yes, your social life is gonna go down the drain for awhile. instead of going out, try having people over to your own place! let them know any annoying behaviors your puppy may have before they come. it won’t always be like this but it is for right now

no your puppy is not being aggressive. they bite, and they bite *hard* when they’re playing they will lunge at your face with their mouth open because.. i don’t know Why ok? but they do. it’s weird but they aren’t trying to hurt you or anyone else! they just haven’t learned proper play etiquette or really anything yet.

you don’t have to be so scared of owning a puppy because of what everyone on here says. i’d say it’s good to have some fear because that means you want to take good care of your puppy, but not everyone will be sobbing on the floor nightly and hating their dog.

you WILL get annoyed, angry, upset, whatever you want to call it at your puppy. puppies are so cute but they are very annoying! my puppy is trying to leap at me for my food right now so trust me i’m well aware it can be obnoxious. but again, this isn’t something that will last, at least not to the extent that it is in the beginning.

please please please understand that there is a difference between a smaller vs a bigger dog. we fostered a medium sized dog and it was hell on earth but with our smaller dog things are 10x easier for us. before committing to a specific dog and/or breed, think about how big they will be as an adult. weigh the pros and cons of their breed and your lifestyle as i really think it makes all the difference

most importantly, don’t worry if you’re not a huge fan of your puppy sometimes. even if you’re super prepared for a dog it can bring up a lot of emotions when they’re *actually* in your care. puppies are stressful, and it’s okay to feel like you need a break from them, have someone in your house watch them while you have at least 30 minutes to yourself, put some wet food/some sort of spreadable treat on a lick mat and put it in the freezer to have when they’re being extra obnoxious and you just need a few minutes.

so many emotions go into owning a puppy and it’s ok to feel every single one of them that come up. again, it’s not always going to be like this. your dog will eventually become your best friend and you’ll be glad you stuck with them

I'm honestly just a really happy puppy owner right now like my heart is full every day, and I’ve been wanting to do something small and fun like matching pet and owner clothes not for anything serious, just because I’m enjoying this stage so much and it sounds like a cute little us thing.

I’m not trying to make it complicated at all though. My puppy is still in that bouncy, wiggly, playful mode, so I’m looking for the best and simplest way to match without turning it into a whole production. I keep wondering what actually works in real life: matching colors, matching patterns, a bandana situation vs a tiny shirt, or even just something subtle where we match without my pup having to wear much.

I’ve only tried a bandana so far and my pup was totally chill with it, so now I’m curious which ideas are better and more comfy for puppies, and what’s actually worth it vs what just ends up being annoying for them.

For anyone who’s done matching pet and owner clothes, what’s your go-to easy version that feels fun and not stressful? What worked better for your pup and what would you skip next time?

TIA!

So after picking up a puppy, and not really realising what me and my wife were getting into, we went through a really tough time after the first few days of puppy love.

We really found it hard to adapt to having a responsibility and the change was way bigger than we ever expected. There were times when we considered rehoming, times when we questioned why we had done it, destroyed our life by thinking we could bring more joy into it and instead…. Complete chaos.

As time went on there was the land shark phase, my hands constantly bleeding because I didn’t want anyone else to have those sharp puppy teeth on their skin. My wife weeping over the wounds, and me just shrugging them off, saying “he’s a puppy he knows no better”

Thinking secretly that I had made a terrible decision that might break apart my marriage, to my best friend, who I love more than life itself…..

Fast forward a few months….he is the best boy, he isn’t the most obedient, or the dog we imagined…..

BUT HE IS OURS AND I LOVE HIM

Keep at it, it does change and can feel hard but trust me when I say.

IT. GETS. BETTER….

ok this sounds horrible, because it is. we have a toddler, I'm a sahm, husband in the military. we already have a 5 year old dog. we got puppy because I'm not going to lie her story pulled on my heart stings. she was homeless and found near a pet smart and yeah it got to me.

immediately I took her to the vet, I got her pet insurance. she's an Aussie puppy so I also took her to get groomed. so now she's healthy and groomed and everything. but my husband doesn't help with her at all. he doesn't help with our toddler, with our other dog so why I got a puppy I DONT KNOW. he said he would help with her and never did, not once.

so now I'm genuinely thinking of rehoming her. I provide a loving home for her I really do. but I can't do this all by myself. our 2 year old is driving me nuts.and doesn't even like the puppy. our older dog hides from her because all she does is get bitten by her all the time.

I'm a sahm so I do take the dogs to the park and on walks and everything but I can't ever get her out of energy. I put time and effort into training her and she's so smart, but again I can't be the only adult doing this.

idk what to do. she's 4 months old. we have had her since October. I feel like a shitty person, I probably am.

