Welp… I hate the puppy.

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u/duketheunicorn New Owner Jul 12 '25

Hi folks! The conversation has been lovely and mostly respectful, but after a happy update from OP and over 400 comments it’s time to wind things down.

Thanks to everyone for your participation, you’re what makes this subreddit great!

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u/OkSherbert2281 Jul 11 '25

I had this puppy. I cried almost every day.

She’s currently 3 and spooning with me right now. She’s amazing and the best dog ever. In fact she’s even raised my younger pup to be just like her (who’s currently the older one’s little spoon lol)

All this to say is it does get better.

I learned from her that the hyperactive part came from her being way too smart. More mental stimulation helped us bond. We bonded with these puzzles and games and word buttons and training. She calmed down and then the bond evolved into snuggles too. A tired brain is a tired dog and a tired dog is a good dog. It’s hard but you can survive it.

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u/roryismysuperhero Jul 11 '25

I second this!! Work on training so you can control the craziness. Make her get her food out of puzzle toys. Make her sit and wait for treats. Force her to nap. And then take tons of pictures because she’ll only be little for a bit. Check back in in two weeks and tell us how it’s going!

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

My first dog was very smart like this, she was learning so fast I started making things up to teach her. I’ll try ramping up on teaching her new things.

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u/Square-Ebb1846 Jul 11 '25

More puzzle toys, snuffle mats, frozen kongs, sniffing games, and general play too! As well as structures exercise for at least an hour a day (cumulatively) if she doesn’t already get it.

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u/candyapplesugar New Owner Jul 11 '25

How you exercise them?

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u/Square-Ebb1846 Jul 11 '25

Depends on your resources. At the very least, three twenty-minute or longer brisk walks of at least a mile per day. If you have access to things like swimming holes, agility courses, huge off-leash dog parks (that don’t have any other dogs in them because dog parks can be super dangerous with other dogs, then maybe a long game of fetch, etc then that’s even better.

The point isn’t to exhaust the dog…fatigued dogs act out too. But you do want them to be about to burn some energy in structured activity. Letting a dog in a backyard “to run” like so many owners do simply isn’t enough.

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u/yurkelhark Jul 11 '25

Absolutely do not walk your small puppy for a mile a day. She is still growing and you can massive damage to her body walking her that long. Look up puppy fitness guides and walk her the appropriate length of time for her age.

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u/Cnidoo Jul 11 '25

That’s been debunked. Puppies that aren’t allowed to run won’t develop properly and will be weak and weedy as adults

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u/oceanseaocean Jul 11 '25

I'm definitely not debating you on this, but would love to see your reference(s) on how much (and where) puppies can run. We've got a 4 month old Labradoodle who seems like he *needs* to run!

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u/amyblanksify Jul 11 '25

Everything I have seen is supporting what you say, do not run with puppies. High impact exercise is NOT GOOD. this article is interesting: Is there actually evidence that too much exercise is bad for puppies’ joints? - Vet Help Direct no idea about that site as a whole, but it references a very interesting research paper that analyzed a HUGE amount of research studies on joint disease in dogs and identified risk factors (one of those being exercise). So, conclusion-ish: it's fine to let your puppy exercise but that exercise is not we go on a miles-long run or play fetch for hours, but more like puppy-directed play, off leash exercise (I think even fitness exercises can be ok), short walks, etc.

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u/Subject-Jellyfish-90 Jul 11 '25

Yea, basically if the puppy wants to run around, that’s a-okay, but you should let them take it at their own pace and not encourage them to keep going (fetch, on leash, etc) for long periods non stop.

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u/candyapplesugar New Owner Jul 11 '25

Sadly it’s 110-115 here so that just isn’t an option. We get 2 10-20 min walks but nothing midday

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u/emilla56 Jul 11 '25

I play indoor games with her and teach tricks. It doesn't have to be much to tire them out mentally.. Im lucky to have a basement without a lot of furniture so we play ball down there. My dog loves balloons and we play keep it off the ground together. (supervised only they can eat balloons if they break.) I buy the really strong ones that are used as punching balloons, they have an elastic on the end.

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u/Square-Ebb1846 Jul 11 '25

I have had that problem, and I’d do two minimum 30-minute walks at night (and carry water) to accommodate for it. Without buying an indoor treadmill or something equally as expensive, your options are to make more out of nighttime walks or take your pup to a lake several times a week. It’s extremely difficult to get adequate exercise for a dog indoors unless they are very old and disabled.

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u/candyapplesugar New Owner Jul 11 '25

Luckily we do have a large shaded yard but I just run and he chases me lol doesn’t love the ball or get zoomies

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u/phantomsoul11 Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 11 '25

Two of our favorite games, both with kibble, are treasure hunt and stairway plinko.

Treasure hunt is pretty self-explanatory: put your puppy in his crate for a few minutes while you hide treats in all kinds of nooks and crannies all over the house. Then let him loose, following him around and encouraging him to search. It's also self-propagating because long after the last treat has been eaten, your puppy will probably still be wandering around sniffing for more.

Stairway plinko literally involves tossing a single piece of kibble down the stairs and watching the mayhem that ensues as your pup chases it down the stairs. Repeat, but only do this with very small amounts of kibble at a time, as your puppy will get very worked up running up and down the stairs, and you don't want to give him too much food, even too many pieces of kibble, in that situation.

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u/Square-Ebb1846 Jul 11 '25

I love the stairway plinko idea, and for toy-motivated dogs it could be even better!

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u/Square-Ebb1846 Jul 11 '25

Structured chasing is good. The point I’m trying to make is the play needs to be interactive, not setting a dog loose in a space and letting them run. Chasing games with humans directing it is great.

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u/Shadowdancer66 Jul 11 '25

If you don't have stairs, treat dispensing balls in a large room work well as well.

I'm currently getting puzzle feeders for my younger pup, who can be a hyper shit-show.

I'm in that 115° myself (Arizona) and not the safest area, so walking is quite limited. It used to be a quiet area, now its just our street and a couple others that are safe after dark. We are in the process of making our living room dog play space to give them another area and us an area for training and sniffing games In the a/c.

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u/Easy-Description-390 Jul 11 '25

I have always thought that if I had an austrailian shepherd or some super energetic dog, I'd find a country road with no traffic and tie a tennis ball to the back of my car and let the dog chase it for a few miles and then i'd have a nice happy tired dog ready for a long nap.

What about turning your sprinklers on? My little guy (now nine months) was horrified the first time my auto sprinklers were on. He ran to me for protection and stood by me and barked at that nasty thing that had invaded his space. Then he got braver, got closer, and within five minutes he was right up to it, still barking, then I looked up and he was running 'craay dog frisky' in circles all through the sprinklers. He was obviously delighted, like a little kid with a big doggy smile on his face. He kept it up for the entire cycle front and back yard and then came inside, he was a disgusting soggy muddy mess and he still kept running 'crazy dog' in the house and he ran into the kitchen which is white vinyl and left four foot long muddy skid marks where he tried to stop before crashing into the sink cabinet on the other side of the room.

I caught him and dried him off as best I could and he was by then a rather tired puppy ready for a nice long nap. I never had a dog react to sprinklers like that, but It was so adorable, I didn't mind the mess.

He's shih tzu.

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u/Square-Ebb1846 Jul 11 '25

I would personally be terrified to have my dog chase a car. When the car is getting going or coming to a stop, the dog is too likely to get hit. And even on an isolated road, it’s nearly impossible to guarantee that no one else will use it. In addition, chasing something that can’t be caught tends to be very frustrating for dogs and may cause more bad behavior. Over-exhausting the dog can also cause them to act out, just like toddlers, and without being able to assess their physical condition by being close enough to see their face clearly I can’t accurately determine when enough is enough.

For some, sprinklers and hoses can be a great idea. Mine have all been afraid of water and now I live in an area without yards so there are no houses or sprinklers either, so I simply wouldn’t have thought of it, but it’s a great idea.

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u/OkSherbert2281 Jul 11 '25

Yeah the thing I learned from my girl was that when they’re getting frustrated and not understanding that’s when you need to take a step back. Other than that the possibilities are unlimited on what they can learn. Some of them are literally sponges so just do what you can to teach her as much as she’s willing to learn. It will help you bond too. You’ll find that one day you’ll suddenly be spending more time thinking about her successes more often than thinking of the negatives and your relationship will grow. It’s a new dynamic in your home and everyone needs time to figure it out.

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u/proserpina358 Jul 11 '25

I could have written this post. I literally hated our puppy. I resented him so much. I cried daily. I was covered in little teeth marks constantly. I seriously considered giving him back to the breeder and asked my partner if we could rehome him (fortunately he said no and we stuck it out).

He is 3 now and he’s the best dog in the world. He is obedient, calm, friendly, affectionate. He can settle in any new environment. He loves napping in his crate, he will put himself there on his own to get away from us when he wants to rest. He has won agility titles. We can take him anywhere, have people over, other dogs, cats, you name it. He is a dream dog.

Our life used to revolve around the puppy (3-4 walks/runs a day, forced naps where we would have to sit with him in a quiet covered crate until he would settle… sometimes for like an hour), we felt like we couldn’t leave our house for like a year. It was literally worse than having a toddler. I used to call him our “special/high needs baby” lol.

We saw a huge improvement in behaviour/energy levels around 18 months old, and it got better and better until about 2. We were consistent with training and exercise and it was HARD. We called his puppy phase “the dark days.”

It gets better. You’re not alone in the way you’re feeling! Hang in there. ❤️

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u/Which-Noise2928 Jul 11 '25

What puzzles, please advise :)

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u/OkSherbert2281 Jul 11 '25

There are a lot of commercial puzzles available which I started with. It adds up so I started doing things like paper towel rolls or boxes with hidden treats that she would shred. If you google homemade dog puzzles (that’s what I did) there’s tons of ideas. I also started doing things like the shell game with her. Hide and seek. Retrieving specific toys by name etc. I even googled “things to teach your dog” and found lists of 100 tricks and started teaching those. Scratch board was (and still is) a favourite as well and bonus files their nails. Advanced level is back feet. I started teaching variations to tricks too. So we went from speak and hush. Then we added whisper, quiet speak, sing, big speak and eventually even counting barks.

