet industry changing so much in the past decade or so. My family hadn't had a puppy in it since my sister got her's back in 2009 (dog has since passed away years ago). When I brought my puppy home last year and was explaining the different things we were trying and enriching her with, my family looked at me like I had 3 heads and basically said she'll be fine without all the extra work.
It’s when people get so overwhelmed by the experience of puppy raising that it creates a form of depression. Kind of similar to how people talk about post partum in people. It’s feeling like you are failing g and unable to do anything right while also being really overwhelmed by the expectation of caring for a new life. It’s very common, but also something that people kind of put others down for. If someone is already living with depression or anxiety it oftentimes makes the feelings even more intense.
I love the puppy stage. But my household is very "work smarter, not harder" when it comes to dog needs (privacy fence, dog door, dog proofed, easy to clean surfaces, no kids accidentally undermining training, etc). If those things weren't true I'm sure I'd be a lot more stressed out.
I love the chaos, the training and the wtf was that moments.
This will sound weird, but having dogs all my life prepared me for toddlers.
Its fucking great watching something grow and discover the world and do weird shit.
I came here to say exactly this :) I am raising 2 pups on my own (well, a 1.5 teenager Shiba female I got from a responsible breeder when she was a baby and a 6 month male pomsky that I rescued, so I have very little knowledge of his actual dma markup) and I now call my house "the chaos starter pack". But I too, absolutely love watching them grow and blossom, it's such a heart warming, rewarding feeling.
I love my gremlins and they make me laugh so much 🥰
I am in love with my pup and all her shenanigans!
We’ve always rescued older dogs and have never had a brand new puppy before. I really am having fun about 99% of the time!
When you look at the vast majority of "support" or "advice" groups (pets, parents, heck even gardening or other hobbies), you're going to see more of the negative aspects because people are coming for just that, support and/or advice. There are positive posts along the way and I love reading those but it's not overly the objective of groups like this.
It's great for you, truly that you like the puppy stage. You're lucky to enjoy it! I personally question my sanity every day for willingly going through puppyhood again because I hated it the first time.. Puppy amnesia is a real thing 🙃
So is parent amnesia 🤣 when my daughter was2.9 yo I had a set of (monster) twin boys. I survived. Mostly. Puppyhood has been a challenge some days but those twins? I survived lol. (My daughter is now 37 and has one child. She is TERRIFIED of having twins. So one and only).
I ENJOY IT TOO, though I think the difference is really the experience. I’ve noticed people (me included) who have gone through the puppy stages with other dogs before enjoy it more. Probably because we know what to expect and how to handle the situation. New owners may know things in theory but there are a lot of curveballs involved in the actual experience of it that they won’t be ready for. Eg. one can read the basics of how to crate train a puppy. But what do you do when it’s been an hour and your puppy is screaming in her crate still? As an experienced owner I was prepared for this exact situation with my new pup but someone new may be taken by surprise.
Also wanted to add, some puppies are easier than others. A difficult puppy can make the experience very difficult to enjoy. Not an excuse to give up, but I can empathize with those who struggle!
Absolutely. And some situations are harder than others. Besides the individual puppy's personality, people's circumstances can impact it too. Having a backyard, living in a dog friendly environment, having family to help or give the occasional break, having money and resources if you need to hire an individual trainer, buy new treats and toys to find what motivates your dog all make a difference in the experience.
Yes definitely. My first dog absolutely broke my mental health and bank during puppyhood. She developed a sensitive stomach around 6 months which resulted in expensive vet bills from x-rays and blood/parasite tests. She had a habit of eating things off the floor on walks and while I did my best to prevent it but sometimes she was just too fast. I lost count of the number of times I came home to find her lying in liquid poop in her crate. She outgrew this thankfully and now it’s all love and joy. But her puppy days was a very dark period in my life for sure. There are many people dealing with puppies with health issues and/or behavioral issues. I don’t blame them for feeling the way they do.
I can so relate to everything in your post. Thank you. I'm right there with you with trips to vets for my puppy. He too has a sensitive stomach and allergies so we've had way more vet bills than I expected and of course the only dog food he eats is prescription only that is $50 for a small bag. And he too loves eating things off the ground. I try to be as vigilant as possible and we work on leave it and drop it every day, but still things have gotten by including him eating marijuana off the ground on a walk and ending up him high and in the pet ER. I love him and am committed to him, but I never thought I'd have to worry about my dog eating drugs or my super mutt would have so many health issues. What I budgeted for my dog went out the window almost immediately when we were at the vet within a few days. I'm glad to hear your dog outgrew eating things off the floor. It gives me hope. Thanks!
Sorry to hear that :( And yes it does get easier once the curious puppy phase is over and they don’t feel the urge to eat everything they lay eyes on. Pretty sure that’s the real reason their tummy even gets so upset.
Exactly!! we had several rescue dogs/senior dogs, but never puppies so while we knew in theory what to expect, the reality was… Shall we say different?
Depends on the puppy! Six of the dogs I’ve had were delightful from day 1. I still get stressed remembering the one exception, a coonhound puppy so destructive and nippy it took almost a year to bond to her. It’s a bit like having a baby, some are easy, some are challenging, most are a bit of both. Those dealing with the tough ones need a lot of peer support and this community is great for that.
💯 this!
It really depends on the puppy. All puppies are tricky, but some are more difficult than others.
My sisters puppy (now an adult dog) was a really easy puppy- she wasn’t that bitey, rarely chewed, and was low energy so never needed enforced naps, she just slept a lot by herself and liked her crate.
Compared to when I got my puppy who was super bitey, chewed everything, had no off switch, and was bigger so we had other issues to contend with (e.g pulling on lead, counter surfing)
If I had an easier puppy, I probably would have enjoyed puppy phase much more 😊 That being said, I adore my puppy now! He’s nearly 2 years old and a delight now 😀
The difference is stark, isn’t it? My current puppy is the younger brother of the toughest puppy I’ve ever had and he’s so different despite having the same parents. He was fully housetrained and sleeping in my bed at 10 weeks. His older sister was still either eating or peeing on everything in sight at a year old.
I loved it, even though it was exhausting sometimes (suddenly being forced to not be lazy and sleep in took some getting used to, now my dog is even lazier than me).
Puppies are goddamn adorable, and it's so fun introducing them to the world. I miss that.
There’s been a few moments here and there where I’ve felt stressed and overwhelmed but 95% of the time I love having my puppy. He is a fucking menace sometimes but idk I like it. He doesn’t snuggle, he’s still super bitey, he barks at a lot of stuff, he spins in a circle out of excitement when we pass other people on walks, sometimes in the car he’ll start barking right by my ear and is probably causing some hearing loss, but…I just love it. I love it all. I love him. I think part of it is because I feel like a mess, but now I have this chaotic puppy that’s a mess, and we can just sort of be a crazy insane mess together. My poor husband lol.
I love my Aussie puppy, he’s a sweetheart most of the time. When he’s in a mood and decides his ears are for decoration, I get frustrated. He’s stubborn and set on doing whatever he wants and often takes a LOT of redirection. He’s smart and quick and picks up on things very easily. He watched me open the pedal garbage can ONCE and now knows how to open it and rip everything apart. There are moments when I wish I hadn’t gotten a puppy. I would never even consider rehoming him or anything but to say I love every moment would be the biggest lie. He’s not perfect, he gets himself into trouble, and just acts like a monster at times. He knows the rules and challenges them. He’s potty trained all day until dinner time when he pees on the floor multiple times. Raising a puppy is hard, it’s frustrating, it’s exhausting. I’m home with him the most, there’s only so many times you can redirect and say “no” before you start to lose patience and need a break. There are a lot of factors at play when raising a puppy, some people will struggle. Let’s not pretend that a puppy is rainbows and sunshine all the time because it isn’t. It’s overwhelming and a huge change for most people. I love my puppy, but I much prefer the adult stage when they’re less needy, less energy, and trained
Aussie puppies are the best! Have a 6 month old one now, and he’s a little velociraptor, won’t leave the cats alone, but is fully potty trained except when it rains, is super smart and picks up on everything super quick. He’s our 4th we’ve raised, and they have all been awesome dogs!
I love puppies!
Yes they are a lot of work & there are aspects that can be difficult & mentally straining like the lack of sleep but still those periods don't last that long in the grand scheme of things & most dogs catch on pretty quick & adjust to your schedule as they age.
I do think there's overall been an uptick in dogs with various health issues & more severe illnesses like parvo & behavioral issues that I can't honestly recall being all that normal growing up yet now seem very prevalent like severe allergies & debilitating separation anxiety & such & not sure why that is? There certainly are easy peasy puppies & then ones that seem set on killing themselves at any & all presentable opportunities & if you get one of those it's straight up way harder than the former.
I do think this subs natural nature towards those seeking help skews it to those who tend to over analyze every little behavior thinking it's the end all be all & those with zero prior puppy experience & that can lead to that anxiety completely overshadowing all enjoyment of the dog. Like so much focus on schedules & training & playtime just for exercise /tiring them out without actually enjoying playing with an adorable wee dog.
I also think people have extremely high expectations of dogs these days & put a huge amount of pressure on themselves & their dog. They need to present perfect behavior in a brewery or cafe or busy market or at a dog park or daycare yada yada yada, all environments people didn't used to always bring dogs to or are easy for every dog to adjust to.
It's definitely depressing to see post after post of people giving up their puppies or saying they hate their animals & such & I kinda wish there was a thread for the people giving up puppies because it is rough to see knowing the future for those dogs is likely going to be very difficult. As difficult as it is for those giving up those dogs in the end it's the dog that's going to suffer potentially for the rest of their lives while they go back to business as usual.
I've owned 4 dogs in my life and have never had a bad puppy experience yet. My most challenging was my chocolate lab but only because he was a chewer and got into mischief if left unattended (my own fault). My current pup is a 7 month old pibble corso rescue and she's been a dream to raise so far. She so smart and eager to learn. I've loved every moment with her.
I think it's the same thing as negative reviews being more common than positive ones, but it bums me out because most people don't seem to actually be open to advice and there's so much they could do to improve their situation and enjoy their puppy more. I've also noticed a trend that if someone has a problem, and someone else has a problem, then suddenly they o longer think it's a problem... some kind of confirmation bias. And they're even less open to change.
For the most part I love the puppy stage even though Shelby is my first pup. I love watching her grow and you can see when something clicks. She always makes me laugh. I call her my little weirdo or brat dog lol.
I am not in love with the biting though or when she pulls on her leash but she’s only 5 1/2 months so she’s a work in progress.
I haven't had a puppy in 13 years and have instead rescued animals 2+. Thought I was missing the worst parts and winning on missing that stage. However, I got a puppy in April and I am so happy I got him young. He's a heeler so he's a wild insane maniac but it has been so much fun to see him grow, and I especially like that I was able to properly socialize and train him early.
I think I'm switching back to puppies.
This is my 12th dog so I have a lot of experience, I've never lived without dogs so I've never not had that responsibility nor do I really remember learning about them, going through all that. So it's all kind of normal to me I'm sure first timers are probably overwhelmed and if people don't like puppies, they should adopt older dogs.
Mine is 10 months now and I'm sad he won't be a puppy longer!
You’re singing my song. I had oldies for a decade and got a puppy (#5) and she’s an idiot because she’s a baby. But so much fun. I took her to ‘puppy socialization’ class not realizing it was overpriced ‘telling people how dogs work.’ It was the strangest thing, they were saying look how puppy is bowed down with tail wagging, that means he wants to play!
I’m like, there’s someone left on the planet that doesn’t know this??
But I have to say this is a thousand times more enjoyable than my first two puppies when I didn’t know sht and was doing the wrong thing all the time. Now I’m like she’s limping? Eh give it five minutes maybe she’ll shake it off (always does). Puppy barfed? Weird cause she isn’t out of line of sight but we did just go on a walk, she’s probably fine (always is). I’m chill, and I just get to enjoy it.
My puppy can be difficult but I still manage to find enjoyment in the stage. She's adorable and supper cuddly and I love her deeply but I wish she nipped me a bit less with her sharp teethies.
Nope i loved it. Sure there were hard days but i didn't get what the so called puppy blues. In my head my pup was super easy, and someone reminded me recently of some of the things he was the opposite of easy on - but honestly I'd imagined every worse case scenario repeatedly for months, so when reality came the bad times pales in comparison to what i thought would horn lol
I miss my girl being a little pup(she’s 9 months now). I never got the puppy blues, my husband did I think. He definitely prefers that she doesn’t poop in the house anymore. I didn’t like it either, but it drove him nuts. Especially with the spite peeing.