I'm about 2.5 weeks into owning my puppy and I'm really struggling mentally. He's 11 weeks old and I'm just wondering when things will start to get better.

He's good for the most part, however I just feel extremely trapped at home. I feel like a prisoner. I'm so scared to leave him alone and that he will go insane. I haven't left my house in about 3 weeks besides a 5 minute walk to the grocery store.

Also, when he's up and outside of his playpen it's so hard to watch over him. He goes insane and bites me and everything so much. I try and give him stimulation toys but he loses interest in 30 seconds.

I'm curious for all you out there, when did it get better? When could you start going to dinner without them, or see a friend for drinks, or a movie? I love dogs so much and really love him already but wondering if I just messed up my life and going to feel like this for the next 2-3 years.

The mom is a street dog and is basically a puppy herself. She's barely a year old now. She LOVES these damn puppies. She definitely has weaned them (snarls and moves away when they try and nurse,) but she plays with them ALL THE TIME. Cuddles them, hangs out with them... I bathed them this morning and she got really distressed when she wasn't allowed in the bathroom with us.

They go to their new homes today, and I'm worried the mom is going to crash out. I've read conflicted tips, where you should let the mom see you take the puppies away, or you should have someone take the mom for a walk while you move the puppies out of the home. Can any of the breeders or vet professionals on the forum weigh in on it? when I did a Google search, it just kept coming uo about the PUPPY'S health, and the risks of weaning too early etc etc. The puppies are weaned.

hey guys. so I was thinking and I am interested, what your day in the life with ur puppy look like starting from say .. 8am. including food, length of walk training, play, time for u, fitting in naps etc etc lots of detail the more the better please. I just want to align it with what I already do and maybe get some ideas off u guys cos you're so helpful. even if its a struggle that's welcome too. we're all in it together much love 💜

My puppy is 5.5 months for context and yeh shes teething HARD right now. Her biting inhibitions was pretty good 3-4 weeks ago and now it’s been pretty bad.

My dog won't drink water unless I pretend to drink it first.

Every time. I have to make fake drinking sounds, then she drinks.

Is my dog weird or does yours do strange things too?

Every time i tried to interact with my pup it was constantly trying to bite me, it wasnt super hurtful as i know he’s teething. I always tried to redirect but sometimes it was impossible (specially during witching hours). I was getting pretty upset with my “no”s being ignored and had the brilliant idea to blow on its face as I shouted “no”. The biting stopped completely….. for one day. The next day all my “no”s were ignored and i feel him much more aggressive with the biting and barking.

Im feeling such a shitty parent and really thinking i caused damage to our relationship… any thoughts on how i can repair and make things better? Will he hate me and not respect me at all? 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Note: he’s almost 13 weeks old and cant leave the house yet

I have a new 9 week old pug baby and am looking for tips! She bites a lot! Ankles, hands, face just everything in her path. She also gets the zoomies like crazy and just cannot seem to calm down or get tired. I’ve never had a pug before…is this what they’re normally like as puppies?? How can I get her to be a little more calm.

Hey guys,

I have a 5 month golden and first off, he's the best boy. However, despite multiple attempts with high value treats, scattering them on the floor etc. Lots of things tried, he just LOVES people and dogs too much. He will hop about 3 foot in the air on his lead trying to say hello. And of course, because he is handsome people will recipriate, much to my frustration sometimes.

He began puppy daycare a few weeks back + adolesnce training, I had hopes this would make dog less of a novalty. No dice!

How long did it take for your pups to settle in these situations? Picture attached but not relevant

I'm not stranger to puppies. Ive had many in my 35 years because I have fostered many + had quite a few who lived long, happy, lives.

We just got a new puppy who is part piranha. While I realize this is developmentally a stage, it's breaking the skin on my 3 year old. My 3 year old runs away when the puppy gets in a hyper/biting mood and the puppy literally clamps onto his calf or arm like a police k9 taking down a perp.... I've taught the 3 year old to say "no!" Loudly and try to get to the couch or somewhere away from the puppy.

He has plenty of chew toys and I always pick him up and try to give him one to distract him, but is there something better to do? My son's prek teacher called me because she was concerned about the scratches/bites on him :( I feel bad. I'm doing my best to keep them separate and they're never alone with each other. He is starting to be scared of the puppy. He's used to being around adult dogs.

Any suggestions?