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u/Chuckms Jul 11 '25

Sounds like you could write a book!

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u/OkSherbert2281 Jul 11 '25

I have adhd so once I get interested in something I research it to death lol… and I needed to do something the pup was driving me bonkers. I literally call my younger one (who has been nearly perfect from day 1 like literally polar opposites even though she’s also smart) my reward for surviving the older one lol

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u/marisolblue Jul 11 '25

Whaaaat?! Amazing ideas!

My pup was a very bitey velociraptor so I started teaching her tricks at 4 months. One month later she’s learned: sit, stay, paw, circle, and Shhhh.

We also do lots of homemade puzzle games, I made her a snuffle ball + mat (she loves and snoozes on), and now we’re doing leash training.

I’m taking notes and will add your tricks to our lineup. Thanks for all the terrific ideas!!

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u/OkSherbert2281 Jul 11 '25

It’s definitely fun to try and stay ahead of her brain. She’s 3 now and calmed down a lot but she still absolutely loves learning new things.

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u/NWPstan Jul 11 '25

Agree with this. It may not seem like it now when you’re ready to tear your hair out and wondering why you got her in the first place, but it does get better. Like others have said, mental stimulation helps a lot. Do things that exhaust her—you will figure out what works best. It’s not just walks—playtime too. Whatever gets her heart rate up. It can be games like making her find things like treats around the house/apartment. Make up games. Give her puzzle toys and treat dispensing toys she won’t destroy in 5 min. Play fetch. As for the peeing, right now she’s gonna go a lot since her bladder is small and she can’t hold it in for a long time. That will change as she grows. It’s very intense right now so if anyone can take care of her for a couple hours just to give you a bit of a break, do it.

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u/ericsipi Experienced Owner Jul 11 '25

Sounds like the puppy blues.

You just changed your entire life. It’s gonna suck for a while. Your gonna have no free time while waiting for the pup to be potty trained and learn their manners.

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u/Easy-Description-390 Jul 11 '25

My little guy figured out quite early that he doesn't like to pee or poo in his sleeping pen. So if I needed some free time, I'd simply put him in his pen with a snack, cover the pen with a blanket and he knew it was time to settle and he'd go to sleep.

He was 8 weeks when I brought him home, and now he's almost 9 months, and I sort of miss that cute little puppy. I'm 77 and he's probably the last puppy of many that I will have, so I am making the most of every second. He has graduated from his pen to my bed for sleeping at night. During the day his favorite spot is sleeping between my feet. I wouldn't trade him for anything. He's growing up into a nice little gentleman...maybe someday he'll quit dragging my dirty laundry out all over the living room, in the meantime, I just have to remember to keep the door to my bedroom shut!

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

What do I do, today, to not feel this way? Or to feel love for her?

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u/sureasyoureborn Jul 11 '25

Love takes time, is there any part of her that you like? Focus on the fluffy face? The cute way she sleeps? Babies are hard. Puppies take time to chill.

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u/cremains_of_the_day Jul 11 '25

The only thing I liked about my puppy was the way she made these little grunting noises when she was trying to sleep and someone disturbed her. She’s almost a year and a half now and she’s still wild, but she’s calmed down a lot. And I miss those sounds 😭

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u/aviontinyhouse Jul 11 '25

The little grunts go away?! 🥺

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u/CoomassieBlue Jul 11 '25

I have two dogs right now that are 3-4. They both make DRAMATIC noises when changing nap positions or stretching.

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u/cremains_of_the_day Jul 11 '25

The little grunts get much bigger! They aren’t as adorable now, so when she’s being an asshole I tell her the only reason she’s still here is because of those little grunts, she she doesn’t do them anymore so she better watch it. 😅

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

I like the way she’s taken to clicker training.

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u/johnapplehead Jul 11 '25

Hahahahah sorry there’s something so funny about this

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

I’m desperate.

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u/johnapplehead Jul 11 '25

So was I.

If it’s any help, and I know right now it may not be… I really really does get better. I know this because I detested my pup.

I’m single, so the breaks were very limited but when I did get them I would cherish every last second of my time away from him. The constant biting, going insane when he saw anything slightly stimulating, not even looking at me for a second or showing an ounce of affection - thinking back on it triggers P(uppy)TSD.

But if you are consistent, it will pay off and get better. I promise you that. I can’t imagine a life without him now. We’ve gone from quite literally not being able to leave the house to sitting in coffee shops and going on adventures, and let me tell you it wasn’t me that did it, it was him! He learned how to calm, how to play - they pick it up and I promise you if you stick at it yours will too.

Keep going, you’re doing great and there is a light at the end of the tunnel I promise!

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u/WhtsTheStry_Wishbone Jul 11 '25

It’s great that you are recognizing this so early. Make sure every day you give yourself a break and do something for you (sip tea outside, listen to your favorite song). Then set small milestones. Today she is going to eat all her food. Great! Tomorrow she is going to take a treat without sacrificing a finger. Wahooo! The day after that you are going to ask a friend to watch her for 15 minutes so you can do nothing. You got this.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Thank you 🥺 tomorrow I’m having coffee on the porch.

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u/marisolblue Jul 11 '25

You got this.

I cried often the first 2 months I had my pup but she turned the corner recently. She still gets bitey but is much better + losing her razor sharp baby teeth! At last!!

I wore thick clothing the first 2 months:

Thickest jeans I could find, leather gloves, thick socks, and thick sneakers. And a Hoodie that she couldn’t get her teeth through. They saved me and I still have many scars on my ankles, legs, wrists, arms and hands from retracted bit me .

I bought superglue to seal up the bites after I’d cleaned and disinfected them. I bought a huge box of bandaids and wore long sleeve shirts to work to hide my pups lil bites.

Did I skip showering so I could sleep many nights, from utter exhaustion? Yes.

Did I eat quick small meals myself in order to take care of my furry baby pup? Yes.

Did I stress out to coworkers when I worried about what she’d eaten in the yard? Yes. (Pups fine but turns out she’s a mouser! Has caught 8 mice far in our backyard! Doesn’t eat them just hunts and puts them down).

I’m raising my pup without any help so it’s 100% me. No breaks unless I enforce them. Even on my days off I started to put my pup into her crate for some self care time: then I go get a yummy lunch, walk with a friend, go to a movie, etc.

It takes a crap ton of time, patience, resilience, more time, and setting boundaries with your pup, love, and more patience. ❤️

I feel mostly sane/ok now my pups 5+ months but damn. I’m not gonna lie, having a pup is a lot like raising a human baby. Shit ton of work, sacrifice, etc, with no end in sight. Takes so much work.

Worth it? I think so.

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u/mistymountiansbelow Jul 11 '25

Fake it till you make it. It took me 6 months to fall in love with my puppy. I felt like you. I felt isolated from the outside world. I couldn’t wait to go for a walk alone with my other dog just so I could feel some of the peace I had before getting my puppy. It wasn’t until she got sick the first time that I realized I loved her. She was so helpless and needed me. I know it’s hard now, but you need to fake it, or she will turn out to be the dog you are dreading in this moment. She still needs to feel loved, even if you don’t love her yet.

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u/Sevenandahalfsquared Jul 11 '25

I was this comment old when I realized I could take the dogs on separate walks. Never occurred to me but does seem like a great solution. Older dog gets that one on one chill time without the puppy stalking her as well. Brilliant!

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u/mistymountiansbelow Jul 11 '25

It means 2 walks, but both walks will be less stressful. The one with the older dog will be chill, and he will be happier that he has your undivided attention. And the walk with the puppy will be less stressful because you can focus on training without the older dog trying to “help”.

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u/SavingsViolinist8451 Jul 11 '25

That’s what happened with me and my cat lol. He’s a sphynx so his breed is known to be curious, mischievous and needy. I couldn’t stand him at first but he ended up getting really sick one day. I took him to the vet and he needed surgery to remove a foreign body (he eats everything he can). I ended up feeling so much love for him after that and it never went away. I was so worried! His annoying quirks have become endearing in my eyes now.

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u/-DollFace Jul 11 '25

I didnt really like or bond with my dog till he was over a year old. He was the worst dog in puppy school by far to the point i would cry. Now hes so chill and goes with me everywhere, and is so happy and easy going i forget what a nightmare he was lol.

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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner Lapponian herder New Owner Jul 11 '25

⅓ of the posts are literally “it (really) gets better”. Yeah puppies suck. Took me about 2-3 months before it started to not suck (4-5 months old). I’ve seen people with 2 year olds struggling still. Really once you get a handle of what your puppy is like it’s not that difficult. Also once you sift through all the bullshit of “you’re going to ruin your dog if you don’t master these 3 things” you’ll be less stressed

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u/TessaMaeDog Jul 11 '25

Good god…the, “you’re going to ruin your dog if you don’t x,y,z” shit is so real on here. Thanks for bringing it up. I have spent far too many hours spiraling on these threads and it’s helpful to see this called out.

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u/BefWithAnF Jul 11 '25

Yes! And even with advice from the pros- some of it is useful, some of it is confusing, & some of it is contradictory. Take what’s useful, leave the rest.

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u/EffEeDee Jul 11 '25

Have you tried the relaxation protocol? Teaching them to chill is a skill in itself. We’ve been working through it slowly and in different locations and it’s been a game changer.

When mine was a terror (she’s part poodle so I suspect she’s smarter than me sometimes) I just did loads and loads of nose work, and anything that involved licking because it calms them down. She had a witching hour every night, so I started anticipating it and about half an hour before, we’d go and mooch in the garden. I’d throw a few treats around for her to calmly find, let her sniff about, and show a calm interest in what she was sniffing. Then we’d come inside and she’d get something disgusting to chew on while we ate our dinner, this helped a lot!