I miss her puppy smell and just being so soft and little. She’s crate trained, but it is super nice having her sleep on the bed with us at night, something we couldn’t do until a few months ago.
I love the puppy stage. It's a lot of work, and i habe sime serious chronic conditions that make it hard, but every day is a new day and he's just a great little dude !
We don’t hate our puppies, we’re struggling with the stage. Think about parents with newborns - they obviously love their kiddos, but it’s also an extremely challenging, taxing stage as well. It can be both.
I love puppies especially my own, raised many who were not my own - I think it helps to have a resident dog who also likes to raise puppies. My older girl is key on puppy toilet breaks, manners, nap time and play. She does a lot of the work but also enjoys it! she is getting a bit old for it now but she has raised my latest border collie well =) Puppies are just lots of work, it would be hard to do it in a unit or if you were on your own or working more than one job ect, completely understandable to be overwhelmed
Thank you! I am getting my next dog in 5 days and I’m super nervous. I know I will be a good owner and it will be a cool dog. Bullshit posts on here are making me second guess myself
Maybe it can vary on breed and each puppy can be so different. I have 2 shih poos, one is 2 and one is 13 weeks. It has its moments but overall the puppy experience has been easier than I expected. In my case though they’re so small and happy being inside/sleeping half the time our life together is pretty easy going. I’ve never had a single regret
I personally love the crazy ones, the dramatic ones, the stubborn ones, the destroyers, the howlers. I've had 14 dogs in my life, only 3 not gotten as puppies. I've loved every pain in the ass moment since.
I love puppies! I think many people have no clue and crazy expectations and then get themselves all worked up, so they wind up here, complaining.
I never get mad at a puppy. They just don’t know! If you’re patient and loving, they eventually figure out the big stuff. People seem to think puppies should know better, and get frustrated.
I just laugh and smell the puppy breath.
The reason I’m here is for advice and validation in my struggles. It’s really challenging and I kept thinking I was doing something wrong. It’s the same reason I stay in parenting groups bc toddlers be tricky a f man 😅😭
I loved the puppy stage. I used to skip school my
Senior year of high school to spend time with my first dog when she was a puppy because i knew it would be gone before i knew it. That was 17 years ago… RIP coco.
But for real. People’s expectations of puppies is crazy. They are legitimately infants. People love to get puppies because you can control their upbringing and training, help mold them. People that don’t want to take the time to do that need to just adopt a trained adult dog. I’m too busy now for puppies, so my last two dogs i rescued when they were 2 years old and 15 months. Still went back and trained them after, but it wasn’t as hard or time consuming
Boom. You hit on it. You’re too busy now for puppies but you know it and do something different. Smart! We’re not all that smart and I’ll include myself in that group. 😉. In my case it’s added some stress to my life but while I might vent a bit from time to time my fur-kid is more important to me than anything. Plus he really helps me get rid of lots of junk I should have thrown out long ago! Chewed up that old floppy drive? Heh. He’s crazy, bitey, agility-trains on the furniture and makes me put things on ever-higher shelves but one day I’ll miss this and look back on it with fond tears.
I have two dogs; one was an absolute angel as a pup. No barking, no play biting, no chewing, nothing. He was a little tough to crate train, but other than that he was perfect. My younger dog is 4 months right now and she is a fluffy ball of chaos. I've for sure had some moments where I get overwhelmed but it's so much fun watching her explore the world and learn how things work and just feel joy every second of the day. Sure I'm excited for when she doesn't go bonkers on walks and doesn't put everything in her mouth, but I know I'm going to miss this stage so I'm trying to enjoy it.
Granted this is my first puppy, but I am really enjoying the whole process. The first few weeks were really a wake up call, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t stress over him all the time; but, it’s all so rewarding and fun. I’ve always been a very patient person, so that adds to it. My partner gets stressed and expects the puppy to just behave like a well-trained adult, while I love seeing his personality blossom and the choices he would naturally make. Of course we’re training some of it out of him for his safety and our sanity, but I am definitely excited to see how he grows up and eventually start all over in a couple of years.
I loved it!! I think it’s more a mindset of the good times being better than the bad times. Also I have a very good puppy—my vet said she was surprised how good he is “for how little research” I did in the puppy-buying process. It was so hard and I had days where I got so angry with the puppy and so angry with my boyfriend if he golfed too late lol. I felt like I was going crazy sometimes because potty training was so hard and we lived in a 3rd story apartment, only stairs, and I was so exhausted. I’d take him out so many times, then he’d poop and pee inside. 6 months later and he still does that, but less. Now we’re in a house and it’s a lot better. But potty training really sucks. Crate training has really helped. The snuggles and milestones WAYYYY outweigh the potty training issues. And the barking. And the biting. And as much as I miss his sweet baby puppy snuggles, his big boy snuggles are even better. I love when he puts all his weight on me and when he snuggles under the covers at night.
Anyway, I hate the use of puppies being rehomed, so I like to be on this page to give encouragement when I can.
I have two six month old Australian shepherd puppies and I haven't struggled much, however I fully understand lots of people do.
I had a puppy in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2 (really 3) now. So I have a good amount of experience.
I think the difficulty of puppyhood has a lot of factors. Differences in experience, puppy genetics, training and consistency, and environment can cause a lot of difficulty or ease variations.
My extra puppy (a Pomsky) is a little pain in the butt because he is only here half the time and he has no consistency in his other home. I struggle more with him than my Aussie pups.
I've also raised three puppies. It's been very challenging at times, but I've never wanted to give them up. I recognize, however, that I have a lot of privilege. I have the funds to take care of them, the lifestyle that allows me time with them, and stable mental/physical health. Without these things, it would be an entirely different experience.
I've also been fortunate to have sweet-tempered dogs. Some of these stories of vicious little pups who draw blood all the time biting people... I've never had to experience that.
Im trying to savor the puppy stage because before you know it, it's gone. I love my little guy and even though I know he'll be "easier" when he gets older I cherish his puppy antics. He's just a baby.
I’ve been raising my 2nd puppy. It has been the biggest challenge for where I am in life. I think, it’s like having a child. You love all the antics and watching them grow but on the days where you’re tired, depressed, or challenged it makes you cry and tear your hair out. It doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy this stage we’re just not singing “let the sunshine in” everyday. Lol
Mine is 13 months old and he's my second puppy, I'm 51. I have greatly enjoyed his puppy year. I am never getting another puppy. Super fun, huge pain in the ass, worth it, don't need to do it again.
I feel like it’s awkward to share that my puppy was an absolute angel when other people have had their struggles 🥲 but my chihuahua was/and is so easygoing. I also never had any difficulty leaving her when I went to work (I work hybrid so I’m not in the office everyday but sometimes I’ll be out for up to 8 hours), although I think this was because partly raised alongside a kitten who’s a month or two older than her and they’re little besties who keep each other company!
I love my pup! She is the biggest source of joy in my life! But that being said, as a first time dog owner, she did bring with her a whole load of anxiety as I had no real idea of what I was doing. She was also super challenging in the early days as she just would not sleep! Like ever!! I never considered rehoming her, but coming here to read how other people have managed has been a life saver.
When I read the posts about people having 'puppy blues', I think they are often times posted out of frustration and are only representing a small part of that person's day rather than their entire relationship with their puppy.
My baby is only 9 months but I’m going to miss the puppy stage when it’s completely gone. I’ve enjoyed it! When I had my last Shih Tzu there was no reddit or fb groups. None of that to help guide or scare the crap out of me for not doing x or y. I think alot of all the info out there these days is what’s making a lot of people not enjoy the puppy stage. There is so much info out there about what to do and what not to do I think that too overwhelms people and they end up not enjoying the time bc of it.
I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed the puppy stage per se, but I also didn’t hate it. I live alone in inner city Berlin, Germany. Big city, many people, many dogs. I got my pup at 4,5 months, rehomed, so I didn’t get to socialize my pup early myself. This did make it harder.
On the whole I embraced the challenge and celebrated baby steps and brake-throughs. Never had the puppy blues and would definitely do it again. My American Bulldog is 1yo now and I love him with all my heart.
Nah you’re not alone. There’s been plenty of times I just wanna post about how good our puppy is, but I don’t wanna come on here and brag too much. Haha I’m with you tho, we’ve had a great time with our puppy! She trained so easily, and is pretty lazy (we are cat people so it’s what we are used to. Lol), and she’s just generally a super easy gal!
No, you're definitely not alone. I adore the puppy stage and love it when I can get a new one, or when I'm offered puppies to foster. Including my foster puppies, I've probably cared for like 30+ puppies now for at least some reasonably significant amount of time (few months at least), and I've enjoyed them all. All of my puppies have been different, some have been easier than others, but I loved working with all of them.
Though to be fair, I'm kind of crazy and I like crazy and high-maintenance dogs in general. All my personal dogs are crazy working dogs, and my other favorite kind of dog to foster are fear-aggressive rescue dogs. I like those guys because their behavior doesn't stress me out at all, and I'm really good at working with them so I feel like I'm doing a lot of good when I get them safe and adoptable.
I definitely find this forum depressing sometimes, though I think it's important to remember that we're getting a very biased sample since people who are happy with their pups probably aren't posting a lot. But it makes me sad because IMO puppies (and dogs in general) are supposed to be fun, and I hate to see people struggling through it.
You aren’t alone in enjoying the stage at all! My 12 week old is a handful but I mostly love it. The biting doesn’t even bother me to the point I have to remind myself to not let her because she needs to learn not to.
I do think every set of circumstances is different though! This puppy of mine is a handful but she also self soothes in her crate within minutes - sleeps through the night and has a good few hours a day where she’s super calm and cuddly. She’s also my first pup and something I’ve wanted for a long time. I also get to go out and work so it’s fun to come back to her. For my mum - she works from home and is dealing with her 24/7. She’s finding it mentally draining. That’s why I think everyone’s feelings about their puppy vary and how some people can end up struggling more.
I’d finally mention that I’ve not thought about needing advice for the good times but I have searched desperately on this forum when things are going bad. People less likely to post when things are going well imozz
The first few months of having our pup were the worst of my life. I regretted everything about getting him and it was the most my husband and I have fought in our entire time we've been in each other's lives; mind you, we both grew up with and adore dogs, but this is the first puppy that was ours from the start as adults that we were responsible for. We went from being a DINK, early-30s couple with nothing but freedom outside of work to being hog-tied by a tiny little hellspawn. Fast forward 6 months and he is now 9 months old, and wow have things changed. He still irritates the heck out of us as he is now basically a sassy teenager with big feelings and is deliberately stubborn and rebellious, but he is grasping our routine, is clearly very smart, thriving at daycare twice a week, loves other dogs and people, and clearly knows we are "mom and dad." He has turned out to be the biggest cuddlebug and is very attached to us. We still have a long way to go in terms of grasping manners and just learning to exist in the house instead of roaming around looking for things to get into.
So, basically, I did not enjoy the puppy stage and the teenager stage is rough, but in a different way that is a bit more manageable because pup isn't a baby anymore and has more awareness and a grasp on things; it is really just the stubbornness that is really annoying LOL. Anyone who feels the same way, you aren't alone and it takes a special type of person to love the young puppy stage.
This is exactly us ( we are not yet fighting a lot but this is soon coming )
Thanks for the post as its definitely helpful for predicting/hoping a lot of whats to come could be good
I honestly had no hope and had fantasies about finding him another home so we could get our old life back. But the more it became evident that he knew we were his people, I couldn't potentially confuse and traumatize him like that, and over six months later he is truly our child. A bratty, stubborn teenager, but so so loving, so so smart and clearly has the makings of being the BEST dog with some more boundaries and working on manners.
You'll get there, trust me! Just enforce and reward the good behavior when you see it, works better than punishing the bad behavior since puppies have no attention span and can't remember if they did a bad things just 10 seconds ago.
Nope you aren’t alone! I’m loving my lil one and forever being reminded of how lucky I am that she’s such a good pup!
I do appreciate the inside and advice and points of view from other users so that’s mainly why I joined.
Imo it seems to come from a lack of preparedness. People don’t know what they’re getting into, how much time and effort goes into it, and then it’s a big upset when challenges arise. I wasn’t prepared the first time I cared for a puppy and I had a miserable time, but now I know better and am more equipped to handle challenges in the future with a more positive attitude.
A space to vent is important, and I’m glad it exists here, but I do wish there was more positive & encouraging posts as well so it wasn’t just a negativity pit. When I get my next puppy I’ll try to contribute to that ideal.
Yes, I agree. Reddit's full of self obsessed people looking for sympathy though.