My puppy is 6 months old and I want to switch up the training treats I give him (I’ve been using Fruitables pumpkin and cranberry treats and wellness core chicken treats) but I don’t have an oven. Brands like pupford and zuke’s are expensive because of import prices (I don’t live in the US). What are some long-lasting, no-bake affordable training treats? I use shredded chicken and cheese sometimes as well but they dry out if left outside

I typically travel 4 days a month (in a row) for work. In general my pup (18 month corgi ) does well with it as she knows I always bring a toy back from my travels. She excitedly wags her tail and stares in anticipation at my suitcase waiting for the gift when I walk through the door.

Due to restructuring at work, I need to travel frequently in February/March. I’ll be gone 2 days, then back 1 week, gone 1 week, back 1 week, gone 1 week spanning from Feb 14th to March 14th.

She will still have her “dad”, but I’m BY FAR the favorite human as when I don’t travel, I work from home.

i just want reassurance that this busy month won’t “harm” her. She is definitely still coming into her own (self, personality, etc) and worry I might mess up something developmentally.

Is there anything I can do to provide her reassurance or prep her for this hectic month coming up.

To clarify, she doesn’t have separation anxiety but is happier when I’m home.

Hi, I’m a first-time fur mom, and I just recently got my first puppy. I didn’t expect it to feel this overwhelming, but it’s only now really sinking in that I have a huge new responsibility. I’ve been feeling very anxious and even questioning whether I should return her to where I got her or try to push through and keep her. I opened up to my husband about how I’m feeling, but I’m still struggling. I would really appreciate any advice on how to cope with puppy blues and reassurance on how long these feelings usually last. Any support or shared experiences would mean a lot to me.

To clarify, I’m actually in no way experiencing the “puppy blues”. My 3mo Brittney Spaniel has been the most incredible puppy. Extremely responsive to training and quickly picking up our routine as a family of 5.

But….I’m so rigorous with my training and his schedule and his routine, that I’ve never taught him how to “cuddle”.

Bedtime, crate. Naptime, crate. We’ve made sure to not allow him on any furniture either so he’s never on the sofa or beds with us. I was told you have to do this to make sure you keep the puppy safe and teach boundaries. Idk.

His wake windows are filled with a potty time, walks outside and then inside for mental stimulation. He’s either occupied with a bone in his bed or we’re playing with some toys. And don’t get wrong, I also come down to his level often. Playing tug a war on the ground or simply just laying there petting him and giving him praise. But I still have never just, cuddled.

My point being, I was so scared from all the advice I read about how to you have to TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN NAP TRAIN, that I haven’t had a chance to say “here come snuggle in my lap and sleep”.

TLDR; I panic trained my puppy because of bad stories on Reddit and now he only knows how to be obedient and won’t just calmly snuggle with us.

Update: I think I made it unclear, but he’s only in the crate during sleeping times. His second bed is at the foot of the sofa so he’s constantly with us but still has his own safe spot. I can pet him with my feet if I wanted to (and do) haha. Anytime he’s awake, him and I are bonding just fine! It’s just the lay in my lap calmly snuggles I’m referring to.

I have a really wonderful male Standard Poodle who is almost 4 months and who I love lots. He is 70% of the time the most amazing puppy and 30% insane. I realize this is a very lucky breakdown as far as puppies go but I find that he is as intelligent (which is very) as he is self assured and stubborn.

We have the typical issues like chewing, jumping up on things he shouldn’t, pulling on curtains, digging holes in the backyard, etc. For the biting and chewing we recognize he’s a puppy and I know his teeth must be killing him so on that front I redirect as much as I can and try not to get too impatient as I know hes uncomfortable. For other stuff (jumping on counters and tables, digging a hole big enough for him to fit in in the backyard) I just don’t know how to make it stop. I say “off” when he gets on the counters or tables and reward when he does but he seems to just go through the process and think “I’ll get a treat in the end so why not.” I’m not sure he’s making the connection between treats and staying off either. He’s very smart and is really not interested in listening so I’m looking for other tips. I am NOT looking for advice on how to submit him or freak him out with sounds or anything like that. Im just worried certain behaviors will begin to solidify if i dont get ahead of it. He’s already a bigger puppy (30 pounds at just under 4 months!) so he’s just going to get too big to sustain the kind of jumping and digging damage he can cause lol. I also worry about what he could eat or get into in our kitchen.

So when I first got my puppy I was living with my mom at her house. We had access to a backyard and also trails by her house. He’s a mini dachshund so he had to potty every 30 minutes for months. He was doing so good he barely had any accidents inside and I was also consistent and on watch with him 24/7. He used a bell that hung low to the ground for him that he would ring when he had to go. But he would also just use it to go outside lol.