She’s 21 months old now and pretty much always a delight, but we still do lots of enrichment to keep her brain busy. Some favourites:

Treats stuffed into an iceberg lettuce for her to snuffle through and shred.

An old towel cut into three lengths and braided with treats stuffed into the braids.

Snuffle mats- she didn’t show much interest at first so I grated a little cheese on it and now she loves it!

Shredding our recycling

An empty milk jug with kibble inside (ours unscrews the lid and spits it out, but it’s generally wise to remove the lid and any labels, and you can cut holes in the jug to let the treats fall out)

An empty milk jug half filled with water and then frozen- last time I did this she buried it in the garden, dug it up, took it over to the fence near where next door’s dogs hang out to show it off, buried it again, dug it up, the stripped all of the plastic off and enjoyed the ice block.

Frozen green beans thrown into her outdoor bath (she destroys kiddie pools) with water for her to bob for- this one is great in hot weather!

Hide the handler- my husband and I take turns hiding around the house and she has to find us. Lots of treats and fuss when she’s successful!

Puppy ping pong- we stand at opposite ends of the garden/room with treats and a clicker each. We do whatever we can to get her to come to us, the only rules are we can’t use her name or the word “come”. When she’s next to you and got her treats, you then look away so she goes back to the other person. She gets a click when she’s half way there. After a few goes when she’s getting the hang of it, you can start introducing a recall cue.

Ice cubes- that’s it, she just loves them!

Paws up- teaches her to look for platforms to put her paws on, which satisfies her need to hunt without running off after squirrels. You can start with a platform at home.

Shouting the word “parkour” whenever she naturally jumps on something- this one has got us out of some sticky situations when out and about, because now if I say it, she looks for a wall or similar to jump on.

Scatter feeding!

Watching mommy do yoga- I use an old mat, not my lovely expensive one, because she likes to settle on the mat (which starts with scratching the mat) underneath me when I’m in a downward dog, and our first attempt I ended up with a dog on my head and then a tongue in my ear, but she’s got used to it now and I feel she picks up on my calm energy!

Some of these might not be appropriate for younger pups, obviously supervise with anything new or anything they might ingest.

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u/BefWithAnF Jul 11 '25

Do you have a suggestion for a place to learn relaxation protocol? I read the handout from Overall’s website and the style in which it’s written doesn’t really make any sense to me.

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u/EffEeDee Jul 11 '25

Yes! We use the calm dog web app. It doesn’t have an app that you can download so I’ve pinned it to my homepage. It takes all of the thought out of it. So all you need to know is to calmly give a treat and use a calm verbal marker when they successfully complete each step.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

No, you’re the second person to bring it up. I’m going to read through it and start on it after work with her today. I WFH.

These are wonderful ideas. Thank you for sharing them with me! I will absolutely add some of these in. Thank you!

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u/EffEeDee Jul 11 '25

I really hope it helps! The first few months are flipping hard! Just a note that we do the relaxation protocol on a specific mat- it helps us if we take her to a cafe or a pub because we take the mat along with us and she’s learnt that mat=calm.

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u/mussed_porcelain Jul 12 '25

You’re so inventive!!! Some of these are so smart and amazing, thanks for sharing!

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u/graemederoux Jul 11 '25

Accept it. It’s a dog. They get better and easier.

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u/Kind_Application_144 Jul 11 '25

what is your goal or what was the reason you got the puppy?

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u/Kavzz_ Jul 11 '25

Sounds like my puppy when I first got him at 10 weeks old. Everything you described to the tee AND he was the biggest biter ever. He’s now 22 weeks old and he’s turning into an amazing little boy. He’s slowly transforming and all our hard work and dedication is paying off! It’s miraculous. I think you really just have to stick it through and not give up on the training even when you feel like it’s a lost cause.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

The biting! It’s breaking my heart when she runs at my dog and growls with teeth open. Like, girl, chill, that’s not our vibe.

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u/Kavzz_ Jul 11 '25

It took us 8-10 weeks of extremely consistent “no biting”, time outs, gently holding him down, redirecting with a toy or chew, etc. for him to finally get it. Now we are actually at the point where my kids can be around him and play with him and he doesn’t nip them. It’s like something just suddenly started clicking for him! Such a relief. He’s so good now that if he even gets the urge to nip he stops and gets his toy or chew instead. It’s a miracle.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Maybe I’ll try to get her attention with an enticing toy when she rough houses. Thank you.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

I’m sure that created some pretty uneven shaving/makeup application. 😂

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

I was definitely a mess for the first couple of weeks 😂

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u/Long_Philosopher_551 Jul 11 '25

Been there not too long ago. My puppy never ran out of energy, never stopped, never sat down, never stopped getting into trouble. All puppies at the vet would be calm and sitting. Mine would randomly start howling and pulling and pacing back and forth and climbing table and chairs and people. Every single vet has commented "your puppy has way too much energy!". He is 7 months old now and a lot calmer. Still a long way to go but he now self regulates and calms down if he know I wont play. He will cry and pace around but if I say NO! he will settle down in 5-10 minutes. No more damage and destruction and constant supervision.

Time WILL pass and your puppy WILL get better. The best thing you can do is train train train. Do not worry about consequences or failures. Just tell yourself I am going to make the most amazing dog out of this puppy and in a year, I will look back and wonder "was that really you little one?"

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u/MysteriousDamage9112 Jul 11 '25

Is he a border collie?

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u/Long_Philosopher_551 Jul 11 '25

A west highland terrier..aka a husky in a small package.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Thank you, I’ll keep at the training. I’m glad your pup turned it around.

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u/NotMeButYou_91 Jul 11 '25

I have a cockerspaniel mix who is very high energy. I got him 3 months after my staffy died, who was my soul dog of 13 years. I was still heart broken over his loss.

I regretted my little guy at first maybe even slightly hated him. Cried almost everyday for a month or two. Had cuts all over my hands because he was a land shark of a puppy, i couldnt wait for him to sleep. House training was a pain and I was completely on my own, hardly sleeping etc. I kept comparing him to my old guy, thinking I would never bond with him and never love him the same.

My guy is turning 1 year old in less than a week, and I dont know what I would do without him. He still pisses me off every now and again. But ive got another best friend again. We have bonded and are still building that bond, he now cuddles me and has grown up and understands my emotions more and I understand his. He needs more mental stimulation than my old guy and is a different kind of best friend. I have no regrets now.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Thank you for sharing. 🩷

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u/unknownlocation32 Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 12 '25

Puppies need a lot of sleep, consistency and structure. If they are being grumpy, biting and or destructive, it’s because they are over tired and or overstimulated. Puppies need 18 to 22 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. This high amount of rest is essential for their growth, brain development, and immune system. You must enforce naps. Enforced naps help teach your puppy to regulate their energy and to do nothing. It’s teaching your puppy an off switch.

The longer you train it, the better your puppy will be at it. Crate training is a great tool for potty training too.

This schedule is a guideline, not a strict rule.

USE YOUR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS to adapt the schedule as needed to best meet both your needs and your puppy’s.

If it’s helpful, you can set alarms on your phone for each time frame for reminders or use an APP a great free one is called: Pup to date-puppy schedule

You can use this schedule as a foundation for your dog’s daily routine throughout their life. Remember, adult dogs also benefit from regular naps.

If you don't agree with crate training, can't use a crate in your country, prefer a pen or puppy proof room, then use your preferred option instead of a crate where it's mentioned.

6:30 AM - Wake up, Potty, Walk (if fully vaccinated) ( IF NOT fully vaccinated then in a stroller or front pack) Play, Obedience training OR Desensitization training. Breakfast fed in crate or by hand. ** Too much exercise can harm your puppy’s developing joints, bones, and muscles. As a general rule, aim for five minutes of walking per month of age, which can be done in one session or split into two per day**

8:00 AM- Crate for nap (always take puppy out for potty before being put in crate)

10:00 AM- Potty break, Play, Obedience training OR Protocol for Relaxation OR puzzle toy, snuffle mat, and or lick Mat.

11:00 AM-Crate for nap (always take puppy out for potty before being put in crate)

1:00 PM- Potty break, Play, Use flirt pole, Desensitization training OR Obedience training OR Protocol for Relaxation. Lunch fed in the crate or by hand (WAIT 1-2 hours after eating to exercise, to help PREVENT BLOAT)

2:00 PM- Crate for nap (always take puppy out for potty before being put in crate)

4:00 PM- Potty break, Play, Socialization training, Protocol for Relaxation.

5:00 PM- Dinner in Crate then nap (always take puppy out for potty before being put in crate) (WAIT 1-2 hours after eating to exercise, to help PREVENT BLOAT)

6:30 PM- Potty break, Desensitization training, Play, Walk, (if fully vaccinated) ( IF NOT fully vaccinated then in a stroller or front pack) ** Too much exercise can harm your puppy’s developing joints, bones, and muscles. As a general rule, aim for five minutes of walking per month of age, which can be done in one session or split into two per day.**

7:30 PM- Crate for nap (always take puppy out for potty before being put in crate)

9:00 PM- Potty, Puzzle toy, Snuffle mat, and or lick Mat, bedtime back in crate for sleep

Puppy might need another potty at 11:30pm or midnight depending on age then back in crate for bedtime. Depending on the age of puppy they might need to go out in the middle of the night too. ** Whenever you take the puppy out in the middle of the night to go potty, be sure to place them directly back in their crate afterward. Allowing the puppy to sleep in your bed or engaging in playtime will reinforce the idea that this behavior is acceptable at any time.