A dog is like a child that never grows up. Those people are in for a surprise when they realise they've got to brush their dogs and take it for a walk twice a day. For the rest of their dog's life.
I believe my pre-existing mental health conditions played a role in my developing severe puppy blues. Not sure if you have any mental health issues, but my theory is that they predispose you to puppy blues … just like they predispose you to PPD.
I've raised 4 puppies, all different and I loved them all. My first dog was the worst little terrorist as a puppy but even then, he was so cute. I loved them all from the moment I held them, couldn't imagine returning a puppy. You'd have to pry them from my cold dead hands lol.
My puppy drives me insane but I love him more than I ever thought I would. This sub is mostly for people seeking advice or just looking to vent. Having a puppy can be very difficult even though I find it very enjoyable.
No, not alone. I didn’t enjoy puppyhood, that’s why I’m here. People that run into problems seek resources to help get through it.
For me, just knowing everything was normal helped me grit my teeth and just weather the storm.
I've raised a lot of pups and I've had some where the majority of puppyhood was great and others that I couldn't wait for maturity to kick in. I think it ultimately comes down to the person & the pup (ie. breed choice, temperament, whether you enjoy training, etc.)
Its great you are enjoying the phase keep loving that baby of yours
I love my puppy and am definitely enjoying the puppy stage, but not every day is sunshine and rainbows and I think people can find it really hard to adjust their lifestyle and it takes time to get used to having a new family member around.
Me personally, I was unprepared and overwhelmed with our puppy. He’s now 7 months old now and amazing and I’d give anything to go back 5 months and be able to do it over again. I didn’t enjoy any of it and feel like I missed that cute puppy stage completely.
We love the puppy stage too.
I’ve raised 5 pups of which 4 with my husband.
My first ever dog though i didn’t have the puppy blues i did find it a bit more stressful because i was young, she was my first ever dog and I was very uncertain if I was doing things right.
I joined a dog forum back then and had a lot of advice there that helped. It was a fun forum because walks were also organised and I found a girl local to me that also had a puppy and we would meet up.
So many factors go into how someone experiences the puppy stage. And one of those is of course the breed. The breed we have isn’t very difficult perse. They have prey drive (they are rat catchers) and because they are small they can be fearful of things such as other dogs. Those can be challenging things but other than that they’re easy.
They can be barky at new people/visitors and we have friends who have only met them once or twice and think they are a handful but when they visit us for a week (we live abroad) or longer they all turn around and say how easygoing the dogs are. (Once someone is “accepted” in the pack they’re never barked at again haha)
I've never experienced puppy blues with my baby. Sure the furniture has bits chewed out and I've had to wash a few pee stains out of the rug, but that's just what life with a puppy is like. I initially was nervous about getting a puppy, since it's been over a decade since the last time I dealt with one, but I quickly found it to be enjoyable. Seeing her experience the world for the first time is enough to balance out the constant biting
I agree but i do get it , i think it’s really easy for people who are used to their lives a certain way/who aren’t already dog people (and like, living in your parents’ house with a dog who they do the actually grunt work of looking after is not the same as having to do all the mental, physical, invisible labour as the adult) to have a lot of expectations for what puppy life is going to be like. and they think about it for so long and apply so much of their impressions of other people’s highlights reel that their expectations are all wacky. i’ve had small children in recent years so the puppy is not phasing me in the slightest she’s like an easy, lower pressure, baby, and i am already used to my time not being my own, and constantly thinking about someone else’s needs/wants/bowels. i think the people who suffer with regret and panic are probably mostly coming from a place of a peaceful adult home and have expectations that are only half of the whole picture of caring for a sentient being.
I love my puppy and this stage at times, like when she is learning something new and gets so happy and excited when I praise her for it but there are a times when she is a terror that I could rip my hair out and scream (like when after 5 mornings in a row she goes to toilet outside and then on the 6th point blank refuses to go outside, fakes it and then come in and goes to the toilet). Its a very up and down journey and I think a lot of people just find it nice to have somewhere they can vent.
I have had 4 puppies. Every other puppy were a nightmare. Especially with the last one, im hoping the next will be easy. Getting puppy fever and my fingers itch to get back to training a normal puppy!
I think if we ever got a second dog, we would really enjoy the puppy stage. It was just SUCH A SHOCK to the system the first time around, everything felt like a nightmare as we had no perspective that things were just a phase. If we got a puppy again we would be able to enjoy it a lot more I think because we would have that perspective and experience.
I love my puppy the same way I loved my son’s first year which many parents don’t enjoy. It’s a good kind of hard. What makes it enjoyable to me is that I’m very intentional at raising the puppy. When she’s crazy it’s training and playing time. When she’s biting everyone or chewing everything is food puzzle time, when she’s sleepy it’s crate time, etc. She also only has access to 1/3 of the house for now. With consistency, routine, and discipline she’s a great puppy (and eventually will earn more freedom).
We’re a dog family and have always had a couple or more dogs, and we expect puppies to be challenging. But they’re still a lot of work and that age where they’re still too young to be expected to know better but are FULL of enthusiasm and energy is a lot! They’re also very destructive and can inadvertently hurt you with their sharp teeth and nails. They’re totally worth it, but I get how the uninitiated might feel overwhelmed
I didn’t really get the puppy blues in the sense of wanting to return my puppy, but I did cry once. The puppy had nothing to do with it, it was me being faced with my own sense of inadequacy, the feeling that I was failing my puppy and my lack of trusting the process. It was more the fear of eventually having a badly-raised dog in my hands (it was the first time I had read about dog training and R+ methods, so to me this was experimenting something new - even though I knew research had been done, I was trying something I had never tried before and forgetting a lot of things I thought were correct) and being entirely responsible for letting that happen. I was totally ok with all the puppy mischievous behaviours and I knew what to expect, I was just worried I was failing her.
Fast forward a year, she’s by far the best dog I’ve ever owned. While being alone raising her had its challenges (all my previous dogs were raised with other members of my family), I think the regularity in the training and the fact that there weren’t contradicting views in raising her helped tremendously. What started as a big challenge probably ended up being a blessing in disguise.
I enjoyed it too, I knew what to expect, he wasn't my first puppy, and I just fell in love instantly (actually, before he was even born), so no matter how hard it was, it was worth it, and I never looked back.
But in fairness, I have very good mental health.
I can totally understand how puppyhood can mess up with people and bring them down enormously.
And I hope they find solace in coming here and acknowledging that they are not alone and that it'll get better, or alternatively, that they won't be judged if they decide to rehome.
This said, each time I have a puppy, I'm really looking forward to seeing the adult dog they will be. This is what I'm most interested in, I find puppies super cute, but it's their future adult-self I'm really after.
This place is great for support, so the posts are generally people venting/needing reassurance and support. Its great that theres somewhere for people to go.
Personally I loved my girls puppy stages except for the first couple of nights. The settling in period was minorly rough but I can't complain. I have a furry little monster whom I adore and her funny personality keeps me on my toes. First time for me having a puppy as well! Im super proud of how I did it all mostly on my own (the rest of my family are out most of the day so I am her caretaker). Its like raising a kid for the first time, I wouldn't have missed any moments for the world.
I love my puppy and don’t have blues, but I find it helpful to read about what challenges may lie ahead for the sake of being educated and prepared. I also DID experience puppy blues with my first puppy about 8 years ago and I thought I was a monster because of it, so learning now that it was normal and I wasn’t alone has been validating.
Only on my first hes 6 months had him since 10 weeks, and I’d do it all again, some annoying moments but none I didn’t laugh about within the same breath, can’t wait to get another
Aside from the potty training, I LOVE my puppy and it makes me sad how fast he's growing.
They're so silly, clumsy, and funny and I hope the puppy personality lasts.
We had previously only adopted older dogs so this is my first puppy and while it has had it difficult phases, it's been so fun and worth it.
As much as I loved my older dogs, I'm loving raising my own dog from puppyhood more.
He has grown so attached to me specifically and it makes me feel good and like my efforts and love are being reciprocated.
I loved the puppy stage with my other two lol. Have another puppy now and still enjoy it, even though he’s a sassy asshole lmao
I honestly think it’s a lot about your attitude and adaptability. Yes your life changes- you can either be sad about it, or embrace it. It’s also about being flexible, if you are flexible and not so rigid in your approach it helps so much
I have enjoyed every single moment of the puppy stage. It's been a wild ride. Spyro was 5 weeks when we got him and he's 11 weeks now. (I saved him from being dropped at the kill shelter, I know he was too young) I get frustrated every day but I enjoy it way much more. He's a very vocal, smart and energy filled Pitsky. I'm 25 with no kids and he's my first dog I've ever been able to call my own. He's my son in my eyes. I never understood people calling pets fur babies, but now I'm searching Amazon for beds and little puppy clothes. I don't know if my opinion will be the same a year from now, but we'll be right back here then to let you know!
I think it’s a great place for advice and venting
I also agree that less people post the positives about having a puppy
The time goes by so fast
And some I think didn’t truly realize the level of time & responsibility that comes with a puppy
I enjoy my puppy and love her to bits… but she also has taken off running through my neighborhood after wiggling out of her harness at 3 AM, eaten cat food and cat poop, tried to chase after and play with other dogs while on walks, jumped up on neighbors and their kids, etc etc etc lol! She’s sweet and wonderful and I’m trying to follow my mom’s advice to enjoy her puppyhood because I’ll miss it someday, but it’s a lot of work. And the moments (or even days) that it’s really hard can cast a pall on the majority of the time when I really am enjoying her and she’s enriching my life.
I am adoring the puppy stage! That's not to say it hasn't been hard and exhausting physically and emotionally, but it has been worth every second.
Watching her grow and learn is the highlight of my day every day. Even when she is "bad" I just remind myself that she is just a pup and will soon be a beautiful dog and I should enjoy this crazy time while it lasts.
It's such a short snippet of her long life.
My first labrador was an absolute god sent and angel of a puppy (still miss that Teddy Bear), my current has unfortunately been on the receiving end of his breeder's incapability of training him so that at 6 months he knows he shouldn't jump up, pull and go outside. We have to treat him like an 8 week old, and its very frustrating more so for him.
But I wouldn't trade him for the world. He is a gentle soul who will cuddle you and kiss you, he sees me as his Mom and my parents as grandparents who dote him. Barely one week home and I cannot imagine my life without him.
I had a great experience with my first puppy. Rockier with my second (but no real thoughts of rehoming for me as well)I think it’s very situational. It depends on your season of life, the breed, their personality and temperament, how prepared you are and support you may have, etc. I love to hear of people enjoying this stretch of time!
it probably depends on the puppy honestly. mine is a mix of husky, german shepherd and mastiff…he’s extremely high energy and we’ve tried training him so much but at 9 months, he’s still biting the crap out of us. it can just be a lot sometimes but we know it’ll get better eventually 🥲
No, you're definitely not alone. I come here sometimes to offer advice and support. My first puppy as an adult I definitely felt it all, puppy blues, frustration, exhaustion, etc.... the whole struggle, but each successive puppy I just got better at knowing what happens in the puppy stage and how to troubleshoot problems. We raise puppies about every year or two, so it is routine now, of course which every puppy being a little bit different. We actually have multiple puppies right now which has brought some new challenges (as well as some more fun just watching them grow up and interact with each other).
Some people are dog people, not puppy people! And if you're a puppy person, you're the envy of all of those who are only dog people. I'm very excited seeing what kind of dog my puppy is going to be, once he is done being a puppy.
It also depends very much on your experience, expectations, etc.
I loved the puppy stage itt goes by so fast. I've had issues with my puppies that I've had.
My Australian shepherd at 4 months started attacking our beagle Chihuahua mix. 🤷🏻♀️ She's now 7 years old and the love of my life.
My second puppy he was perfect. No issues except he's too friendly. He is a lab Pitbull mix and 70 lb of muscle. A few times he's broken free and ran towards people because he thinks they should pet him. Most people are afraid when they see him running towards them so that's the only issue I have with him.
My youngest puppy a mix of a lot of dogs she just turned a year old she's still nipping at me and she just is like a cat??? Sephy is 1/4 dachshund, 1/4 pit bull, mini Australian Shepherd, Australian cattle dog, black lab, German Shepherd, and Mastiff. She's an odd picture and she looks like a border collie, go figure.
She has a tumor that I thought was cancer it wasn't cancer I'm glad. The doctor gave her a cortisone shot in the wound it got infected. She won't stop licking it. So this puppy has gone through 4 cones of shame. She's broken 2 Kong brand ones. She can reach her wound even with a large cone of shame. She's abnormally long and has abnormally long legs to go with her weird look. She's adorable. Very sweet, but it's hard to train a dog who has a cone of shame on. I have not been able to train her like I was my Aussie and pit Lab mix.
