We are coming up on 9 months in 6 days and I can't believe that Aspen has already been with us for over half a year...you guys probably remember my first post on here about having the puppy blues and not being able to bond with Aspen, like many others. Now, he is my little shadow. He is a total momma's boy. I spend the majority of our days with him and have since he was a puppy. He is finally reaching a stage of independence where I can trust that if I close my eyes for a nap, he will be good. Just a while ago I laid down for a nap and awoke to him hopping onto the couch and settling by my head. After someone had tried to break in when Aspen was only 4 months old, I think he is more aware of odd sounds/happenings around our home. He now does alert barking, which I know some people don't encourage, but it really makes me feel more secure knowing that I have a 70 lb dog who I know is always looking out for me. I am so glad that I stuck through those first couple weeks/months of him being a puppy. I am also glad that I got a high-energy breed as my first puppy, because I think Aspen will make other breeds (a Golden Retriever) feel a bit easier to raise, but maybe not, because a puppy is a puppy. Surprisingly, through all my research...nothing had indicated that labs were high-energy breeds, or perhaps I didn't look hard enough and the boyfriend, who has owned labs all his life, also never warned me how high energy they are! Aspen may be a handful, but he's my handful, and I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's my little ham, who isn't so little anymore!
What a gorgeous post, thank you alschwahn...I look forward to being able to say the same about Maxx....but for now, I nearly lost a bowl full of bread dough that was proving about 10 minutes ago as I left the room and left it too close to the edge of the kitchen bench and then hear hubby shout 'stop stop!!' He could see it edging all by itself - or rather with the help of puppy teeth who had the t-towel covering it in his mouth and tugging. So not able to trust him yet....not for a while I think.
@Maxx's Mum it sure takes time, but like everyone says, it is so worth it! It may seem like the day will never come, but it comes so much more quickly than you think it will. One day your pup settles while you are busy and you don't have to tell him to! But I also miss him being a baby. I hope you enjoy your Maxx. I wish I would have enjoyed Aspen more as a puppy, but I struggled with him a lot.
Well I was the same - all posted here on the forum......but......it doesn’t matter, it’s the past! It’s just coming up to a year when we got our puppy Red - can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. I keep reflecting on the awfulness of her croco pup days. Somehow they make it all so very worthwhile. So pleased you are through the other side and enjoying Aspen. I count my blessings I have such great dogs .
Yes, it takes time - and some take longer than others. There’s so much that makes it worth it, even with the occasional blip just to keep us on our toes (and make us laugh!). Yesterday I left some scraps of paper on a coffee table to shred later, only to find them ‘shredded’ on the floor. Tuppence had (nearly) done the job for me, although everything else on the table remained untouched!
Nice to read how much you have bonded with Aspen. They really are worth persevering with as give so much back.
Hi congratulations on reaching nearly 9 months and yes I too remember your early posts and felt similar to you. We have things in common, Mason is my shadow and a mummy's boy aswell. I too spend a lot of my time with him which is great most of the time. I can also leave and begin to trust him to be on his own for short periods he is just 6 months. Sorry to hear about the break in just awful stuff. Just last week we had 5 properties broken into including sheds and garages and cars. Bless him Aspen sounds like a remarkable dog and you have done a grand job. I too wasn't sure about them being high energy but funny enough other people laughed when I said I'm getting a chocolate Labrador. But it has been hard I have stuck with it I still have a way to go but I will survive
Same here, it goes so quickly and there is so much you are trying to do and trying to stop the puppy doing, so many things to get used to and cope with, learning and adjusting your life and routine. But then suddenly you notice a change, something they don't do anymore (like trying to tear apart the sheepskin rug, letting you put the washing away without pinching your socks), sometimes things that make you so proud of them and you realise that yes, it was worth it. And also - now I know this, the second one will be easier!!?!!
What a great post to read. So many of us have been in the same boat, and it's very helpful for new puppy owners to be able to see that it does get better and you will end up loving that awful puppy one day