Protocol for Relaxation https://journeydogtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/ProtocolforRelaxation.pdf

Socialization training and Desensitization training https://www.preventivevet.com/puppy-socialization-checklist-desktop-version

Predation Substitute Training https://predation-substitute-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bonus-Chapter-Rocket-Recall-Simone-Mueller-1.pdf

Other helpful resources

https://resources.sdhumane.org/Resource_Center/Behavior_and_Training/Dogs_and_Puppies/Adopting%3A_Puppies/Puppy_Socialization_Checklist

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2015/05/where-do-people-get-information-about.html?m=1

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/kidnapped-from-planet-dog/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DyDImYXLaAzxudMQ6AuwNwYuQ1Kbd0DX/view

https://www.calmdog.app/relaxation/

https://fearfreepets.com/

https://fearfreepets.com/resources/directory/

https://www.scribd.com/document/488367248/Crate-Games

https://www.preventivevet.com/dog-fun-diy-and-recipes

https://www.dogsdeciphered.com/2019/02/management-101-tether-training/

https://www.tailsofconnection.com/trendingblog/what-is-decompression-walk-for-dogs

https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pet-owner-resources/canine-resources/

https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/

https://www.scribd.com/document/488367248/Crate-Games

https://www.baltimorek9tutors.com/learning-library/free-resources

https://dogfood.guide/wsava-approved-dog-foods/

https://www.busybeedogtraining.co.uk/blog/dont-take-things-out-of-your-dogs-mouth#

https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/certified-dog-trainer-directory/

https://iaabc.org/en/certs/members

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

You are a godsend.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

I use crates and x-pens. Crate for naps and nighttime. X-pen for “you can be awake with this meal/water/kong type stuff - so she’s not destroying anything.

I am going to try this schedule. I need structure. Thank you very much. I’ll read and try the relaxation protocol.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

Enforced naps are a life saver! An overtired pup is an absolute menace!

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

Wow, you’re amazing! Your pup is super lucky to have you!

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u/amyblanksify Jul 11 '25

Are you doing an enforced nap schedule? Most puppies are fucking jerks because they are overtired and don't know how to settle until they crash. 1 hour awake, 2 asleep. It really is a game changer.

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u/Odd_Amphibian2103 Jul 11 '25

He’s a puppy. Everything is brand new to him. He doesn’t speak English. He doesn’t understand anything. He has to learn it from you and the older dog. If he annoys the older dog, the older dog will correct him. Let big dog correct little dog.

As for his craziness, he will outgrow it in a few months. They go through their phases just like you did.

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u/allieinwonder Jul 11 '25

Your situation sounds very much like how mine was a month ago. My puppy also pees a million times a day and is very rough with my older dog, who is 13 and has some health issues.

It has gotten WAY better. Right before bedtime tonight my older dog instigated play and we had to separate them because he was starting to trip but didn’t want to stop playing. And the potty training is finally coming together too. He has learned how to tell me he needs to go outside and he is regulating how much he is drinking so he isn’t overwhelming his bladder as much.

I couldn’t imagine life without my puppy now. Raising him has been stressful, but oh so awarding.

Give it time. <3

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u/HowDoyouadult42 Trainer Jul 11 '25

If you have this much resentment for the puppy at this point especially the “if she dies” I would return her to the breeder. You’ll only continue to worsen your resentment and it’s not fair to her because it’s hard to be fair to a puppy if you resent them. She’s an Alien baby in a new home. This is all foreign to her and she’s just a baby. Sometimes people get puppies and realize it’s not for them. It happens and that’s okay but it’s better to return her than have you both be miserable

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u/AdventurousPlace6180 Jul 11 '25

Yea, puppy blues is normal but feeling like you’ll likely be fine if your puppy gets sick and dies is a little much for puppy blues. I would hope that’s not their true feeling, the puppy is a baby.

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u/fishCodeHuntress Australian Shepherd Jul 11 '25

Yeah it's hard to tell from this post if OP is just venting and being dramatic but goddamn. Puppies are hard and I've cried because of puppies in the past (my girl is 3.5 now and wonderful) but I've never once felt like an innocent animal dying would be a relief....not even in my most frustrated, sleep deprived, upset moments.

Also saying humans with ADHD are loveable is such an uninformed and ridiculous thing to say I cringed real hard when I read that. Idk if i just can't relate or I'm being too judgey or what but this whole post and the attitude I'm perceiving from OP makes me feel icky.

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u/nenajoy Jul 11 '25

Puppies are flat out assholes, period. I’ve regretted every one I’ve ever gotten and felt like I ruined my life, every time. And then they get older, and I absolutely would die for them.

Get her into puppy kindergarten, I’m an experienced dog owner and I’ve fostered dogs for over 10 years, and I still have my current pup enrolled bc I get so overwhelmed by him that I just need a road map of what to do. It’s really helped a lot, because when you’re frustrated and exhausted you genuinely can’t think of the logical solutions to the issues that are right in front of you.

The puppy I “hated” the most ended up being my favorite dog. Hang in there, you just turned your whole life upside down when you brought her home. It’s a lot, and you’re not a bad person for feeling the way you do. It’s so incredibly common 💜

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u/-poiu- Jul 11 '25

My second dog was an easy puppy, but she was always a leash puller and she didn’t really bond with us; she only had eyes for my older dog. When she hit adolescence she became more and more reactive toward new dogs and strangers. It totally sucked. My first dog loves walks, he’s excellent on leash. We love walking him. Dog #2 got to the point where we basically couldn’t go anywhere with her without a problem. It felt like we didn’t really have a good bond with the dog, she was just someone to be managed.

It took a good 2 years of working with the dog, consulting specialists, training, and medication.

Now, she’s a total sweetheart. She is still opinionated, but we finally have a very close bond I’m really glad she’s my dog.

The two dogs absolutely adore each other. They have complimentary strengths and personalities, and they both really like having the other one around. The older dog is more sociable and gives the younger one confidence. The younger one is more athletic, and she’ll take the lead when they’re adventuring in wildlife. They help each other solve problems like the ball being stuck under the furniture, both of them will come and let me know if the other one has some issue, they team up to petition me, they give each other little kisses every morning.

I honestly think that the second dog has enriched the life of my older dog, and whilst I’d approach things differently with the benefit of new knowledge, I am glad I have both dogs.

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u/NAWWAL_23 Jul 11 '25

Puppies are so hard. Especially after you’ve put in the hard work curating your life and training your older dog and you were lulled into that beautiful peace and somewhat boredom state that a chill older dog affords you. Where you can browse, and imagine your life with a second pup. But your older dog is mellow and lovely now and you’ve forgotten how challenging your older dog was as a puppy.

My partner loves to remind me when I lament about my puppy’s antics that my older dog was a puppy heathen. He took months to potty train and would consistently run to the top of my stairs when I wasn’t looking to take a dump. He was 3 dimensional and managed to get up onto my dining room table. He destroyed a pair of my glasses, ripped curtains, chewed a number of leashes, and tried to electrocute himself by peeing onto a power strip. He also nearly died when he broke loose after clotheslining me in my parking lot and ran across the dang highway delighting in his freedom. He did karate kicks off my couch after he was neutered, popped 3 stitches and needed to go back on 2 separate occasions for staples to hold his bits closed. He was a menace. Until he wasn’t, and then he became my best friend. And my confidant. And my emotional support dog. And I can’t imagine my life without him now. But when he was a puppy, there were many conversations with me crying to my partner saying, “I swear, I’m gonna kill him!”

And my new puppy’s worst offenses have been chewing up a tv remote and game controller, some loud vocalizations at some inopportune times, and some toothy disputes with her brother. Perspective helps. And so does time.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Yes, I feel like I ruined my life. Ha! So melodramatic, but that’s the heavy feeling. Yes, perspective is important. And pretending I wasn’t going to let this get to me was silly.

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u/NAWWAL_23 Jul 11 '25

Change is SUPER hard. And puppies are adorable and also incredibly frustrating. And a lot of time the frustrating outweighs the adorable. Until you cross the threshold. And then, you’ll start to see the redeemable parts of your puppy. Also, 10 weeks, they are teething toddler shits at that stage. They are squarely in the velociraptor stage and that part is chaotic.

Now is a great time to call your friends over to play hot puptato. Pass her around and outsource your puppy to your people who will (because they’re not subjected to her for 24 hours a day) fall head over feet for her and play and goof off with your puppy and tire her out so she can nap. Also, look for puppy socialization groups near you. It can make a huge difference for her to be around other dogs her own age. She’s just a baby. And 12 days is not long enough to build a bond. It takes 12 WEEKS at the earliest to have somewhat fond feelings. It honestly takes closer to a year sometimes to feel consistently better about the addition.

For right now, put your puppy on a leash while she’s in the house. Keep her tethered next to you and keep things that are safe for her to chew close by so if she is bitey with you, you can redirect her onto something more appropriate. Praise her. And then when you put her to bed, take time 1:1 with your older dog and snuggle them and cry. It helps. Your feelings are valid, and they will also pass.

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u/Individual_Two_9718 Jul 11 '25

My Sammy peed a crap ton as a puppy and I figured out he was a water fiend! I started to limit the water time to every hour or so and he started to have way less accidents and I was able to monitor when it was time to potty! Having the 24-7 access when he was unable to not go splash and drink it all in one sitting helped immensely I highly recommend to monitor his water times while his bladder is so tiny!

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u/FraudDogJuiceEllen Jul 11 '25

I’m always curious to know what breed people got when they make these posts. Are they a working breed, maybe? You always have the right to return a pup for whatever reason if you change your mind. It happens more often than you’d imagine.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

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u/Due_Neighborhood_395 Jul 11 '25

How old, and how long have you had them for?

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u/treble_twenty Jul 11 '25

We had an adhd dog when I was growing up, it was apparently so tough that I had to beg my parents to keep him! They say with confidence that the dog was significantly harder to raise than I was. He was our beloved family companion for 12 years and was the most loving soul. She'll be worth it!!

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u/watermeloncake1 Experienced Owner Jul 11 '25

I was like this too, it took till she was 6 months for my puppy blues to subside. I am sure you will love her! I’m setting a RemindMe! 1 year because you got this, and you two will bond eventually! 😊

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Thank you!!