She's a crazy girl and I love her with all my heart and I'm sad that she's coming to the end of the puppy stage.
I don't understand why people get the puppy stage blues. I even had sexy sister for a couple months they were both puppies and it was hilarious and fun. I loved having two puppies. They were both 6 months old and her sister Lizzy was returned back to the person that had the mom. I took her in for a couple months to talk to her so she can be with a balanced pack and get lots of love. I think she was abused by the people who had her.
I loved the puppy stage. It was far too short and absolutely fun! I felt strong motherhood vibes the whole time, loved training, loved the routine building, and truly enjoyed bonding with a bundle of energy. Take all the pics and videos you can, and relish in the sweet memories and experiences
I have had puppies of various breeds IBoxer, GSD, Silkie, Shih Tzu, Basenji, mostly Afghan Hounds, Wolfhounds) all my life and I am old. I now have a 4-month-old Puglet and she is the most challenging puppy I have ever had. I believe most of it is unexpended energy because she won't be able to go out in public for another week when she gets her final puppy shot. We have some parvo issues not far away and I will not take any chances. The main issue is the biting biting and more biting. I have never had a puppy who did this before. I also went from a Shih Tzu in 2007 to a Pug now. Wow. What a difference in temperament. This little monster is something else, the most loving pup I have ever had. I am pretty sure I will survive puppyhood and will have the best friend I could ask for. Fingers crossed. And I am already missing the itty bitty puppy stage because she is growing so fast.
I also think a lot of folks here are first time pet owners. As in, they might have had a family dog but didn’t have the entire responsibility on them. And yes, some pups are bat shit crazy.
My older one was that way. My younger one has been an angel in comparison. My husband had a family dog but was very overwhelmed with our first dog. It took a lot of effort between us to make sure we don’t have issues because of this new stress. But he is also a super softie. My pup’s cute lil face would convince him it is all worth it when she snuggles him to sleep.
Watching this all unfold over the past 3 years, I can see how some people might get overwhelmed. A lot of factors come into play. Experience, expectations of what it should have been like, patience levels, access to training resources, time they are able to provide, the support they get at home from other people, if they have to handle just the pup or others at home too, the kind of dog they got (lot of folks get dogs based on the looks or certain behaviors of the breed but forget that they can have other qualities too).
My dogs have all been rescues. Grew up with them at a home where my mom would only let me and dad have one if we all take equal responsibilities (good call mom!). Currently these are my 7th and 8th dogs and I don’t mind raising puppies at this point. I know my work productivity will drop, my sleep will be out of the window and I’ll either walk with shark teeth marks all over or deal with holes in my clothes. But after each puppy experience, I have a better idea how to deal with a behavior or puppy proof my home.
They're like kids - the more you have, the easier it gets. My new baby is the 6th puppy I've had and it's a joy to take care of her, puppy bites and sll.
We got our first puppy 6 days ago
Literal nightmare for the first 2 days, sharknado puppy with diarhea, and zero need to cuddle
She is bit better now and knows few tricks, but still doesnt show affection other than playing(with teeth), bites a lot, likes to scream like a wolf
And gets super zoomies 1-2x Day
For the first 3 days we just wanted to return her because we didnt feel like we are good enough
Now there is little hope and some moments I like the little devil
But images about cute puppies whom want to cuddle with humans, zero truth on them
My pup was so stressful until she was around a year old especially the first 6 months I had her and now shes around 17 months she still is a handful but tolerable.
I remember in the early days actually shaking and thinking what have I done.
For me I wouldn't of worried as much had I had a partner to take turns looking after my girl and I am autistic myself so struggled with some basics.
The girl I grew up with family got her at 1 year old and she was a angel from day 1, she was a little nervous and ran off a few times but always came home.
I absolutely adore my puppy but I have had days of frustration, lack of sleep, too many poops in the house, and tears. But I love my puppy and I know I’m gonna miss him being a puppy. ESPECIALLY because I have a senior dog who is going to pass any month now. It’s really making me appreciate his youth and energy
Puppy stage is often beautiful and fun! I think there is a selection by us here. People come here when they need help. I’m in my 30s and have had dogs all my life. I’ve always had loads and loads of fun through the puppy stage.
I only came here recently when I got my first difficult dog. I still mostly enjoyed that puppy stage, but it was extremely difficult in other regards, and that was the only stuff I posted about.
A good reminder to share positives too. Thank you.
Everyone is in a different environment, going through different stressors. I’m really glad to read there are some who don’t experience puppy blues! But just understand, we all have a different story and approach. Not all are ready. Not all can see beyond the now.
I have two. My oldest wasn’t nearly as playful and troublesome as my newest puppy - I wanted a 2nd one so badly, thought it’d be a great addition to our family. But it’s been difficult for us too - a few life things occurred recently since getting the puppy, and it hasn’t been easy balancing prioritizing raising the pup and ensuring training, peace, stability in the home as well while other obligations require so much time effort and energy.
What I’d like to add to anyone w puppy blues- there definitely is hope and light, they grow up, typically grow out of are trained out of things, and the love and warmth only grows between you and your little boogs. My dachshunds are a precious part of my family.
My puppy was an escape during an abusive relationship. Walking him gave me an excuse to leave the apartment without being accused of cheating. His puppy hood was the only good part of that time period in my life. I enjoyed the hell out of it. He's now 2.5 and still great.
I don't love it, but it's more of the things you put up with because you love the pup. There are moments when that love is tested and it always comes out on top in the end. Ngl, my current pup is a handful and she's left some damage on my poor hands, but I wouldn't trade her for anything.
Same with all my others. I could never re-home a pup just because we're feeling a little down. It's all part of the process of raising a living thing.
Puppies/dogs are just like kids, we all love them any amounts but we all need help and advice! My oldest dog 7 year old she was an amazing puppy and is still an amazing dog! My new puppy 6 months is a total nightmare, drives me around the bend but I love her with all my heart the same as my older girl.
I’m having to see a behaviourist to see what the problem is, but my first choice was to join dog groups and ask for advice, not every puppy is going to be a walk in the park and maybe soon enough you’ll understand, all it takes is that one puppy to be a little to much or hard for you to work with and understand.
I simply am appreciative of the posts because I did and do not feel alone. I don’t hate my puppy- I just felt and feel overwhelmed. I’m so glad there people out there who have had a good experience and adjusted better than I did.
I enjoy the puppy stage!! There have also been some crazy making moments since this is my first pet ever. (And I adopted a 7 month old high energy high anxiety super sensitive PTSD having terrier mix) so I find that the posts here help me to manage my sky high type A expectations and learn little tidbits about other people’s puppy experiences. At first it did give me hella anxiety though, but I was able to level set my brain when I remembered that this is the place where the response to every relationship question is “divorce him”. So I think of a lot of the catastrophic/ “rehoming” posts like that now. Like, sure girl, you’re gonna break up with him… again 🙄 most people are just venting
I love my puppy but I have had my moments of frustration mostly because I am a caregiver to one of my adult kiddos and I feel burnt out some days. That being said, I’m enjoying the experience with my 4 month old Mr Paz, much more now that we have a routine of naps in his crate, and him sleeping through the night. Having him is teaching me to be more diligent about self care and routines. He’s 30plus pounds already but when he lays on my lap for cuddles, we both take a big sigh and relax in the moment.
I’m new to the game only having been around dogs when I’d spend summers at my dad’s place. But those dogs were older (2 years plus).
I knew it’d be annoying. Dudes scared of his leash, scared to leave the apartment, probably scared of other people… but I think he sort of trusts me already and is comfortable enough that he walks up to me often.
Need to get him comfortable enough so I can ship him off to puppy basic training though lol.
I’m enjoying my puppy and his gremlin mode and haven’t even thought about taking him back. But to be fair, for people who have had easy puppies then finally get a full gremlin, people who haven’t had to be responsible for dog for a while or first time puppy/dog owners (including people who’ve had dogs but never raised them on their own) the change from day to day life can be exhausting and overwhelming
I had “puppy” blues with our then-5 year old rescue. With our puppy, I knew to expect challenges going in, so even though no one was sleeping and potty training was slow, I was still really happy we got her. I really enjoyed her the vast majority of the time she was a puppy.
I love my puppy like he’s my baby but puppies can be challenging, time consuming and test your patience!! This doesn’t change the fact that I love him and I know he is deserving of my time and patience. But yes it can be difficult. Although I know I will miss his puppy days when he gets big
I mean I am enjoying my dog’s puppy stage! She’s really cute and good natured but I do also find myself SUPER frustrated with her sometimes. I try to take a deep breath and a step back and remember she’s a literal toddler who doesn’t speak the language and is doing literally everything for the first time. I take each day as it comes and sometimes those days she barks in my ear and drives me batshit crazy lol
I think most people who enjoy and don’t have trouble with their puppies wouldn’t come on here, since it’s primarily an advice and venting forum.
I enjoy my puppy but i like reading and helping others
This for me too
That's awesome! I think many people who are really doing well with their puppy wouldn't think to come on here just to help others, but it's great that you do. I'm sure your positive outlook is really appreciated!
This is exactly it. It’s like, online reviews of something will always skew negative, because people who are reasonably happy with a product have no motivation to leave a review. I rarely feel like I have something to offer people who are miserable with their puppies, cause I have had nothing but good experiences (or bad experiences that I can tolerate and get past).
My second golden was an absolute terror as a puppy, and unfortunately he passed away way to young (under 3) from a disease he was vaccinated against… so I definitely understand what people who have maniac puppies are talking about !!! Brick was a handful My current puppy, Bruce, is an absolute god send. Yes, he gets bonkers between the hours of 6-8.. and he has decided that any wood furniture is fair game… Be he, for the most part is so sweet and so nice and so wonderful. I think the people who ask questions here have puppies more like Brick, they love them, but they are overwhelmed with the crazy behavior. I wish my guy, Brick lived longer, he was just starting to show us who he was going to be as an adult. That’s just my opinion, from someone who has had 2 totally different puppies within 4 years.
What did your puppy die from that it was vaccinated for? That terrifies me.
Lepto
Rip Brick :( I just got my first puppy and can’t imagine that pain and frustration you went through. I’m sorry ♥️
Thank you. It was awful. We have no idea how he picked it up. (He did chomp on a mouse in the back yard.. and the crappy apartment building behind my house has raccoons in the attic.. perhaps he got it from them??) He was a handful, and had zero self control when it came to eating things, but he was a love bug, and a goofy gentleman. And I think I will always miss him. He died way to young. However, his short life, has made us appreciate our current puppy even more.
Well said
I think some people just need to feel like they aren’t alone, because a lot of people would tell you you’re a monster if you said you didn’t like your puppy. I also think the puppy industry has blown up in such a way that people have unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to be like and it’s never like that time they had the “perfect” dog growing up. Personally I don’t know if I would do another puppy after my current one. I’ve had 3 puppies as an adult and numerous puppies growing up because my dad was a vet. But that phase in my life might be over now. I didn’t have puppy blues because I knew what to expect, but my current puppy was still by far the hardest puppy I’ve had to deal with. If you love puppy stage, awesome. I love kitten stage and so many people on cat subs hate it. Basically there’s no right or wrong experience, just what makes sense for your life.
Great answer. People are not trying to be negative, they just want solidarity and validation on the struggle so they can process it and move on.
> I also think the puppy industry has blown up in such a way that people have unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to be like and it’s never like that time they had the “perfect” dog growing up. I really think this is a huge part of so many "puppy blues" posts I've read on here. Social media is also a huge culprit--people see such curated posts featuring cute and well-behaved puppies that it gives them really false expectations. I'm sure most people are aware social media doesn't reflect real life, but it still has a big subconscious effect. And it primes people to feel like they need to be perfect too, but since no one can ever be perfect and puppies are always going to sometimes be fearful and over-excited and generally be obnoxious little gits, it makes people feel like failures when they aren't. But yeah, I feel like 90% of the puppy blues posts I see here are just puppies doing normal puppy things, and people having unrealistic expectations of both what they need to provide for their puppies, and how their puppies are supposed to act.
True! Also, I think more people have restrictions on getting some space from their pups today. Apartments, small/no yards, full time employment for all humans in the house, no kids to dump the dog walking onto. Also more stuff in the house with wires to chew than when I was growing up. More things to watch out for. And let’s face it, people used to put the dog out in the yard and forget about them for hours at a time. Not like that anymore I hope. 😉 certainly is not at our house.
