My 14 week chocolate led me to tears this morning. She was so sassy, rambunctious, bitting, not listing etc......I sat down and cried. I was so frustrated. I've read the thread on puppy blues and that helped a lot. I'm glad I'm not alone in my frustration with our new puppy. She doesn't seem to understand anything yet. I've worked with her on some basic training but it's like it goes in one ear and out the other. She is literally driving me crazy. Next month we are signed up for puppy classes at our local kennel club. I hope that helps....me.
Yes, you're not alone. Now when I look back at all Homer's puppy photos all I remember are the cuddles and his soft puppy smell, I think having a puppy is a little like childbirth.
We've all been there. Holly is the most wonderful, gentle dog. Its difficult to believe that she was once a little hell-fiend who would ignore us regularly drew blood.
I agree, we have all been there - I remember sitting in the pouring rain balling my eyes out, with fox poo in my hair one day and the cause was my Bailey - my arms looked like I was self harming, he wouldn't listen and I was terrified that my OH would get fed up with the pup and send him away. Fast forward to now (over a year later) and while still not the finished article - that is all three of us - we are more than happy with how things are - Bailey listens (most of the time ), his biting stopped once his adult teeth came through. There is still stuff we are working on but we have a beautiful friendly dog that is currently flopped out across my feet snoring his head off. Stay strong things will improve.
I also have a 14 week old -I am right there with you...I currently have a band-aid on one arm and needle like pokes in the other I am embarrassed to wear short sleeves in summer because of peoples reaction. This will pass -I keep doing a mental count down to adult teeth in my head lol. I have even asked other lab owners when the adult teeth come in, they look at me with a mix of understanding and pity -I think. lol.
Keep the faith ! I remember coming back from a walk with Sam ( now 6 years old ) and crying , crying because he was pulling on the lead and wasn't listening to me . I then realised , it wasn't that he wasn't listening to me at all , I was not teaching him the right way and getting stressed was making him far worse! Having said this , even the most experienced of owners can tear their own hair out with frustration at times , patience is tried and lost at times, but it does get better when they can go for long interesting walks and get absolutely shattered !
She will be learning, just keep doing it and in a few months time you will reap the rewards. I have been experiencing some difficulties with my 15 month old lately, which seemed overwhelming, but when I stop to think we have come such a long way in the last 12 months. Despite it all she is beginning to become the gentle and funny companion that everyone talks about. Keep going.
It will help both of you. I found having the session once a week for six weeks something to look forward to - a focus I suppose. Our first session was a nightmare but it got better. I came home exhausted but so did my puppy .
I also know how you feel. Lately Spencer is into everything and I do mean everything! I had forgotten how labs always have their head stuck into somewhere it doesn't belong. Went upstairs (have stairs blocked off until he and his sister are older) yesterday, only gone 3 minutes and I came down to ripped sofa cushions! He must be able to read my mind as I write this because he has howled twice since I started writing, LOL! Looked down this morning and he was chewing on my kitchen chair leg! He's digging holes in the backyard to stir up the worms in the ground so he can play with them! It's endless. Oh and he doesn't sleep much during the day. sorry if I've gotten off track here. My golden retriever tore my hands and forearms up with her nipping that people I didn't know would ask me, "what happened to your arms/hands?". I was embarrassed to tell them its from my ill-behaved puppy! I have been in tears too and am exhausted. Ah, the joys of puppyhood!
In 12 months time you will be the one giving advice and sympathy to people coming on the forum with new pups. It will pass and you will be amazed that one day you realise that it's all stopped and they are behaving (mostly)
Hi I really feel for you. I am sat with my 12 week old boy in a time out. He goes from super cute to lunatic in about 3 seconds and the biting is really starting to wear me down. He is getting quite big now and really wanted ask for advice on - what to do when he's hyper excited and bitey. I try and move away and not to engage but when he's hanging from my clothing it's kind of difficult!. And trying to untangle myself from him is getting tricky.
Hey Nik and welcome to the forum. If your puppy is in complete fruitloop mode, there's no point trying to reason with, or train, him. It usually means he's overtired - puppies get very antsy when they're tired, just like toddlers. Sometimes they need some enforced rest, so popping him in his crate or pen with a tasty chew, such as a stuffed kong, will help calm him down and he'll probably drift off for a well-needed nap
Thank you everyone for your replies. It's so helpful and encouraging to hear all your stories. Today is the opposite. She's been sweet, playful...in a cute way...and now she went into her kennel to take a nap, all on her own, yay.