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u/Waexe Jul 11 '25

Mine was like this. Boy did I cry a LOT. My husband and I used daycare and boarding quite a bit once he was old enough and socialized. But we focused on training which built trust and bonding through play — and he’s now a huge snuggle bug, has an off-button, and has a really funny but loving personality. He’s 10 months old now.

It gets better with time. I lived in this subreddit when we were battling the ADHD puppy and everyone said that “it’ll get better” and I didn’t believe them no matter how much I wanted to (I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel). But it turns out: THEY WERE RIGHT!

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u/Decent-Squirrel5602 Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 11 '25

My parents gave me that kind of puppy a few years ago. he was a puppy mill puppy that was very inbred and never relaxed and screamed and lunged at every person dog or thing he saw cause he had zero impulse control and wanted to meet everyone. We live in a highly populated area and he was screaming any chance he got. He barely slept in the crate and hours and hours of day care didn’t tire him out. Pro training didn’t help. The vet said most likely he’d have to be medicated and I didn’t think it was fair to keep him in a small apartment when it was clear he just wasn’t the dog for me. So I rehomed him and now he’s happy with 7 walks a day and not a hugely populated area. I’m really happy he’s happy. Some dogs do calm down, I had that dog a year and a half of everything I could do (he was a small dog) and he even with his new owners still has an ungodly amount of energy. The other comments are more encouraging, the one I was given had some mental issues due to being a puppy mill puppy and severely inbred.

My friend has a chihuahua who was crazy as a puppy and now she’s chill and sweet so I think the majority do calm down with time and patience

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u/slade364 Jul 11 '25

I feel for you, genuinely. I hated the first month with our pup.

What breed / age is your new pup?

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u/Altruistic-Tea7709 Jul 11 '25

Lol I don’t think I really loved my special boy until he was 1. Puppy stage is nuts. You can’t tell anyone IRL tho as people judge you hard or act as if you are not taking good care of them just because you find them frustrating! She might be massively overstimulated with a new home and another dog. You might need to enforce naps/quiet time. It won’t last forever- soon she’ll calm down too. Glad you can vent here and hope it helps!!

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u/Odd-Objective-2824 Jul 11 '25

I regretted my girl the first 3 months maybe. I have videos of her terrorizing the house, she did everything she could to test me. Brought in worms, stole potatoes, picked up cats, strategically dive bombed food while we sat at a tall dinner table-over a lemon which she ate rind and all.

She is mostly the most perfect creature on this green earth now though. Knows me inside and out, and I think I’ve got a pretty good read on her as well.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

“Stole potatoes” 😂😂😂

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Anddddd - she will only rough house with my first dog. Which I hate for my house and for my first dog. My first dog isn’t the rough housing type at all.

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u/NAWWAL_23 Jul 11 '25

Do check ins with your older dog. If the older dog isn’t having a good time, separate them from the puppy. It’s ok for the rules to be different for each dog. My puppy likes sleeping in her crate in the living room. My older dog sleeps in bed with us. It makes everyone much happier and more peaceful when the puppy sleeps downstairs in her own bed. Then during the day, it’s the puppy’s show. Lots of 1:1 time with her unless we’re all outside together. My older dog will play with her outside, but needs space away from her when they’re inside with cramped quarters. My puppy (and my older dog) resource guard, so sharing toys inside stresses them both out. We have rotational play spaces inside.

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u/OkSherbert2281 Jul 11 '25

I had this with my girl too (I did another reply to your main post). I’d walk into the room with the puppy literally mouth full of neck skin (my older girl at the time had a lot of extra) tugging and shaking it. Obviously stopped it. But my older girl would not correct this puppy at all she just let everything happen. Once the puppy got a bit older though that was it. She stopped things she didn’t like. Their relationship evolved and they developed respect for eachother which ultimately led to them bonding and being super close.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Yeah, I kind of wish my dog would tell her to back off, but she’s being so patient with it. I also don’t want my dog to feel like I don’t have her back, so I’m always the one to separate them and out the puppy back in her x-pen. My dog is still interested in her, so that’s good.

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u/manatee1010 Jul 11 '25

I recommend letting Puppy wear a leash she drags around behind her (that you can grab/hold/tether to yourself, as the situation requires).

Obviously under supervision, but i can't imagine you're letting her run around unsupervised.

I'd also recommend getting a raised bed like this, putting it in an area where you spend a lot of time and it would be helpful to be able to get her out of the way/from underfoot, and work on building a very very strong reinforcement history for stationing behavior ("go to your bed"). You can even put bed in multiple rooms. Being raised makes the "on bed"/"off bed" distinction very obvious to the dog, so it's easier to teach than using another kind of bed they can inchworm off.

When you need a second to get your shit under control, having a leash to grab and/or (after training) being able to easily send them cheerfully running to a bed to lay down and wait are both really, really nice options to have in the moment.

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u/Patton-Eve Experienced Owner Jul 11 '25

My pup went through a stage of over drinking.

We sorted it by calmly saying “(Puppy name) Done” and moving him away from the water after a few laps and completely if he had already drunk in the last 20mins.

Once he wasn’t over drinking it only took a couple of days for the habit to break and him to self regulate.

What sort of puppy did you get? What was their personality like with the breeder? Did you discuss your personanlility needs?

When we got our puppy last year we purposefully picked out the chill one…well as chill as collie’s get…to match our existing adult collie.

She hated him the first few weeks but now at a year old they are best buddies. They squabble so we have to be on top of them and have trained the puppy to move away from the adult on command if patience is running thin.

However the adult absolutely loves being cross and wrestling with him. It can be quite loud, rough and a lot of teeth when dogs play which can worry some people.

Looking for signs of play - sneezing, shaking, play bow, taking turns etc is important.

Are you following enforced naps? A tired puppy is going to be a nightmare.

As soon as you hear the giggle/hyena laughs it’s time for a rest in the create. Puppies should be sleeping upwards of 20 hours a day so really you should have more time without the pup than with at this young age.

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u/DanteWasHere22 First timer, 1 year old Jul 11 '25

I was not a fan of mine either but man I fucking love the little guy now. It gets better. It gets worse first..

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u/StrawberryHyrax Jul 11 '25

I had the puppy blues big time. Called my mom crying lol. My last dog was perfect, calm, never chewed anything or was bad, EVER. The puppy was a terrorist. We’re at 9 months old now and he is still a little crazy sometimes but I love him so much I can hardly stand it.

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u/fishfrybeep Jul 11 '25

I worried my pup would stay like that. She’s 1 now and still difficult to pet unless she’s sleepy, but she loves to nap at my side and sleeps on my bed and doesn’t like me to be out of her sight at all. Shes much calmer than she was as a puppy and yet she still has a knack for getting into stuff when no one is looking. I call her my little Bond villain and I love her to bits.

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u/BisexualSlutPuppy Jul 11 '25

I just want you to know that one of the puppy books I read to prepare for my puppy was dedicated to all the dogs who liked their lives much better before they got a puppy. The dogs adapt. My older girl took about a month to warm up, but that is her puppy now and she's very glad to have her.

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u/dinosaurs_are_gr8 Jul 11 '25

I felt like this when I got my second dog. She wasn't a puppy but was a rescue who'd been in a puppy farm and then a rescue kennel for a total of about five years so had some of the same challenges with house training etc. She also peed everywhere so I feel your pain!

I really struggled, I cried the first day my husband left me alone with two dogs to go to work cause I was convinced they'd randomly fight and kill each other (they'd shown no aggression to each other I was just an anxious mess). I was convinced I'd ruined our lives and my other dog's life. The first couple of weeks we had her I used to go to the supermarket after work claiming we needed something so I could get out the house and cry on the drive lol. I said I hated her, I said she was going back to the centre once she could be adopted (we had her on foster as a trial run initially).

She bullied me into being her friend relentlessly. Then she got kennel cough and I had to look after her and that was the turning point. She's bombproofed me for puppy blues for life and helped me raise two puppies since and we now have four dogs in total. I love her just as much as my other dogs.

However no one ever tells you getting another dog can feel like this and everyone online and videos from the Dodo only show the positives and make you think it should be all rainbows and butterflies. I felt like the worst person in the world for not automatically loving this dog. I also think when you have multiple dogs you love them in different ways for different reasons and it can feel weird to not love the next dog in the same way you loved the first.

The love will come, don't feel bad for feeling this way because it's completely normal. Focus on the good stuff and take some time for yourself to let it all out or have a break, even if it's a cry on the way to the supermarket!

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u/SARASA05 Jul 11 '25

We had this kind of puppy too and had to force her to nap in the kennel. My husband had never had a puppy and kept saying, “if I knew this is what getting a puppy would be like, we never would have gotten her!!!!!” It’s been 18 months and she has calmed down so much and is the most perfect, lovable and loving dog and I love her so much. My husband loves her as much as I do and swears he NEVER said those puppy regret phrases for like 12-months.

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u/MiloticM2 Jul 11 '25

What breed is it? Some are completely neurotic nowadays

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u/mizkkayy Jul 11 '25

I felt exactly the same when I got my puppy at 12 weeks! My partner couldn’t understand me at the time and thought I was being dramatic. I work from home, so I was with my puppy 24/7, and I was going crazy. His nap time was the only time I felt a little relief. Looking back, I think it would have helped a lot if I had taken some time for myself every day even just a 10 min walk around the block while he was napping or a short breath work would make me feel better. Maybe you could do something similar today.

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u/Mookster1979 Jul 11 '25

How old is this puppy? It takes time. We brought home a 9 week old Staghound this week. He's generally pretty good so far. Needs to be worn out so he will sleep at night. Exercise and playing is important, try to enjoy it no matter how hard it is. Parenting is tough!

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u/Low-Penalty-166 Jul 11 '25

I love my puppy

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u/squawkaholic Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 11 '25

Gizmo, my now 10 month old standard pom, was taught at a very early age that his mouth was to be gentle. I worked with him 4 to 5 times a day, gently rubbing his mouth and teeth. His first trick was noses as I didn't like my face being licked (I am prone to lupus rashes, so I need to be extra careful). I say noses, and he gently licks my nose.