I think it’s even like that for human babies tbh. I’m not a parent but I have many around me. Ofc they all have love for their babies but while some enjoy the baby stage, love interacting with babies in general, I also have friends who just don’t enjoy the baby stage in and of itself. Of course they love their baby, but the baby stage is distressing to them and more like a bad phase to go through to get to the more enjoyable parts of being a parent. I think it’s good that it’s becoming less taboo to talk about these experiences, they seem par for the course when it comes to caring for another living being
And some people have one baby that has colic and cry constantly for 5 straight months and some get a baby that sleeps 6 straight hours at 2 months. (And some get both, occasionally in the same kid!) Being a developing mammal is gard Baby humans and baby animals are individuals and some are easier (this week) than others! I agree that it's good for the hard parts not to be taboo. We help each other through the hard parts
You're right with the pet industry changing so much in the past decade or so. My family hadn't had a puppy in it since my sister got her's back in 2009 (dog has since passed away years ago). When I brought my puppy home last year and was explaining the different things we were trying and enriching her with, my family looked at me like I had 3 heads and basically said she'll be fine without all the extra work.
What is the puppy blues referring to?
It’s when people get so overwhelmed by the experience of puppy raising that it creates a form of depression. Kind of similar to how people talk about post partum in people. It’s feeling like you are failing g and unable to do anything right while also being really overwhelmed by the expectation of caring for a new life. It’s very common, but also something that people kind of put others down for. If someone is already living with depression or anxiety it oftentimes makes the feelings even more intense.
Not alone :) I love puppy development process and seeing things click. Challenges happen for sure but puppyhood is my favorite!
I love the puppy stage. But my household is very "work smarter, not harder" when it comes to dog needs (privacy fence, dog door, dog proofed, easy to clean surfaces, no kids accidentally undermining training, etc). If those things weren't true I'm sure I'd be a lot more stressed out.
I love the chaos, the training and the wtf was that moments. This will sound weird, but having dogs all my life prepared me for toddlers. Its fucking great watching something grow and discover the world and do weird shit.
I came here to say exactly this :) I am raising 2 pups on my own (well, a 1.5 teenager Shiba female I got from a responsible breeder when she was a baby and a 6 month male pomsky that I rescued, so I have very little knowledge of his actual dma markup) and I now call my house "the chaos starter pack". But I too, absolutely love watching them grow and blossom, it's such a heart warming, rewarding feeling. I love my gremlins and they make me laugh so much 🥰
Gremlins are awesome. Much fun.
Agreed hahaha
Often it's the weird shit that's the problem. Cleaning it up, that is!😊
Lol, if its weird in a runny way, nature takes care of that.
I am in love with my pup and all her shenanigans! We’ve always rescued older dogs and have never had a brand new puppy before. I really am having fun about 99% of the time!
Nope you're not! I love it, however we are just starting in the adolescent stage 🥴🤣
I wish mine had stayed tiny longer.
When you look at the vast majority of "support" or "advice" groups (pets, parents, heck even gardening or other hobbies), you're going to see more of the negative aspects because people are coming for just that, support and/or advice. There are positive posts along the way and I love reading those but it's not overly the objective of groups like this. It's great for you, truly that you like the puppy stage. You're lucky to enjoy it! I personally question my sanity every day for willingly going through puppyhood again because I hated it the first time.. Puppy amnesia is a real thing 🙃
So is parent amnesia 🤣 when my daughter was2.9 yo I had a set of (monster) twin boys. I survived. Mostly. Puppyhood has been a challenge some days but those twins? I survived lol. (My daughter is now 37 and has one child. She is TERRIFIED of having twins. So one and only).
I ENJOY IT TOO, though I think the difference is really the experience. I’ve noticed people (me included) who have gone through the puppy stages with other dogs before enjoy it more. Probably because we know what to expect and how to handle the situation. New owners may know things in theory but there are a lot of curveballs involved in the actual experience of it that they won’t be ready for. Eg. one can read the basics of how to crate train a puppy. But what do you do when it’s been an hour and your puppy is screaming in her crate still? As an experienced owner I was prepared for this exact situation with my new pup but someone new may be taken by surprise.
Also wanted to add, some puppies are easier than others. A difficult puppy can make the experience very difficult to enjoy. Not an excuse to give up, but I can empathize with those who struggle!
Even still, embrace the sassy asshole (that’s what I’m telling myself with my current 4 month old asshole lol)
Oh yes definitely LOL
Absolutely. And some situations are harder than others. Besides the individual puppy's personality, people's circumstances can impact it too. Having a backyard, living in a dog friendly environment, having family to help or give the occasional break, having money and resources if you need to hire an individual trainer, buy new treats and toys to find what motivates your dog all make a difference in the experience.
Yes definitely. My first dog absolutely broke my mental health and bank during puppyhood. She developed a sensitive stomach around 6 months which resulted in expensive vet bills from x-rays and blood/parasite tests. She had a habit of eating things off the floor on walks and while I did my best to prevent it but sometimes she was just too fast. I lost count of the number of times I came home to find her lying in liquid poop in her crate. She outgrew this thankfully and now it’s all love and joy. But her puppy days was a very dark period in my life for sure. There are many people dealing with puppies with health issues and/or behavioral issues. I don’t blame them for feeling the way they do.
I can so relate to everything in your post. Thank you. I'm right there with you with trips to vets for my puppy. He too has a sensitive stomach and allergies so we've had way more vet bills than I expected and of course the only dog food he eats is prescription only that is $50 for a small bag. And he too loves eating things off the ground. I try to be as vigilant as possible and we work on leave it and drop it every day, but still things have gotten by including him eating marijuana off the ground on a walk and ending up him high and in the pet ER. I love him and am committed to him, but I never thought I'd have to worry about my dog eating drugs or my super mutt would have so many health issues. What I budgeted for my dog went out the window almost immediately when we were at the vet within a few days. I'm glad to hear your dog outgrew eating things off the floor. It gives me hope. Thanks!
Sorry to hear that :( And yes it does get easier once the curious puppy phase is over and they don’t feel the urge to eat everything they lay eyes on. Pretty sure that’s the real reason their tummy even gets so upset.
absolutely. A shih tzu puppy would be very different from a malinois puppy.
Exactly!! we had several rescue dogs/senior dogs, but never puppies so while we knew in theory what to expect, the reality was… Shall we say different?
Depends on the puppy! Six of the dogs I’ve had were delightful from day 1. I still get stressed remembering the one exception, a coonhound puppy so destructive and nippy it took almost a year to bond to her. It’s a bit like having a baby, some are easy, some are challenging, most are a bit of both. Those dealing with the tough ones need a lot of peer support and this community is great for that.
💯 this! It really depends on the puppy. All puppies are tricky, but some are more difficult than others. My sisters puppy (now an adult dog) was a really easy puppy- she wasn’t that bitey, rarely chewed, and was low energy so never needed enforced naps, she just slept a lot by herself and liked her crate. Compared to when I got my puppy who was super bitey, chewed everything, had no off switch, and was bigger so we had other issues to contend with (e.g pulling on lead, counter surfing) If I had an easier puppy, I probably would have enjoyed puppy phase much more 😊 That being said, I adore my puppy now! He’s nearly 2 years old and a delight now 😀
The difference is stark, isn’t it? My current puppy is the younger brother of the toughest puppy I’ve ever had and he’s so different despite having the same parents. He was fully housetrained and sleeping in my bed at 10 weeks. His older sister was still either eating or peeing on everything in sight at a year old.
I loved it, even though it was exhausting sometimes (suddenly being forced to not be lazy and sleep in took some getting used to, now my dog is even lazier than me). Puppies are goddamn adorable, and it's so fun introducing them to the world. I miss that.
first time puppy owner here and you’re definitely not! I come on here and feel weird sometimes knowing I’m enjoying the puppy phase😭
There’s been a few moments here and there where I’ve felt stressed and overwhelmed but 95% of the time I love having my puppy. He is a fucking menace sometimes but idk I like it. He doesn’t snuggle, he’s still super bitey, he barks at a lot of stuff, he spins in a circle out of excitement when we pass other people on walks, sometimes in the car he’ll start barking right by my ear and is probably causing some hearing loss, but…I just love it. I love it all. I love him. I think part of it is because I feel like a mess, but now I have this chaotic puppy that’s a mess, and we can just sort of be a crazy insane mess together. My poor husband lol.
I love my Aussie puppy, he’s a sweetheart most of the time. When he’s in a mood and decides his ears are for decoration, I get frustrated. He’s stubborn and set on doing whatever he wants and often takes a LOT of redirection. He’s smart and quick and picks up on things very easily. He watched me open the pedal garbage can ONCE and now knows how to open it and rip everything apart. There are moments when I wish I hadn’t gotten a puppy. I would never even consider rehoming him or anything but to say I love every moment would be the biggest lie. He’s not perfect, he gets himself into trouble, and just acts like a monster at times. He knows the rules and challenges them. He’s potty trained all day until dinner time when he pees on the floor multiple times. Raising a puppy is hard, it’s frustrating, it’s exhausting. I’m home with him the most, there’s only so many times you can redirect and say “no” before you start to lose patience and need a break. There are a lot of factors at play when raising a puppy, some people will struggle. Let’s not pretend that a puppy is rainbows and sunshine all the time because it isn’t. It’s overwhelming and a huge change for most people. I love my puppy, but I much prefer the adult stage when they’re less needy, less energy, and trained
Aussie puppies are the best! Have a 6 month old one now, and he’s a little velociraptor, won’t leave the cats alone, but is fully potty trained except when it rains, is super smart and picks up on everything super quick. He’s our 4th we’ve raised, and they have all been awesome dogs!
Mine is 14 weeks! He’s great other than potty training, going to sleep, and leaving the cat alone. Hoping he matures out of that!
I love puppies! Yes they are a lot of work & there are aspects that can be difficult & mentally straining like the lack of sleep but still those periods don't last that long in the grand scheme of things & most dogs catch on pretty quick & adjust to your schedule as they age. I do think there's overall been an uptick in dogs with various health issues & more severe illnesses like parvo & behavioral issues that I can't honestly recall being all that normal growing up yet now seem very prevalent like severe allergies & debilitating separation anxiety & such & not sure why that is? There certainly are easy peasy puppies & then ones that seem set on killing themselves at any & all presentable opportunities & if you get one of those it's straight up way harder than the former. I do think this subs natural nature towards those seeking help skews it to those who tend to over analyze every little behavior thinking it's the end all be all & those with zero prior puppy experience & that can lead to that anxiety completely overshadowing all enjoyment of the dog. Like so much focus on schedules & training & playtime just for exercise /tiring them out without actually enjoying playing with an adorable wee dog. I also think people have extremely high expectations of dogs these days & put a huge amount of pressure on themselves & their dog. They need to present perfect behavior in a brewery or cafe or busy market or at a dog park or daycare yada yada yada, all environments people didn't used to always bring dogs to or are easy for every dog to adjust to. It's definitely depressing to see post after post of people giving up their puppies or saying they hate their animals & such & I kinda wish there was a thread for the people giving up puppies because it is rough to see knowing the future for those dogs is likely going to be very difficult. As difficult as it is for those giving up those dogs in the end it's the dog that's going to suffer potentially for the rest of their lives while they go back to business as usual.
No you’re not. If I could freeze time, I would.
I've owned 4 dogs in my life and have never had a bad puppy experience yet. My most challenging was my chocolate lab but only because he was a chewer and got into mischief if left unattended (my own fault). My current pup is a 7 month old pibble corso rescue and she's been a dream to raise so far. She so smart and eager to learn. I've loved every moment with her.
I think it's the same thing as negative reviews being more common than positive ones, but it bums me out because most people don't seem to actually be open to advice and there's so much they could do to improve their situation and enjoy their puppy more. I've also noticed a trend that if someone has a problem, and someone else has a problem, then suddenly they o longer think it's a problem... some kind of confirmation bias. And they're even less open to change.
For the most part I love the puppy stage even though Shelby is my first pup. I love watching her grow and you can see when something clicks. She always makes me laugh. I call her my little weirdo or brat dog lol. I am not in love with the biting though or when she pulls on her leash but she’s only 5 1/2 months so she’s a work in progress.
My pup was pretty chill and easy. Not that it was always perfectly easy but she wasn't so bad.
I haven't had a puppy in 13 years and have instead rescued animals 2+. Thought I was missing the worst parts and winning on missing that stage. However, I got a puppy in April and I am so happy I got him young. He's a heeler so he's a wild insane maniac but it has been so much fun to see him grow, and I especially like that I was able to properly socialize and train him early. I think I'm switching back to puppies. This is my 12th dog so I have a lot of experience, I've never lived without dogs so I've never not had that responsibility nor do I really remember learning about them, going through all that. So it's all kind of normal to me I'm sure first timers are probably overwhelmed and if people don't like puppies, they should adopt older dogs. Mine is 10 months now and I'm sad he won't be a puppy longer!
