Hi, I've been reading through this forum and it's been so helpful for not feeling alone in these feelings but I think I need to write my own post too just to get my negative thoughts off my chest. I just got my puppy Harley two days ago and pretty much haven't stopped crying since. While most people seem to suffer because of the disruption to their life and the puppy being a handful I feel as though I have the opposite problem. I expected to get him home and have to deal with whining at night, being over excited to greet people and lots of zooming round the house and chewing everything. As I've had dogs before I felt prepared and even excited for this. However, Harley slept straight through the night in his crate (not a peep), he doesn't wag and get excited when he sees me, he's initially nervous around people and he has no interest in exploring beyond the end of our driveway. I have no idea how to bond with a puppy who's like this. I feel as though my dreams of going hiking and kayaking and adventuring with my dog have flown right out the window and and I'm left feeling like i don't even like this puppy when he hasn't even done anything wrong. I have also experienced a dog with behavioural problems in the past so I spend every waking second absolutely terrified that I'm going to mess up and give Harley issues for the rest of his life. But I find an over excited dog far easier to train than a timid one. I wish I could go to puppy classes now so I could get some advice and be around other owners to not feel so alone but I have to wait for two weeks until he's fully vaccinated and i don't know how to get through that time. Is there anyone who's puppy was initially very nervous but has grown into a happy go lucky dog who seems to love life? Any advice at all would be much appreciated. Nat
Hi Nat Is he a lab or another breed? How old is he? You have only had him 2 days so it’s very early days for him to feel settled in your home. Some pups do just sleep at night, trust me that is the way I would rather have it, my pup kept us awake for a good month.
Give him chance, after 2 days away from his family to a strange environment he is bound to be quiet and cautious. Give him time, patience and a few treats and he will be causing havoc in no time. Try to view the world from his eyes. He will come round.