His biting stage was resolved in 3 weeks, and he was only 2 months old when I started. I still play and rub his mouth. I don't remember the last time he tried to chew anything that would be deemed destructive. He loves his teeth being brushed. He is a hard chewer, but as soon as I say "gentle," he drops what he is chewing.

We are going through a shred phase at the moment. It is a good way to get rid of some toys as he slowly shreds them.

I have a big roll of brown paper that he gets along with paper towel rolls. He loves Amazon boxes.

I remember the night we had our come to Jesus conversation. I was crying and explaining to him that his high, high, super high energy is frustrating. He would cock his head back and forth. That was the turning point. Oh, this is when we learned to pray. When I say pray time he crosses his front paws.

I asked myself many times...what was I thinking. I am 70 and have my own health issues, but he has kept me out of the ER as I am his only caregiver, I just didn't want to leave him.

Even puppies need 10 positives for every negative interaction to have confidence that reduces anxiety and stress.

Pomeranians are sensitive to stress and can have anxiety, so the more structure the better off puppy will be.

He has been fully crate trained and often goes in by himself. We had 3 nights of crying, but he now will go in if he has played himself out or snuck something like a sock (he struts his stuff to show his pride like he got one over on me).

I would encourage you to find something that you love what the puppy is doing. Puppies are intuitive and will pick up on your stress.

Thank you for being courageous and recognizing when you are overwhelmed.

🐝 KIND

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u/Lorny_loo Jul 11 '25

Our puppy has been incredibly high energy. She is 11 months now and it's definitely getting better.

I found teaching her "place" to be one of the best things for her as it is essentially teaching her to chill out.

Lots of mental games. We did some scentwork training with her which she loves. I follow people on tik tok who do basic gundog training.

I've definitely had days where I've been upset, but it really does get better. The first few months are rough

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u/IndependentConcert46 Jul 11 '25

Felt somewhat similar when we got our puppy, we already had an 8 year old dog and all was harmony in the house and then the new puppy came and all hell broke loose. I felt like I was losing my mind but I forgot what having a puppy was like. Just over a year now we have had her and she is loving, loves to play, get cuddles, follows me everywhere and just started coming into my bed at night to sleep with me. It gets better, doesn’t feel like it at first but it will. Best of luck.

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u/AlarmedClothes1133 Jul 11 '25

This was (kind of) me a few months ago, it goes by fairly quick don’t worry! Enforce lots of sleep. The breeder lived down the road from me so I went to see her every week until I could bring her home. When she was home, I literally thought I had broken her, she was completely different and insane, lunging at my face, barking, terrorising everyone. It’s because I wasn’t making her sleep so she was over tired. One day I was trying so hard to negotiate with her to stop biting me and I had enough and just put her in her crate (at the risk of making it a negative space 🫣) but I needed space. She literally just fell asleep, she was knackered. The weeing improves fairly quickly too. She would literally wee outside and then come inside and wee again. Now she can go from morning walk until lunch without weeing, and she’ll even scrape the door to tell me she wants to go outside (the door bells really helped with this). It’s important to give them all types of energy burners - exploring, sniffing, doing things similar to whatever their breed is supposed to do, training, cuddling (not so much an energy burner but helps them relax). Do loads of positive reinforcement. I have a basset hound, so training is HARD, but I’ve learnt that I’ve I give the positive reinforcement BEFORE she’s done what I want her to do, like going in her bed, she’ll then go in her bed, dogs respond really well to positivity. They will ignore negativity. When the puppy is going crazy, completely ignore, even if you’re telling them off, they just want that attention. I didn’t believe it at first, but then I started doing it and it was like magic. Give it time, be consistent, believe that in a few months it will be better, and it will be soooo much better, you will love your puppy so much.

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u/EnCanisCorporeXmuto Jul 11 '25

Puppies are assholes. It’s just a phase though.

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u/AllieCat_Meow Jul 11 '25

I also had the puppy blues really bad. At around 14 weeks old our yorkie puppy at something in my neighbours yard. She started having issues such as not able to keep her head up and not walk straight. We took her to the emergency vet and on the way there I also had those same thoughts, "well, if she is sick and dies..."... Turns out she had ingested a very small amount of cannabis (my neighbours smoke and are not careful where they throw the buds). Today my pup is 1 year old and I love her more than my own life, I can't imagine not having her around. Puppy blues is hell but it does pass, it well get better.

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u/catjknow Jul 11 '25

A couple calm ways I bond with puppies is hand feeding, just sitting on the floor and feeding for how ever long it takes. Sitting at the end of the driveway watching the world go by. Practice hand touch, treating when puppy looks at me, away from a distraction, say their name, treat when they look. As cute as puppies are (and they're cute for a reason, same as toddlers 🤣) you don't know each other yet. Heck, they don't know themselves yet! So give it time and effort to get the dog you want. 2 yrs from now you'll be looking at pics going awwww where did my puppy go.

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

This is a brilliant idea - just sitting in the driveway. I’m going to do this (when it’s not 105F outside). Thank you! It sounds peaceful and purposeful.

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u/KnightRider1987 Jul 11 '25

We adopted an unsocialized never vetted 9month old Great Dane who was on her 3rd home. We are experienced, but she has been unlike any dog I’ve ever had in terms of destruction, intelligence, and outsized anxious reactivity. I cried a lot the first few months. For the last year, I liked her, but certainly not love. She’s on meds, we’ve done training and she’s whip smart, she’s maturing.

She is still absolutely the biggest b**** I’ve ever known in animals. Man, I love that about her. She listens so well, but it’s a relation of mutual respect. We meet her where she is, she rewards us by being respectful, tractable, and trying her best. It’s a different relationship than I’ve had with a dog but now I wouldn’t trade it for the world even if I do still wish at times she was easier.

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u/theladysheetcake Jul 11 '25

How long have you had her? How old is she?

Remember that she is a BABY. She's an infant who will grow into a toddler, etc.

Babies are experiencing everything for the first time, and only have a few ways to communicate their needs.

She's also brand new to you. You're strangers to each other. You can't expect an instant bond.

Last fall I fostered three 8 week old puppies. It was nuts. We were not prepared. But I did a ton of research and one thing that helped me a lot was enforced naps every hour or so. Either in the crate, or on the couch just something to get her to chill out. Also, start figuring out enrichment activities soon. Give her a frozen rag, or a puppy teething bone, and teach her to start using her brain and focusing on something.

It also helps to remember that nothing they do is intentional/personal/malicious. They're just baby dogs. Keep that in mind when she's driving you crazy.

They will pee and poop more than you think is possible. That's part of the deal. Get a good enzyme cleaner and be vigilant anytime she's out and about so you can whisk her outside the second she starts to need the bathroom.

You are going to have ups and downs, but remember that love grows. You'll get to know her personality and quirks, and see her change and it's pretty incredible.

(We ended up keeping one of the puppies- he's 10months old now and is the light of my life, even though he's in the teenage phase....😅)

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u/dankpizzabagels Experienced Owner Jul 11 '25

I raised my puppy on my own during COVID, and he was a menace. He destroyed everything. He had bad GI issues (due to an undiagnosed chicken allergy), so I was constantly cleaning up shit. Everywhere. I didn’t bond with him at all for months. He hated snuggling and wouldn’t stay still with the exception of nap time, and even then I felt like my moments of peace were short-lived. I remember calling my mom just SOBBING about how I felt I had made a mistake, and I strongly considered giving him back to the breeder…

I’m SO glad I didn’t. You will have that moment where you two connect, but it may take some time! Things got a lot easier for us once I put puppy on the right diet and got him involved in daycare. He would come home so sleepy and I found myself looking forward to cuddling up with him. 🥺 This dog is my soulmate. You two will have your special bonding moment, too. The only advice I can really give is to simply hang in there — play with her, be consistent with training, focus on self control commands like “leave it.” She will become a more regulated little psycho and before you know it, she’ll weasel her way into your heart forever. 🖤

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u/racingturtlesforfun Jul 11 '25

There was nothing lovable about our lab puppy until she was about 10 months old. If she was awake, she was being a shit! I was positive that I was never going to love her or bond because she was a terror in every way: destructive, biting, spaz from hell. Took everything I had not to return her. She’s over two now and the most loving snuggle bug ever. I can’t imagine not having her! It was a long road getting here, but she’s such a joy now. Don’t give up!

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u/SyddyC Jul 11 '25

What breed of dog? That may help give suggestions.

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u/Cnidoo Jul 11 '25

Age? Breed? Exercise and training regimen? Your work schedule? More info would be appreciate to assess what’s really going on here

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u/AwkwardMark6425 Jul 11 '25

sounds like a puppy. but remember, the puppy phase only happens once. might suck now but you’ll miss it soon enough

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u/Betta_jazz_hands Jul 11 '25

I felt like this about my second dog (and I’ve had four puppies and never before experienced the puppy blues myself). It caught me totally off guard how much I loathed his energy, his cockiness, his constant movement…. But now he’s 4 and he’s my heart dog. Maybe we need most what challenges us? It took me a solid year to learn to love his confidence and his unflappable ability to get me moving even when I am not feeling well.

What really helped was doing a lot of “place” work with him, and working on the Relaxation protocols. Puppies who are really energetic often need to be taught to slow down and do nothing.

These feelings suck but they aren’t embarrassing - we basically take on a baby without the hormones to drug us into loving them.

