Those first few weeks of puppy ownership are exhausting and there were definitely times where I wondered if I'd done the right thing. I was chatting to a lady at training the other day and we started to laugh about the times of desperation. So here's mine... To set the scene, a week before we picked up Ella we found out that we were unexpected pregnant so I'm a week behind Ella (yep, we'll have a 9month old teenager and a new born baby - great timing) . If anyone has every been pregnant, I'm sure you can remember the fatigue of those first couple of months. One evening I was on my own with Ella, I was so tired and she just wouldn't stop jumping, biting, barking etc. I actually ended up climbing onto the dining room table so that I was out of reach, brought my legs up and cried! Was awful at the time but I can now see the funny side! What's your crazy puppy moment?? ☺
I honestly don't remember any really terrible times - it was many a joy - sure, there was the odd day when he had a pee on the kitchen floor A MILLION times, tipped his water bowl up A BILLION times, and then he covered the breakfast room in mud because I'd overlooked the need to supervise his interaction with the garden irrigation system...sigh.... But, whatever. That's a puppy for you - there is no point in putting the mop bucket away.
I'm in sleep deprived city right now. On Tuesday I sat and howled. Barbled about how I had no idea what to do, i'm so tired, he doesn't listen, he doesn't like me, and on and on I went. when I paused for breath my son looked at me and asked ' is that what I sound like when I'm on one because you sound ridiculous' Thanks son.... you're right
Sitting on a cold damp kitchen floor with the sliding door to the garden wide open, poring rain outside, watching my puppy sleep serenely. If I moved the trigger wire would be set off and the mayhem would start up all over again.
The same happened when my niece got her Springer spaniel pup - she found she was pregnant - with twins!! They are all two years old now and best of friends
Great topic, for me the exhausting first week. I don't do sleep desperation. I was so tired I was convinced maybe I had made a big mistake. Standing in the garden at 4 in the morning in the pouring rain in February not my idea of fun. The time passed in a flash. I just wish I'd taken more photos of my gorgeous chocolate bundle of joy. I'd waited so long for her she is my one and only puppy, there will no no more I now enjoy every moment (well almost). It is hard especially on your own I do have an OH he loves her to bits, rings up while he is at work asking how she is, he likes a photo or video of something she's doing that day. He is totally besotted unfortunately on the training front he's useless. He's even been to training classes with me. Sort of helped
Standing outside with an umbrella waiting for wees in the pouring rain. Giving up the pup promptly wees inside - all day! I had one of these with Twiglet a couple of weeks ago - my thought "NO more puppies!!" Fat chance lol!
I can't say I remember any really terrible times with Juno as puppy. Generally the accidents she had were really down to my husband (he always seemed to phone from the UK just at the wrong time ). I would have to say my really terrible time was in February when her ED was diagnosed at which time I did sit and cry which concerned Juno who tried to lick me all better
You could be describing my OH. He's been training with me, on our training walks and acts as a distraction for me in the garden or on walks but he is still useless at training
Bless Juno, and you, completely understand. I did the same after Mabel's CT scans, huge tears rolling down my face. Labrador licks do make the world feel better. Mabel sends tummy rubs to Juno although she's just digging a big hole in the garden before hydrotherapy
Juno is really jealous of Mabel now - digging in the garden and hydrotherapy. She has just crashed out across my feet in disgust and hopes Mabel enjoys herself
Oh, my......thinking back some months I was ready to give Cooper away to the first person that showed up on my street that looked half human!! The biting was TERRIBLE....chewing everything in sight.....I had to explain to my friends and every person that saw me that I was NOT in an abusive relationship.....that I had a puppy! I was full of bites, scabs, bruises. It was awful. Now he is 17 months old and the sweetest chap you could be lucky to have. It's been a long time since the biting stopped....the chewing happens sometimes but is manageable with lots of Nylabones and Kongs. True, you have to live through the crocopup stage and it lasts a while but then, poof.....it's over and life is wonderful!!! Agree about not taking enough photos when he was a pup....they grow up in a flash.
You'll soon forget all about sleep deprivation and trips to the garden at silly o'clock in the rain because you've got a crocopup instead Enjoy your puppy each and every day, before you know it that little bundle of joy is a full grown Lab
These posts are great, making me feel like I'm not a complete failure! I've had Bella nearly 2 weeks now. She is 8 weeks old and I love her... when she is asleep! She is a full crocopup already and the constant watching her like a hawk in case she needs to go to the toilet is exhausting! I really miss being able to sit on the sofa but she changes to the Tazmanian devil whenever we go in the lounge. Can't take her out for walks yet as she can't have her final jabs for another 3 weeks and she has started digging in the garden! I am clinging to the hope that it all gets better and easier.
Quinn is just 7 months and I honestly already have trouble remembering the biting and middle of the night toilet trips - it passes SO fast. I miss her being small and needy - she is so independent and could take us or leave us most of the time! It is nice to be able to make dinner without needing to take a puppy out halfway through - but seriously, it's a blip in time and then that tiny puppy is too big for your lap
I remember our first Christmas at around 7 months. Vomiting pup. With blood. Up every half hour out back door in Wellies and raincoat with a foot of snow on the ground...... *sigh*
About a month and a half ago, sitting with bleeding bites on both arms, one hand covered with three plasters, and trying to avoid taking an over-excited crocopup for his second bath of the day thanks to a never ending supply of fresh fox pooh. Just sitting down on a bench in the rain putting my head on my knees and crying my eyes out. After Bailey had finished comforting me we BOTH headed for a shower/bath as despite how much I love my boy I REALLY object to having fox pooh in my hair!!!!
It's such a relief to know that I'm not the only person who's burst into tears over their puppy. For me it was when she was 9 weeks old, and had weed on the floor 5 times in less than an hour (decent puddles!), even though I'd taken her out after each accident and seen her do a decent wee in the garden each time. WHERE DOES ALL THE WEE COME FROM? My daughter came and comforted "Mum's breakdown" on the kitchen floor whilst the husband dealt with the dog.
I'm sleep depraved most of the time due to illness and the first week i had Rory my Chemo failed and I was really sick. I though I'd have to take him back but my consultant found a drug trial and got me on it. Rory's life with me started off bad then he became ill with colitis and things got worse. My health improved and so did his we sort helped each other. I see Rorys coming into our house a s a positive things were bad but in the end everything moved on. The new drugs worked and I felt really well and Rory got better. Looking back it wasn't so bad but there were moments of total despair. rory maked a new chapter for me, the time of his arriving with my life getting a bit better and will always be grateful for the joy he bought, he's a funny silly dog. Frustrating but funny. no one ever tells you how hard having pups can be but it is worth in the end. The funniest moment Raising Moo was having to pee in the garden myself whilst waiting for her to go at about 2 in the morning in the rain. It made her go though