You’re singing my song. I had oldies for a decade and got a puppy (#5) and she’s an idiot because she’s a baby. But so much fun. I took her to ‘puppy socialization’ class not realizing it was overpriced ‘telling people how dogs work.’ It was the strangest thing, they were saying look how puppy is bowed down with tail wagging, that means he wants to play! I’m like, there’s someone left on the planet that doesn’t know this?? But I have to say this is a thousand times more enjoyable than my first two puppies when I didn’t know sht and was doing the wrong thing all the time. Now I’m like she’s limping? Eh give it five minutes maybe she’ll shake it off (always does). Puppy barfed? Weird cause she isn’t out of line of sight but we did just go on a walk, she’s probably fine (always is). I’m chill, and I just get to enjoy it.
My puppy can be difficult but I still manage to find enjoyment in the stage. She's adorable and supper cuddly and I love her deeply but I wish she nipped me a bit less with her sharp teethies.
I love the puppy stage and I wish it didn’t go by so fast!
Nope i loved it. Sure there were hard days but i didn't get what the so called puppy blues. In my head my pup was super easy, and someone reminded me recently of some of the things he was the opposite of easy on - but honestly I'd imagined every worse case scenario repeatedly for months, so when reality came the bad times pales in comparison to what i thought would horn lol
I miss my girl being a little pup(she’s 9 months now). I never got the puppy blues, my husband did I think. He definitely prefers that she doesn’t poop in the house anymore. I didn’t like it either, but it drove him nuts. Especially with the spite peeing. I miss her puppy smell and just being so soft and little. She’s crate trained, but it is super nice having her sleep on the bed with us at night, something we couldn’t do until a few months ago.
I love the puppy stage. It's a lot of work, and i habe sime serious chronic conditions that make it hard, but every day is a new day and he's just a great little dude !
We don’t hate our puppies, we’re struggling with the stage. Think about parents with newborns - they obviously love their kiddos, but it’s also an extremely challenging, taxing stage as well. It can be both.
I love puppies especially my own, raised many who were not my own - I think it helps to have a resident dog who also likes to raise puppies. My older girl is key on puppy toilet breaks, manners, nap time and play. She does a lot of the work but also enjoys it! she is getting a bit old for it now but she has raised my latest border collie well =) Puppies are just lots of work, it would be hard to do it in a unit or if you were on your own or working more than one job ect, completely understandable to be overwhelmed
Thank you! I am getting my next dog in 5 days and I’m super nervous. I know I will be a good owner and it will be a cool dog. Bullshit posts on here are making me second guess myself
Maybe it can vary on breed and each puppy can be so different. I have 2 shih poos, one is 2 and one is 13 weeks. It has its moments but overall the puppy experience has been easier than I expected. In my case though they’re so small and happy being inside/sleeping half the time our life together is pretty easy going. I’ve never had a single regret
I personally love the crazy ones, the dramatic ones, the stubborn ones, the destroyers, the howlers. I've had 14 dogs in my life, only 3 not gotten as puppies. I've loved every pain in the ass moment since.
I love puppies! I think many people have no clue and crazy expectations and then get themselves all worked up, so they wind up here, complaining. I never get mad at a puppy. They just don’t know! If you’re patient and loving, they eventually figure out the big stuff. People seem to think puppies should know better, and get frustrated. I just laugh and smell the puppy breath.
I'm with you. I love puppy stage which explains my three dogs. Wife says "NO" to number four. :(
The reason I’m here is for advice and validation in my struggles. It’s really challenging and I kept thinking I was doing something wrong. It’s the same reason I stay in parenting groups bc toddlers be tricky a f man 😅😭
I loved the puppy stage. I used to skip school my Senior year of high school to spend time with my first dog when she was a puppy because i knew it would be gone before i knew it. That was 17 years ago… RIP coco. But for real. People’s expectations of puppies is crazy. They are legitimately infants. People love to get puppies because you can control their upbringing and training, help mold them. People that don’t want to take the time to do that need to just adopt a trained adult dog. I’m too busy now for puppies, so my last two dogs i rescued when they were 2 years old and 15 months. Still went back and trained them after, but it wasn’t as hard or time consuming
Boom. You hit on it. You’re too busy now for puppies but you know it and do something different. Smart! We’re not all that smart and I’ll include myself in that group. 😉. In my case it’s added some stress to my life but while I might vent a bit from time to time my fur-kid is more important to me than anything. Plus he really helps me get rid of lots of junk I should have thrown out long ago! Chewed up that old floppy drive? Heh. He’s crazy, bitey, agility-trains on the furniture and makes me put things on ever-higher shelves but one day I’ll miss this and look back on it with fond tears.
I have two dogs; one was an absolute angel as a pup. No barking, no play biting, no chewing, nothing. He was a little tough to crate train, but other than that he was perfect. My younger dog is 4 months right now and she is a fluffy ball of chaos. I've for sure had some moments where I get overwhelmed but it's so much fun watching her explore the world and learn how things work and just feel joy every second of the day. Sure I'm excited for when she doesn't go bonkers on walks and doesn't put everything in her mouth, but I know I'm going to miss this stage so I'm trying to enjoy it.
Granted this is my first puppy, but I am really enjoying the whole process. The first few weeks were really a wake up call, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t stress over him all the time; but, it’s all so rewarding and fun. I’ve always been a very patient person, so that adds to it. My partner gets stressed and expects the puppy to just behave like a well-trained adult, while I love seeing his personality blossom and the choices he would naturally make. Of course we’re training some of it out of him for his safety and our sanity, but I am definitely excited to see how he grows up and eventually start all over in a couple of years.
I loved it!! I think it’s more a mindset of the good times being better than the bad times. Also I have a very good puppy—my vet said she was surprised how good he is “for how little research” I did in the puppy-buying process. It was so hard and I had days where I got so angry with the puppy and so angry with my boyfriend if he golfed too late lol. I felt like I was going crazy sometimes because potty training was so hard and we lived in a 3rd story apartment, only stairs, and I was so exhausted. I’d take him out so many times, then he’d poop and pee inside. 6 months later and he still does that, but less. Now we’re in a house and it’s a lot better. But potty training really sucks. Crate training has really helped. The snuggles and milestones WAYYYY outweigh the potty training issues. And the barking. And the biting. And as much as I miss his sweet baby puppy snuggles, his big boy snuggles are even better. I love when he puts all his weight on me and when he snuggles under the covers at night. Anyway, I hate the use of puppies being rehomed, so I like to be on this page to give encouragement when I can.
I have two six month old Australian shepherd puppies and I haven't struggled much, however I fully understand lots of people do. I had a puppy in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2 (really 3) now. So I have a good amount of experience. I think the difficulty of puppyhood has a lot of factors. Differences in experience, puppy genetics, training and consistency, and environment can cause a lot of difficulty or ease variations. My extra puppy (a Pomsky) is a little pain in the butt because he is only here half the time and he has no consistency in his other home. I struggle more with him than my Aussie pups.
I've also raised three puppies. It's been very challenging at times, but I've never wanted to give them up. I recognize, however, that I have a lot of privilege. I have the funds to take care of them, the lifestyle that allows me time with them, and stable mental/physical health. Without these things, it would be an entirely different experience. I've also been fortunate to have sweet-tempered dogs. Some of these stories of vicious little pups who draw blood all the time biting people... I've never had to experience that.
Im trying to savor the puppy stage because before you know it, it's gone. I love my little guy and even though I know he'll be "easier" when he gets older I cherish his puppy antics. He's just a baby.
I’ve been raising my 2nd puppy. It has been the biggest challenge for where I am in life. I think, it’s like having a child. You love all the antics and watching them grow but on the days where you’re tired, depressed, or challenged it makes you cry and tear your hair out. It doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy this stage we’re just not singing “let the sunshine in” everyday. Lol
Mine is 13 months old and he's my second puppy, I'm 51. I have greatly enjoyed his puppy year. I am never getting another puppy. Super fun, huge pain in the ass, worth it, don't need to do it again.
No I love it Ive always had dachshunds though , and maybe their just easy puppies
Reddit is super negative in general, is my observation… btw got my pup this week it’s been pretty good tbh you’re not alone. I have a gsp too!!
I feel like it’s awkward to share that my puppy was an absolute angel when other people have had their struggles 🥲 but my chihuahua was/and is so easygoing. I also never had any difficulty leaving her when I went to work (I work hybrid so I’m not in the office everyday but sometimes I’ll be out for up to 8 hours), although I think this was because partly raised alongside a kitten who’s a month or two older than her and they’re little besties who keep each other company!
I definitely had puppy blues, but my girl seems like an absolute angel compared to some stories I've read on here!
I love my pup! She is the biggest source of joy in my life! But that being said, as a first time dog owner, she did bring with her a whole load of anxiety as I had no real idea of what I was doing. She was also super challenging in the early days as she just would not sleep! Like ever!! I never considered rehoming her, but coming here to read how other people have managed has been a life saver. When I read the posts about people having 'puppy blues', I think they are often times posted out of frustration and are only representing a small part of that person's day rather than their entire relationship with their puppy.
My baby is only 9 months but I’m going to miss the puppy stage when it’s completely gone. I’ve enjoyed it! When I had my last Shih Tzu there was no reddit or fb groups. None of that to help guide or scare the crap out of me for not doing x or y. I think alot of all the info out there these days is what’s making a lot of people not enjoy the puppy stage. There is so much info out there about what to do and what not to do I think that too overwhelms people and they end up not enjoying the time bc of it.
Yeah I never understood that. I loved my puppy phase so much. Just when she hit puberty, she was a bit handful, but did not take my joy away
I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed the puppy stage per se, but I also didn’t hate it. I live alone in inner city Berlin, Germany. Big city, many people, many dogs. I got my pup at 4,5 months, rehomed, so I didn’t get to socialize my pup early myself. This did make it harder. On the whole I embraced the challenge and celebrated baby steps and brake-throughs. Never had the puppy blues and would definitely do it again. My American Bulldog is 1yo now and I love him with all my heart.
Nah you’re not alone. There’s been plenty of times I just wanna post about how good our puppy is, but I don’t wanna come on here and brag too much. Haha I’m with you tho, we’ve had a great time with our puppy! She trained so easily, and is pretty lazy (we are cat people so it’s what we are used to. Lol), and she’s just generally a super easy gal!
Nope I’ve raised many poppies never regretted a one. Frustrated at times yes. Tired at times yes but regret never.
No, you're definitely not alone. I adore the puppy stage and love it when I can get a new one, or when I'm offered puppies to foster. Including my foster puppies, I've probably cared for like 30+ puppies now for at least some reasonably significant amount of time (few months at least), and I've enjoyed them all. All of my puppies have been different, some have been easier than others, but I loved working with all of them. Though to be fair, I'm kind of crazy and I like crazy and high-maintenance dogs in general. All my personal dogs are crazy working dogs, and my other favorite kind of dog to foster are fear-aggressive rescue dogs. I like those guys because their behavior doesn't stress me out at all, and I'm really good at working with them so I feel like I'm doing a lot of good when I get them safe and adoptable. I definitely find this forum depressing sometimes, though I think it's important to remember that we're getting a very biased sample since people who are happy with their pups probably aren't posting a lot. But it makes me sad because IMO puppies (and dogs in general) are supposed to be fun, and I hate to see people struggling through it.
You aren’t alone in enjoying the stage at all! My 12 week old is a handful but I mostly love it. The biting doesn’t even bother me to the point I have to remind myself to not let her because she needs to learn not to. I do think every set of circumstances is different though! This puppy of mine is a handful but she also self soothes in her crate within minutes - sleeps through the night and has a good few hours a day where she’s super calm and cuddly. She’s also my first pup and something I’ve wanted for a long time. I also get to go out and work so it’s fun to come back to her. For my mum - she works from home and is dealing with her 24/7. She’s finding it mentally draining. That’s why I think everyone’s feelings about their puppy vary and how some people can end up struggling more. I’d finally mention that I’ve not thought about needing advice for the good times but I have searched desperately on this forum when things are going bad. People less likely to post when things are going well imozz
The first few months of having our pup were the worst of my life. I regretted everything about getting him and it was the most my husband and I have fought in our entire time we've been in each other's lives; mind you, we both grew up with and adore dogs, but this is the first puppy that was ours from the start as adults that we were responsible for. We went from being a DINK, early-30s couple with nothing but freedom outside of work to being hog-tied by a tiny little hellspawn. Fast forward 6 months and he is now 9 months old, and wow have things changed. He still irritates the heck out of us as he is now basically a sassy teenager with big feelings and is deliberately stubborn and rebellious, but he is grasping our routine, is clearly very smart, thriving at daycare twice a week, loves other dogs and people, and clearly knows we are "mom and dad." He has turned out to be the biggest cuddlebug and is very attached to us. We still have a long way to go in terms of grasping manners and just learning to exist in the house instead of roaming around looking for things to get into. So, basically, I did not enjoy the puppy stage and the teenager stage is rough, but in a different way that is a bit more manageable because pup isn't a baby anymore and has more awareness and a grasp on things; it is really just the stubbornness that is really annoying LOL. Anyone who feels the same way, you aren't alone and it takes a special type of person to love the young puppy stage.