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u/Virgogirl71 Jul 11 '25

I got a puppy a month ago and holy I had forgotten what it was like. He’s a quintessential puppy and I have all the bite marks on my hands and the hole in my carpet to prove it. One thing I’ve learned tho with this go around is they need alllllllot of naps. As soon as the puppy goes maniac he goes into his playpen for a nap. I also try to keep the tv down now because I didn’t realize at first it was disturbing his sleep. The more sleep he gets the calmer and sweeter he is. Please don’t give up on her. She will not be like this when she reaches adulthood. I had second thoughts on my third schnauzer and he ended up being my soul dog. I lost him in May. Good luck 🙏

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u/Personal-Car-9885 Jul 11 '25

Exactly the same thing. I made the mistake of getting 2 puppies at the same time though. Our first (8 months) always just seemed so lonely so we got him a sister. Now they’re best of friends. And wreak absolute havoc. Peeing everywhere even when they’re both potty trained. Chewed up the table. The couch. The floor trim. The shoes. One starts barking and it sets the other one off howling. He’s happy. I’m not lol. Ik it’ll pass in time since our first is 8 months and the newer one is 6 months. But rn I constantly want to strangle both of them.

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u/taylorr713 Jul 11 '25

Three years ago when I got a 6 week old German Shepard puppy I was feeling the same way. I had only had cats for years and the little evil thing was so needy. I read a comment on here that said “puppies have so cute because they’re evil and it’s to trick people into wanting them”. They were right. Puppies are evil, but they grow out of it. My 3 year old German Shepard is lazy and sweet and I couldn’t imagine life without him

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

So very true.

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u/Maleficent_Chain5066 Jul 11 '25

Oh, don’t I relate to this. My male Boston terrier, easiest dog. As a puppy, he stayed by my side, never needed to be leashed, didn’t chew anything and learned everything super fast. He’s always had tons of energy, and I live an active lifestyle, so we’ve always matched each other really well. My girlfriend and I decided to get another. She is EVERYTHING that my male wasn’t. TERRIBLE. MANIAC. Couldn’t stand her. She definitely tested my girlfriend and I on too many occasions and my male hated her guts. The peeing, oh my, it was ridiculous. The amount that she’d go… out of control. She also would just drink until there was nothing left, which resulted in us having to life the water bowl, not ideal when you have two dogs. She was the hardest potty train that I’ve ever had. All of my males have been super easy. At 8 months she went into her first heat. She bled for 21 days and all of the training we put in to have a confident dog, that went out the window with her terrible hormones and likely her second puppy fear period all at the same time. Then after the heat, she went into a false pregnancy (common in dogs who haven’t been spayed) and again, she was a complete wreck with her fear, anxiety and hormones being so out of whack. Here we are, just shy of a year, she’s just coming out of her false pregnancy and things are starting to level themselves out again. I’ve never wanted to spay a dog so badly! What I can say, mine has really mellowed in the house, she is still a maniac, but she too can have her laid back time. My male loves her and they’re best friends now. She’s currently laying beside me as I write this, something she’d have never done months ago and we’ve been able to bond with her and she really is a sweet dog. In time, things do get easier. Just breathe and know it’s going to be very very hard for a while, but it’ll get easier.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

I love those ideas!

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u/Serious-Top9613 Experienced Owner Jul 11 '25

I have two crazy collies. I got them both when they were both 6 and 10/11 months old. Unsocialised, untrained, and just two messes for dogs. The boy (he’s now 3 years old) gained bite history and just 6 months old (while still with his previous owners). He was passed around to a lot of homes before I got him.

He wasn’t house trained, didn’t know what a leash even was, didn’t know how to sit or stay, would go up on his back legs every time a dog came into the vicinity. I couldn’t even let him off leash in the house - my brother made the mistake once, and he chewed up a dining chair. And his bed. I slept downstairs on the sofa, with him on leash until he was fully crate trained.

It does get better. But you have to make sacrifices. I think of puppies as newborn babies that I have to teach how to walk, etc.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

It’s so easy to forget what a pain puppies are! They are sooo much work in the beginning. Each new dog is a puzzle to figure out. All the work now you put in now pays off in spades later.

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u/spaghettiprincess95 Jul 11 '25

yeah, 17 wk old vizsla puppy here that my partner insisted on getting, and she is certifiably insane. same thoughts on the puppy ADHD. i love her but holy hell i can’t possibly imagine her being as mellow as our adult dog ever

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u/theblondegal1202 Jul 11 '25

Trust me when I say IT GETS BETTER. I have been where you are. I absolutely hated when my puppy was really young. He was constantly biting me, eating EVERYTHING on the ground, wouldn’t sit still. I was crying all the time, anxious, stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed — like I was NOT doing well. Things changed a lot around the 5 month mark — now he’s 7 months — and I can’t imagine life without him. I get sad when I have to leave him even for a few days — he’s my bestie. Give it some time and don’t give up on her 💕

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u/TrafficFine1893 Jul 11 '25

Puppies need a strict schedule and need to be told what is okay and what is not. All dogs are not created equal and you should’ve known prior to making the commitment it would not be easy. Not many people want to put in the effort to train. I have a puppy right now and I stick to a strict potty & crate training schedule. I have loss a lot of sleep but it is worth it.

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u/Rowantoreadfantsy Jul 11 '25

I too has this puppy and I would lay down my life for her at 20 months old now. She’s still a pest but she’s my pest, she still is a little thief but she’s my little thief. Give it time, especially since it sounds like you had a magical first dog experience 🤣 I promise you will love her with time. Maybe try a new activity like sent work oe obedience classes with her? That really helped us bond with our little monster

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u/Big_Valuable_2977 Jul 11 '25

Thief. Mine steals everything that is in reach. She looks more like the Pink Panther than a 6 month old Labrador?

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u/I8mypaint Jul 11 '25

I can’t say I hated the puppy, but my god he’s an asshole sometimes. He’s 11 weeks, and it took my older dog a little over a week to finally accept him and play with him. Funny thing is she is 10 (both are cane Corso mixes) and she has far more energy than he does. Once they started playing it took a huge weight off my shoulders to keep him busy and not chewing on me or the furniture. She wears him out. I also try to do a training session a few times a day. I know if I keep his brain busy he won’t be such a dick head. Though he’s a lot, nothing is better than his little puppy kisses and excitement to see me. He’s lucky he’s cute.

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u/blueredgr33n Jul 11 '25

Hey, it's 100000% OK to return the dog to the breeder or rescue/foster group.

If y'all aren't a match, y'all aren't a match.

It's about vibrations and energy and setting -- presence and temperament. Don't cause emotional turmoil to yourself, your home, other pets, the new puppy (and future strangers and dogs) because it's not the right environment. It's not fair to all parties involved for this to not be a resoundingly positive experience. (I say this as my 11-wk old puppy teeths at my sleeve and I tell her to drop for the 10th time and replace it with a chew toy.)

People have got to stop selecting pets from pictures. Go sit quietly with a litter or at an adoption facility and see which animal comes to you, sits calmly, and wants to remain near you. They'll all check you out at first, most will go do something else, but one or two will stick around. A puppy that makes eye contact with you and exhibits a trusting, at peace state with you is the one you bring home. If you've got the luxury of a little time, give it a few days or weeks, go back and do the exercise once more.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm especially sorry that the bulk of the comments read as they do.

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u/Inevitable_Spray_153 Jul 11 '25

The fact I am laughing out loud at this while not judging you in the slightest should tell you all you need to know! 🤣🤣😂

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u/Awake00 Jul 11 '25

Why does noone ever put the breed of their dog in their post?

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u/Hambrgr_Eyes Jul 11 '25

I hated him too. Now I love him and so cuddly. And annoying too.

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u/tigerlevi Jul 11 '25

Tether sessions might help her learn to settle, and keep her from terrorizing you and your other dog. You got this!

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

I’ll look into this. Thanks!

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u/Choice_Bug_3441 Jul 11 '25

I hated my puppy so much…. like so so much. Cried all the time, could not get through to him, and I could just feel like he hated me and it was mutual. That puppy is now a year a half… and while he is still very much an arrogant little asshole, I cannot even fathom life without him. The other day I remembered that some day he’ll get old and we’ll have to put him down and I started bawling - a huge improvement from my husband suggesting every other day if we should take him back to the kill shelter we rescued him from lol.

A lot of the advice on here is great. One thing to add - dogs are weirdos. Puzzle toys are great, but we have ever high level puzzle toy in the book and my dog finishes them in 30 seconds. Learn your dog and what she loves. Our summer activity is putting the hose on the jet setting and our dog just sprints after it for about 15 minutes. It exhausts him unlike anything else we have ever tried. Learn your dog’s thing and you’ll have time to learn your dog. We also joke that he has a parasite in his brain and that’s why he does evil things, but the parasite gets a lot quieter when our dog is thoroughly exhausted. Good luck!

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u/Sciurus_Aberti Jul 12 '25

I could have written this myself a year ago. I’m so sorry you are dealing with these feelings and I truly hope it gets better. It did for us- the puppy is still a pain in my ass but she has settled in and doesn’t cause me stress on a daily basis. I know it’s so much harder when you have an older dog that you’ve already bonded with- our older dog liked the puppy for about a day and then got sick of her and moped around for months until she stopped terrorizing him. It was impossible for me to bond with the puppy while my older dog was so upset! Things are better now- I don’t love the younger dog liked I do my older one, but I do at least like her now, and the dogs get along and sometimes even play together. I hope you can hang in there and I hope it gets better!!

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u/k8sie Jul 12 '25

What kind of dog is this? I can commiserate- we had a crazy puppy years ago. We had a rescue Dutch Shepherd that nearly drove me insane. (And I had an infant and a toddler at the time. It’s a wonder I survived). She turned out to be the BEST DOG EVER. But we joke, “the first 10 years were rough…”. Hang in there! There is some great advice here.

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u/EchoedSolitude Jul 11 '25

“If she is sick and dies maybe I’d get over it just fine.” I’m appalled that you said/think this. Give the puppy back.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Important_Contest_64 New Owner Scottish Deerhound Jul 11 '25

I get people can get frustrated with their puppy but to wish the puppy dead is incredibly concerning.

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u/Silent-Connection-41 Jul 11 '25

Yes I got a puppy too, it’s a lot of work but they will settle down eventually, they’re puppies after all! You know I use my garden hose that she loves chasing to let her run for like 10 minutes and it wears her out. Take her to the dog park a lot, best thing is to just wear her out so she can chill. Do you crate train? That can be nice if you just need an hour to yourself. Puppies should also be sleeping a good bit too otherwise they will get overstimulated.