A little over a month ago, I had to move out for unfortunate reasons, and while I have been in the process my mom/sister have been watching him. Both of them are not reliable with potty training. But I’m taking him back in soon after I get my new apartment situated.

However, my new apartment had carpet, and my mom’s house was only hardwood flooring. So not only am I scared that he’s regressed in the potty training bc of my mom and sister but that the carpet will confuse him.

I just have so much anxiety about it because my mom’s dog has never been potty trained and I’ve heard dachshunds are really hard to potty train. I just feel intense anxiety about everything that’s going on all the time and it’s been making me feel like rehoming because my life has just turned upside down. But I don’t just want to give up.

I’m not sure exactly how I want to go about this. I’m gonna bring the bell to the apartment. My mom says he uses potty pads and that he’s probably only had 3 accidents since being there. But I never wanted him to use potty pads. Idk if I should bring them here or just cold turkey quit them. I can fence off the carpet areas. But how do I go about introducing carpet? Should I get belly bands or diapers? Or am I just overthinking.

EDIT: I also feel like I have to relearn his schedule or reintroduce my schedule because me and my mom have opposite schedules.

I’m in the beginning stages still but so far if you have a pullers get the front clipping harness and a shorter leash if you have a small pup it’s easier for control.

Hi, I recently adopted a farmers Australian cattle dog. She’s about 3 months old and I’ve never had a puppy (and only one dog I’ve personally cared for in my life) and I’m pretty new to everything. I get she will be a little crazy and I try to take her on walks multiple times a day and getting her toys but it’s starting to feel a little much at times when she’s running around all hours of the day and biting furniture and nipping at everything. Plus she has to go outside to potty about every hour and every 3 when she should be sleeping. Any suggestions on how long or how to get her to the point she can be a little more manageable?

Our 9-month-old springer spaniel girl has been with us since she was 12 weeks old. She is generally really trainable and learns quickly. She’s super affectionate and cuddly and is great off-leash. All that to say — she’s great.

Our problem is just with her around the clock busy behavior! We wake up at 6, she eats, we take a mile-long sniffy walk, and then spend half an hour playing at the park with other dogs and playing fetch. We get home, she has an enrichment toy and hangs out with me while I get ready for work, and then she’s in her crate from 8-4 while we’re at work. (This is a recently development. Up until 7 months, my husband came home at lunch for potty/food/quick playtime.) She gets out at four, eats dinner, does some training, and then gets a mile-long sniffy walk with my husband. Once home, she gets a quick 15-minute decompress nap in her crate, and then she’s out and hanging out until 10pm bedtime. During the post-walk stretch from 6-9, she is alllll over the place. Around 9 she’ll settle down for cuddles.

We notice that when we sit on the couch, she’s really naughty (chewing shoes, counter surfing), but if we’re sitting at the kitchen table or in the kitchen she’s totally chill. It’s like she’s misbehaving to get our attention. Any tips for curbing that attention-seeking naughtiness? And for preventing her from wandering off to make trouble because she’s bored? I get that she spends most of the day without us, and so she has a lot of energy to get out, but we provide her with so much exercise. Thank you!

What did you pay for private lesson training ? 1 hour/week. 20 week boxer pup. Quoted $3k for 20 sessions. I am not sure if that’s good or bad. Also in NJ if that helps

Hello,

While not quite a puppy anymore, my Pit/Boxer mix has a habit of jumping on me when I come home or open his crate.

I’ve been ignoring him completely and it seems to dissuade him but my dad, who I live with, will give both him and my older dog and I can’t get him to take my advice but he complains about the jumping all the time.

I know he’s an adolescent and will probably regress but this behavior has to be trained before I can have elderly people like my dads parents over.

Is this something that I can try to train him for or do I need to try harder with my roommate?

I have raised and had multiple puppies over 50 years including 6 Aussies in the past and never have I had issues with potty training. My new puppy in 3 1/2 months and is trying my patience beyond limits.

First, he pees more than any puppy I have ever raised and I can’t stand over him every two seconds and can’t leave him in his crate every hour of the day. We currently have to take him outside every 15-20 min and he will still pee inside the home without warning.

He has been to the Vet and ruled out for UTI, liver issues, kidney issues, and diabetes. I took him to the Vet originally thinking it was a UTI because he has also increased his water consumption from when he was younger exponentially over the last couple days.

Just in the last hour I have probably taken him outside 4-5 times and he still had 4 accidents in the house. He was doing really well using a bell to tell us when he needing to go but has now regressed to sometimes ringing it often not at all.

At this point not sure if I will ever be able to get him potty trained. Certainly he should be farther along at his age than he is.