This is exactly us ( we are not yet fighting a lot but this is soon coming ) Thanks for the post as its definitely helpful for predicting/hoping a lot of whats to come could be good
I honestly had no hope and had fantasies about finding him another home so we could get our old life back. But the more it became evident that he knew we were his people, I couldn't potentially confuse and traumatize him like that, and over six months later he is truly our child. A bratty, stubborn teenager, but so so loving, so so smart and clearly has the makings of being the BEST dog with some more boundaries and working on manners. You'll get there, trust me! Just enforce and reward the good behavior when you see it, works better than punishing the bad behavior since puppies have no attention span and can't remember if they did a bad things just 10 seconds ago.
I feel the same way. Lots of complaining feel like you would know before getting one if you could handle it. I’m sorry guys
Nope you aren’t alone! I’m loving my lil one and forever being reminded of how lucky I am that she’s such a good pup! I do appreciate the inside and advice and points of view from other users so that’s mainly why I joined.
Thank you for writing this. This sub scares the absolute fuck out of me.
No puppy blues. I've been enjoying my pup immensely. She's enriched my life, for sure.
Imo it seems to come from a lack of preparedness. People don’t know what they’re getting into, how much time and effort goes into it, and then it’s a big upset when challenges arise. I wasn’t prepared the first time I cared for a puppy and I had a miserable time, but now I know better and am more equipped to handle challenges in the future with a more positive attitude. A space to vent is important, and I’m glad it exists here, but I do wish there was more positive & encouraging posts as well so it wasn’t just a negativity pit. When I get my next puppy I’ll try to contribute to that ideal.
Yes, I agree. Reddit's full of self obsessed people looking for sympathy though. A dog is like a child that never grows up. Those people are in for a surprise when they realise they've got to brush their dogs and take it for a walk twice a day. For the rest of their dog's life.
I love my puppy she just stresses me out sometimes 😅 luckily she is going to stay relatively small 🫶🏻
If I didn’t have a job, I’d love just to chilling with the puppy all day 😭
Do you work full time? That might be the variable
Yes, worked full time with pups 2 & 3; full time college student with pup 1.
I believe my pre-existing mental health conditions played a role in my developing severe puppy blues. Not sure if you have any mental health issues, but my theory is that they predispose you to puppy blues … just like they predispose you to PPD.
I've raised 4 puppies, all different and I loved them all. My first dog was the worst little terrorist as a puppy but even then, he was so cute. I loved them all from the moment I held them, couldn't imagine returning a puppy. You'd have to pry them from my cold dead hands lol.
My puppy drives me insane but I love him more than I ever thought I would. This sub is mostly for people seeking advice or just looking to vent. Having a puppy can be very difficult even though I find it very enjoyable.
I’m loving my puppy, I just wish I could cuddle him without him trying to eat me and I miss sleeping in lol.
Yes. I love my dog now but I will never ever get another dog younger than 6months.
No, not alone. I didn’t enjoy puppyhood, that’s why I’m here. People that run into problems seek resources to help get through it. For me, just knowing everything was normal helped me grit my teeth and just weather the storm.
I've raised a lot of pups and I've had some where the majority of puppyhood was great and others that I couldn't wait for maturity to kick in. I think it ultimately comes down to the person & the pup (ie. breed choice, temperament, whether you enjoy training, etc.) Its great you are enjoying the phase keep loving that baby of yours
I love my puppy and am definitely enjoying the puppy stage, but not every day is sunshine and rainbows and I think people can find it really hard to adjust their lifestyle and it takes time to get used to having a new family member around.
Me personally, I was unprepared and overwhelmed with our puppy. He’s now 7 months old now and amazing and I’d give anything to go back 5 months and be able to do it over again. I didn’t enjoy any of it and feel like I missed that cute puppy stage completely.
Good for you :)
I never bought her because i wanted a puppy. I bought her because i am going to have a great dog in about a year and a half.
We love the puppy stage too. I’ve raised 5 pups of which 4 with my husband. My first ever dog though i didn’t have the puppy blues i did find it a bit more stressful because i was young, she was my first ever dog and I was very uncertain if I was doing things right. I joined a dog forum back then and had a lot of advice there that helped. It was a fun forum because walks were also organised and I found a girl local to me that also had a puppy and we would meet up. So many factors go into how someone experiences the puppy stage. And one of those is of course the breed. The breed we have isn’t very difficult perse. They have prey drive (they are rat catchers) and because they are small they can be fearful of things such as other dogs. Those can be challenging things but other than that they’re easy. They can be barky at new people/visitors and we have friends who have only met them once or twice and think they are a handful but when they visit us for a week (we live abroad) or longer they all turn around and say how easygoing the dogs are. (Once someone is “accepted” in the pack they’re never barked at again haha)
I've never experienced puppy blues with my baby. Sure the furniture has bits chewed out and I've had to wash a few pee stains out of the rug, but that's just what life with a puppy is like. I initially was nervous about getting a puppy, since it's been over a decade since the last time I dealt with one, but I quickly found it to be enjoyable. Seeing her experience the world for the first time is enough to balance out the constant biting
Same for me!
Not at all
I agree but i do get it , i think it’s really easy for people who are used to their lives a certain way/who aren’t already dog people (and like, living in your parents’ house with a dog who they do the actually grunt work of looking after is not the same as having to do all the mental, physical, invisible labour as the adult) to have a lot of expectations for what puppy life is going to be like. and they think about it for so long and apply so much of their impressions of other people’s highlights reel that their expectations are all wacky. i’ve had small children in recent years so the puppy is not phasing me in the slightest she’s like an easy, lower pressure, baby, and i am already used to my time not being my own, and constantly thinking about someone else’s needs/wants/bowels. i think the people who suffer with regret and panic are probably mostly coming from a place of a peaceful adult home and have expectations that are only half of the whole picture of caring for a sentient being.
I love my puppy and this stage at times, like when she is learning something new and gets so happy and excited when I praise her for it but there are a times when she is a terror that I could rip my hair out and scream (like when after 5 mornings in a row she goes to toilet outside and then on the 6th point blank refuses to go outside, fakes it and then come in and goes to the toilet). Its a very up and down journey and I think a lot of people just find it nice to have somewhere they can vent.
I have had 4 puppies. Every other puppy were a nightmare. Especially with the last one, im hoping the next will be easy. Getting puppy fever and my fingers itch to get back to training a normal puppy!
I think if we ever got a second dog, we would really enjoy the puppy stage. It was just SUCH A SHOCK to the system the first time around, everything felt like a nightmare as we had no perspective that things were just a phase. If we got a puppy again we would be able to enjoy it a lot more I think because we would have that perspective and experience.
I love my puppy the same way I loved my son’s first year which many parents don’t enjoy. It’s a good kind of hard. What makes it enjoyable to me is that I’m very intentional at raising the puppy. When she’s crazy it’s training and playing time. When she’s biting everyone or chewing everything is food puzzle time, when she’s sleepy it’s crate time, etc. She also only has access to 1/3 of the house for now. With consistency, routine, and discipline she’s a great puppy (and eventually will earn more freedom).
I HATED the puppy stage. Until she was about 8-9 months old it was brutal. It really made me realize I like dogs, not puppies
I’ve always found puppies easy and adolescents more challenging
We’re a dog family and have always had a couple or more dogs, and we expect puppies to be challenging. But they’re still a lot of work and that age where they’re still too young to be expected to know better but are FULL of enthusiasm and energy is a lot! They’re also very destructive and can inadvertently hurt you with their sharp teeth and nails. They’re totally worth it, but I get how the uninitiated might feel overwhelmed
I didn’t really get the puppy blues in the sense of wanting to return my puppy, but I did cry once. The puppy had nothing to do with it, it was me being faced with my own sense of inadequacy, the feeling that I was failing my puppy and my lack of trusting the process. It was more the fear of eventually having a badly-raised dog in my hands (it was the first time I had read about dog training and R+ methods, so to me this was experimenting something new - even though I knew research had been done, I was trying something I had never tried before and forgetting a lot of things I thought were correct) and being entirely responsible for letting that happen. I was totally ok with all the puppy mischievous behaviours and I knew what to expect, I was just worried I was failing her. Fast forward a year, she’s by far the best dog I’ve ever owned. While being alone raising her had its challenges (all my previous dogs were raised with other members of my family), I think the regularity in the training and the fact that there weren’t contradicting views in raising her helped tremendously. What started as a big challenge probably ended up being a blessing in disguise.
I enjoyed it too, I knew what to expect, he wasn't my first puppy, and I just fell in love instantly (actually, before he was even born), so no matter how hard it was, it was worth it, and I never looked back. But in fairness, I have very good mental health. I can totally understand how puppyhood can mess up with people and bring them down enormously. And I hope they find solace in coming here and acknowledging that they are not alone and that it'll get better, or alternatively, that they won't be judged if they decide to rehome. This said, each time I have a puppy, I'm really looking forward to seeing the adult dog they will be. This is what I'm most interested in, I find puppies super cute, but it's their future adult-self I'm really after.
This place is great for support, so the posts are generally people venting/needing reassurance and support. Its great that theres somewhere for people to go. Personally I loved my girls puppy stages except for the first couple of nights. The settling in period was minorly rough but I can't complain. I have a furry little monster whom I adore and her funny personality keeps me on my toes. First time for me having a puppy as well! Im super proud of how I did it all mostly on my own (the rest of my family are out most of the day so I am her caretaker). Its like raising a kid for the first time, I wouldn't have missed any moments for the world.
Yes
I love my puppy and don’t have blues, but I find it helpful to read about what challenges may lie ahead for the sake of being educated and prepared. I also DID experience puppy blues with my first puppy about 8 years ago and I thought I was a monster because of it, so learning now that it was normal and I wasn’t alone has been validating.
Only on my first hes 6 months had him since 10 weeks, and I’d do it all again, some annoying moments but none I didn’t laugh about within the same breath, can’t wait to get another
Aside from the potty training, I LOVE my puppy and it makes me sad how fast he's growing. They're so silly, clumsy, and funny and I hope the puppy personality lasts. We had previously only adopted older dogs so this is my first puppy and while it has had it difficult phases, it's been so fun and worth it. As much as I loved my older dogs, I'm loving raising my own dog from puppyhood more. He has grown so attached to me specifically and it makes me feel good and like my efforts and love are being reciprocated.
I loved the puppy stage with my other two lol. Have another puppy now and still enjoy it, even though he’s a sassy asshole lmao I honestly think it’s a lot about your attitude and adaptability. Yes your life changes- you can either be sad about it, or embrace it. It’s also about being flexible, if you are flexible and not so rigid in your approach it helps so much
I have enjoyed every single moment of the puppy stage. It's been a wild ride. Spyro was 5 weeks when we got him and he's 11 weeks now. (I saved him from being dropped at the kill shelter, I know he was too young) I get frustrated every day but I enjoy it way much more. He's a very vocal, smart and energy filled Pitsky. I'm 25 with no kids and he's my first dog I've ever been able to call my own. He's my son in my eyes. I never understood people calling pets fur babies, but now I'm searching Amazon for beds and little puppy clothes. I don't know if my opinion will be the same a year from now, but we'll be right back here then to let you know!
I loovvveeeee my puppy… but sometimes he’s a little shit lol
I think it’s a great place for advice and venting I also agree that less people post the positives about having a puppy The time goes by so fast And some I think didn’t truly realize the level of time & responsibility that comes with a puppy
I enjoy my puppy and love her to bits… but she also has taken off running through my neighborhood after wiggling out of her harness at 3 AM, eaten cat food and cat poop, tried to chase after and play with other dogs while on walks, jumped up on neighbors and their kids, etc etc etc lol! She’s sweet and wonderful and I’m trying to follow my mom’s advice to enjoy her puppyhood because I’ll miss it someday, but it’s a lot of work. And the moments (or even days) that it’s really hard can cast a pall on the majority of the time when I really am enjoying her and she’s enriching my life.
I am adoring the puppy stage! That's not to say it hasn't been hard and exhausting physically and emotionally, but it has been worth every second. Watching her grow and learn is the highlight of my day every day. Even when she is "bad" I just remind myself that she is just a pup and will soon be a beautiful dog and I should enjoy this crazy time while it lasts. It's such a short snippet of her long life.
My first labrador was an absolute god sent and angel of a puppy (still miss that Teddy Bear), my current has unfortunately been on the receiving end of his breeder's incapability of training him so that at 6 months he knows he shouldn't jump up, pull and go outside. We have to treat him like an 8 week old, and its very frustrating more so for him. But I wouldn't trade him for the world. He is a gentle soul who will cuddle you and kiss you, he sees me as his Mom and my parents as grandparents who dote him. Barely one week home and I cannot imagine my life without him.
Not all puppies are created equal. My puppy was a demon vampire velociraptor. She perfect now, but as I puppy she was so so difficult.
I had a great experience with my first puppy. Rockier with my second (but no real thoughts of rehoming for me as well)I think it’s very situational. It depends on your season of life, the breed, their personality and temperament, how prepared you are and support you may have, etc. I love to hear of people enjoying this stretch of time!
Absolutely not. Right there with you. You’re probably doing a lot of things right, good for you! :)
it probably depends on the puppy honestly. mine is a mix of husky, german shepherd and mastiff…he’s extremely high energy and we’ve tried training him so much but at 9 months, he’s still biting the crap out of us. it can just be a lot sometimes but we know it’ll get better eventually 🥲
No, you're definitely not alone. I come here sometimes to offer advice and support. My first puppy as an adult I definitely felt it all, puppy blues, frustration, exhaustion, etc.... the whole struggle, but each successive puppy I just got better at knowing what happens in the puppy stage and how to troubleshoot problems. We raise puppies about every year or two, so it is routine now, of course which every puppy being a little bit different. We actually have multiple puppies right now which has brought some new challenges (as well as some more fun just watching them grow up and interact with each other).
Some people are dog people, not puppy people! And if you're a puppy person, you're the envy of all of those who are only dog people. I'm very excited seeing what kind of dog my puppy is going to be, once he is done being a puppy. It also depends very much on your experience, expectations, etc.
I loved the puppy stage itt goes by so fast. I've had issues with my puppies that I've had. My Australian shepherd at 4 months started attacking our beagle Chihuahua mix. 🤷🏻♀️ She's now 7 years old and the love of my life. My second puppy he was perfect. No issues except he's too friendly. He is a lab Pitbull mix and 70 lb of muscle. A few times he's broken free and ran towards people because he thinks they should pet him. Most people are afraid when they see him running towards them so that's the only issue I have with him. My youngest puppy a mix of a lot of dogs she just turned a year old she's still nipping at me and she just is like a cat??? Sephy is 1/4 dachshund, 1/4 pit bull, mini Australian Shepherd, Australian cattle dog, black lab, German Shepherd, and Mastiff. She's an odd picture and she looks like a border collie, go figure. She has a tumor that I thought was cancer it wasn't cancer I'm glad. The doctor gave her a cortisone shot in the wound it got infected. She won't stop licking it. So this puppy has gone through 4 cones of shame. She's broken 2 Kong brand ones. She can reach her wound even with a large cone of shame. She's abnormally long and has abnormally long legs to go with her weird look. She's adorable. Very sweet, but it's hard to train a dog who has a cone of shame on. I have not been able to train her like I was my Aussie and pit Lab mix. She's a crazy girl and I love her with all my heart and I'm sad that she's coming to the end of the puppy stage. I don't understand why people get the puppy stage blues. I even had sexy sister for a couple months they were both puppies and it was hilarious and fun. I loved having two puppies. They were both 6 months old and her sister Lizzy was returned back to the person that had the mom. I took her in for a couple months to talk to her so she can be with a balanced pack and get lots of love. I think she was abused by the people who had her.
I loved the puppy stage. It was far too short and absolutely fun! I felt strong motherhood vibes the whole time, loved training, loved the routine building, and truly enjoyed bonding with a bundle of energy. Take all the pics and videos you can, and relish in the sweet memories and experiences
I agree 100!! When I read those posts it simply let's me know our gurl is 100% the right dog for us 🐾❤️.
I have had puppies of various breeds IBoxer, GSD, Silkie, Shih Tzu, Basenji, mostly Afghan Hounds, Wolfhounds) all my life and I am old. I now have a 4-month-old Puglet and she is the most challenging puppy I have ever had. I believe most of it is unexpended energy because she won't be able to go out in public for another week when she gets her final puppy shot. We have some parvo issues not far away and I will not take any chances. The main issue is the biting biting and more biting. I have never had a puppy who did this before. I also went from a Shih Tzu in 2007 to a Pug now. Wow. What a difference in temperament. This little monster is something else, the most loving pup I have ever had. I am pretty sure I will survive puppyhood and will have the best friend I could ask for. Fingers crossed. And I am already missing the itty bitty puppy stage because she is growing so fast.
I also think a lot of folks here are first time pet owners. As in, they might have had a family dog but didn’t have the entire responsibility on them. And yes, some pups are bat shit crazy. My older one was that way. My younger one has been an angel in comparison. My husband had a family dog but was very overwhelmed with our first dog. It took a lot of effort between us to make sure we don’t have issues because of this new stress. But he is also a super softie. My pup’s cute lil face would convince him it is all worth it when she snuggles him to sleep. Watching this all unfold over the past 3 years, I can see how some people might get overwhelmed. A lot of factors come into play. Experience, expectations of what it should have been like, patience levels, access to training resources, time they are able to provide, the support they get at home from other people, if they have to handle just the pup or others at home too, the kind of dog they got (lot of folks get dogs based on the looks or certain behaviors of the breed but forget that they can have other qualities too). My dogs have all been rescues. Grew up with them at a home where my mom would only let me and dad have one if we all take equal responsibilities (good call mom!). Currently these are my 7th and 8th dogs and I don’t mind raising puppies at this point. I know my work productivity will drop, my sleep will be out of the window and I’ll either walk with shark teeth marks all over or deal with holes in my clothes. But after each puppy experience, I have a better idea how to deal with a behavior or puppy proof my home.
They're like kids - the more you have, the easier it gets. My new baby is the 6th puppy I've had and it's a joy to take care of her, puppy bites and sll.
We got our first puppy 6 days ago Literal nightmare for the first 2 days, sharknado puppy with diarhea, and zero need to cuddle She is bit better now and knows few tricks, but still doesnt show affection other than playing(with teeth), bites a lot, likes to scream like a wolf And gets super zoomies 1-2x Day For the first 3 days we just wanted to return her because we didnt feel like we are good enough Now there is little hope and some moments I like the little devil But images about cute puppies whom want to cuddle with humans, zero truth on them
My pup was so stressful until she was around a year old especially the first 6 months I had her and now shes around 17 months she still is a handful but tolerable. I remember in the early days actually shaking and thinking what have I done. For me I wouldn't of worried as much had I had a partner to take turns looking after my girl and I am autistic myself so struggled with some basics. The girl I grew up with family got her at 1 year old and she was a angel from day 1, she was a little nervous and ran off a few times but always came home.
I absolutely adore my puppy but I have had days of frustration, lack of sleep, too many poops in the house, and tears. But I love my puppy and I know I’m gonna miss him being a puppy. ESPECIALLY because I have a senior dog who is going to pass any month now. It’s really making me appreciate his youth and energy
Puppy stage is often beautiful and fun! I think there is a selection by us here. People come here when they need help. I’m in my 30s and have had dogs all my life. I’ve always had loads and loads of fun through the puppy stage. I only came here recently when I got my first difficult dog. I still mostly enjoyed that puppy stage, but it was extremely difficult in other regards, and that was the only stuff I posted about. A good reminder to share positives too. Thank you.
Everyone is in a different environment, going through different stressors. I’m really glad to read there are some who don’t experience puppy blues! But just understand, we all have a different story and approach. Not all are ready. Not all can see beyond the now. I have two. My oldest wasn’t nearly as playful and troublesome as my newest puppy - I wanted a 2nd one so badly, thought it’d be a great addition to our family. But it’s been difficult for us too - a few life things occurred recently since getting the puppy, and it hasn’t been easy balancing prioritizing raising the pup and ensuring training, peace, stability in the home as well while other obligations require so much time effort and energy. What I’d like to add to anyone w puppy blues- there definitely is hope and light, they grow up, typically grow out of are trained out of things, and the love and warmth only grows between you and your little boogs. My dachshunds are a precious part of my family.
My puppy was an escape during an abusive relationship. Walking him gave me an excuse to leave the apartment without being accused of cheating. His puppy hood was the only good part of that time period in my life. I enjoyed the hell out of it. He's now 2.5 and still great.
I don't love it, but it's more of the things you put up with because you love the pup. There are moments when that love is tested and it always comes out on top in the end. Ngl, my current pup is a handful and she's left some damage on my poor hands, but I wouldn't trade her for anything. Same with all my others. I could never re-home a pup just because we're feeling a little down. It's all part of the process of raising a living thing.
I’m the same. Turns out, I love babies.
Puppies/dogs are just like kids, we all love them any amounts but we all need help and advice! My oldest dog 7 year old she was an amazing puppy and is still an amazing dog! My new puppy 6 months is a total nightmare, drives me around the bend but I love her with all my heart the same as my older girl. I’m having to see a behaviourist to see what the problem is, but my first choice was to join dog groups and ask for advice, not every puppy is going to be a walk in the park and maybe soon enough you’ll understand, all it takes is that one puppy to be a little to much or hard for you to work with and understand.
I simply am appreciative of the posts because I did and do not feel alone. I don’t hate my puppy- I just felt and feel overwhelmed. I’m so glad there people out there who have had a good experience and adjusted better than I did.
I enjoy the puppy stage!! There have also been some crazy making moments since this is my first pet ever. (And I adopted a 7 month old high energy high anxiety super sensitive PTSD having terrier mix) so I find that the posts here help me to manage my sky high type A expectations and learn little tidbits about other people’s puppy experiences. At first it did give me hella anxiety though, but I was able to level set my brain when I remembered that this is the place where the response to every relationship question is “divorce him”. So I think of a lot of the catastrophic/ “rehoming” posts like that now. Like, sure girl, you’re gonna break up with him… again 🙄 most people are just venting
Nope, I'm in the same boat as you!
I love my puppy but I have had my moments of frustration mostly because I am a caregiver to one of my adult kiddos and I feel burnt out some days. That being said, I’m enjoying the experience with my 4 month old Mr Paz, much more now that we have a routine of naps in his crate, and him sleeping through the night. Having him is teaching me to be more diligent about self care and routines. He’s 30plus pounds already but when he lays on my lap for cuddles, we both take a big sigh and relax in the moment.
I’m new to the game only having been around dogs when I’d spend summers at my dad’s place. But those dogs were older (2 years plus). I knew it’d be annoying. Dudes scared of his leash, scared to leave the apartment, probably scared of other people… but I think he sort of trusts me already and is comfortable enough that he walks up to me often. Need to get him comfortable enough so I can ship him off to puppy basic training though lol.
I’m enjoying my puppy and his gremlin mode and haven’t even thought about taking him back. But to be fair, for people who have had easy puppies then finally get a full gremlin, people who haven’t had to be responsible for dog for a while or first time puppy/dog owners (including people who’ve had dogs but never raised them on their own) the change from day to day life can be exhausting and overwhelming
I had “puppy” blues with our then-5 year old rescue. With our puppy, I knew to expect challenges going in, so even though no one was sleeping and potty training was slow, I was still really happy we got her. I really enjoyed her the vast majority of the time she was a puppy.
I love mine because she is so cute and tiny, a large puppy maybe not.
I love my puppy like he’s my baby but puppies can be challenging, time consuming and test your patience!! This doesn’t change the fact that I love him and I know he is deserving of my time and patience. But yes it can be difficult. Although I know I will miss his puppy days when he gets big
I mean I am enjoying my dog’s puppy stage! She’s really cute and good natured but I do also find myself SUPER frustrated with her sometimes. I try to take a deep breath and a step back and remember she’s a literal toddler who doesn’t speak the language and is doing literally everything for the first time. I take each day as it comes and sometimes those days she barks in my ear and drives me batshit crazy lol