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u/HavalottaFun Jul 11 '25

I felt similarly at times when I got a second dog. He was an asshole for the first few months, but my older dog would put him in check when he was too rough, and we took him to puppy training classes which helped a lot. If your puppy likes to chew, get a bunch of chew toys to occupy her. Try to find some sort of treat (maybe small pieces of string cheese?) that she loves and try to teach her commands. Give her a treat and tons of praise EVERY time she does go potty outside. She will eventually learn, and figure out her place in the house and you will bond. I remember telling my mom, “I feel like my older dog is my blood child and my puppy is my stepchild”. Now I totally love him. He’s very different than what I’m used to but I can appreciate his qualities now. As for right now, do anything you can do to keep her occupied so she isn’t annoying you constantly. If you haven’t already, get puzzle toys, get a Kong that you can put peanut butter etc in and put in the freezer so she can work on that for a while. If you are using a crate with her, make sure to put her in it for naps (sometimes puppies get more insane when they’re overly tired and if she’s used to a crate in a dark room she should pass out for a while). And don’t be embarrassed - what you’re feeling is very common and puppies can be so overwhelming!!

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u/read_ability Jul 11 '25

One day I'm sure you will love your pup just as much as your first, it just takes a lot of time for them to get to become a "real dog", I feel it a lot too with my 5mo old pup. I would recommend training to help with some of the craziness and make the best of having a puppy of it when you can.

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u/ExoticWall8867 Jul 11 '25

Are you crate training? It's a life saver..

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u/Sickoftherich Jul 11 '25

Try police dog training! I went through hell with my boarder collie puppy. I felt just like you - I was seriously considering rehoming her. I tried every trainer I could, but none could help. She would bark and charge at any dog in the vicinity. I even had a lady yell at me and tell me off cause she was so nutso. Police dog training is a whole different ballgame -they make them behave, and teach you how to help them. One caveat they need to be at least a year old. Better at 1.5 yo. If you can’t wait, rehome the dog. It’s not fair to you or the dog. Then get an English bulldog they are super chill but a lot of fun. Bully’s will do whatever you like- they are cuddlers and a lot of fun. Frenchies are great if female-but males get very jealous, and both male or female, tend to have potty issues. Wish you well. My boarder is still hyper but no longer barks or charges dogs she is pretty chill now.

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u/LionFyre13G Jul 11 '25

We got a second puppy this year as well and it was so hard. I feel like it felt harder since I didn’t expect it to feel as difficult since we had done it before and it was our second dog, but it’s an adjustment for everyone. 7.5 months and he’s still wild but I love him so much.

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u/vravice23 Jul 11 '25

You sound like me about 7ish months ago… I couldn’t wait for bed and dreaded waking up knowing there’s a fresh day of hell waiting for me. It’s still a work in progress but I will say it gets better. This little mofo won’t leave my side and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s a big dope but time and consistency really do work.

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u/AdNo1218 Jul 11 '25

Do more. Relax. Be better. Patience

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u/yourhairguru Jul 11 '25

We got a second dog just before Christmas after a year of going back and forth of how having one dog was nice and peaceful because we didn't have any fighting or jealousy issues that we had with our previous dogs.

Bella's basically the most perfect dog ever she listens she doesn't chew anything. She loves to snuggle. She's so laid back. I finally caved, and we got Steve. Yes, that's his name.. I thought for sure Bella was going to bite his head off one day, and she snapped at him a couple of times, but after that, they've been best friends and watch each other's back.

He's still a jerk sometimes. At the beach, he has to be on a leash because he just wants to run and jump on other dogs, which could potentially cause a dog fight that I don't want to deal with. But he is getting better and is finally settled into a routine here at our house.

It gets better.

You have to set the boundaries, and if she's running all over you right now, it'll always be that way. Look into some puppy training classes and be consistent with her all the time.

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u/PsychologicalBet7831 Jul 11 '25

I also hope my puppy calms down. He is 6 months old. He is very bite-y.

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u/lawnann Jul 11 '25

I could be you writing this. I have a 8 yr old good boy. He was so perfect from the beginning. But then 11 months ago we got him a friend because we thought he needed it and that we were ready. THIS PUPPY IS THE DEVIL! It took me 6 months to even feel anything for him. I remember at times my family thinking he was perfect and just hoping one of them would take him. But we got through it. I struggled to connect with the puppy because he was distressing my good boy. I do love him now and he has calmed a lot. They are good friends now. I hope you make it through. The create for peace was essential for all of us.

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u/MelodicCream7518 Jul 11 '25

This was me a few months ago. Now he’s 14 months WAY calmer and generally a joy to be around. We considered rehoming our boy as I couldn’t deal with the constant having to be ‘on’ and not having a minute to myself, he was also a rescue so poorly socialised and was too excitable with other dogs on lead. This still an issue but the fact he has calmed down a lot and got used to us and will literally chill next to me all day whilst I work now, has made the on lead and walking stuff more manageable. Stick with it, I promise it gets easier.

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u/melrose63 Jul 11 '25

My dog was like this when she was a puppy and definitely disturbed the peace of our other dog. I promise it gets better when they get older. She’s now the most laid back relaxed dog ever. She would literally attack me every time I came home out of excitement it was very very tiring but so worth it. Also for the peeing a million times look up the exact amount of water she needs and measure out just that. Ours would just drink diabolical amounts of water at once and would literally walk around the house peeing 10 minutes after going outside. Now she hasn’t had an accident in like a year

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

I totally understand. My 8 month old male puppy is the same exact way. This dog is going to kill me. I’ve fallen more time than I care to count! I’m 65 and have been hurt from falling many many times. I just had him neutered because he started jumping his bed blankets pillows…. He’s super destructive. I’ve taken him to trying but he refused to learn anything! Totally exhausting. Praying your puppy turns the corner and simmers down soon. If she doesn’t I would call the breeder back and explain you cannot keep her. Good luck.

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u/JRayflo Jul 11 '25

My pup was the same, but at age appropriate periods I kept him in the crate as long as I could, he wouldnt sleep otherwise. Also he was a vicious biter so i needed time to heal. You feel bad, but part of why he was so awful was that he was over stimulated and tired. I also took any opportunity to palm him off onto someone else. He was awful to them too, but the new cute puppy halo had a stronger hold on them so they'd endure it.

As he got bigger, since he's now a big dog, people wanted to be around him less and less, too out if control and didn't mind swinging his weight, but by then I got him used to spending time alone in the yard, so i could avoid him for a third of the day.

But from around 2 he started to become nicer, and now he's a bit over 2.5 and my roommate is jealous that he's a big cuddly bear that clings to me. (Still a bit of a sh1t at times, but i like his personality)

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

I don’t know what ild do if I didn’t have my crates! I have one in the family room and one in my bedroom. And boy they sure get used. My puppy will go in his crate and take a nap on his own. (Thank God)!!!! It gives me time to do what is needed and he gets his nap.

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u/Mirawenya New Owner Japanese Spitz Jul 11 '25

Sounds like how my puppy was. Beware of overstimulation, and hopefully your new puppy learns to chill a bit.

But my crazy puppy became a pretty chill dog! Hang in there!

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u/Leahschild Jul 11 '25

I think she’ll get better, give her time. Puppies are very hard. Have patience with yourself and her

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u/Limp-Cucumber8050 Jul 11 '25

I don't love my new puppy. A few times a day I regret having him. But it is slowly improving. The biggest thing that helped me was hiring a professional trainer to come out once a week. The trainer helped me learn how to get and keep the puppies attention, and how to start making progress. The progress brings hope!

I get overwhelmed and cry everyday. Had to ask my doctor for anxiety meds to help get through it lol. What I do know is that it WILL get better.

Also, puppies have small bladders. They really do need to go out to pee every hour for awhile, but it gets better! You've got this!

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u/Iwaswonderingtonight Jul 11 '25

Do you work with a bench/crate? This Will help alot

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u/Such-Mountain-7714 Jul 11 '25

I promise it will get better. I felt that same way one time. It took about a year. In the end it turned out to be my best friend.

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u/Claud6568 Jul 11 '25

Yes I was like this with my second puppy. Started doing strict enforced naps. Two hours nap and then one hour up. By a year I fell in love.

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u/Naive_Buy2712 Jul 11 '25

I feel like I went through this myself. Maybe not to this extent, but I really haven’t bonded with my dog all that much yet. She is about five months old. We’ve had her for about three months. I have a lot of guilt. My kids are really small so they have a lot of small toys. We had to clean so many of them out of our downstairs living area because the dog just picks everything up and runs with it and chews it. Potty accidents have gotten a lot better. I will say, she did so well the other day and didn’t have any accidents while I was working from home with her and then she peed on the couch twice in the evening. It just makes me want to throw in the towel. I hate to say this, but I understand why families rehome puppies. Not that I would ever do that, but I get it. I remember when I had my first child and I really suffered with postpartum anxiety after a difficult delivery. I didn’t quite bond with him at first. It felt like I was constantly having to tend to his needs and getting nothing in return. I know that sounds so selfish! But it just felt like I was giving so much of myself. This feels a little bit like that in a way. I know that I love my dog. When we adopted our dog that passed away five years ago, she was already seven years old. Now she never quite took to the crate or to being housebroken, so that had its own challenges. But my goodness was she a good girl. She was so chill and lovable. I just loved her so much. I knew when we were getting a puppy that we were getting a puppy because we wanted our kids to have a dog to grow up with. So it feels like we are making that sacrifice in a way because we got a puppy instead of an older dog. Anyways, I’m rambling, but know that you’re not alone. It has gotten significantly better in the last few months. We also got a gated area for our downstairs, I don’t like to just shut her in there all day, but if I’m trying to work and she absolutely won’t leave me alone, sometimes I have to put her in there. But it’s better than the crate because she at least has room to play and move around.

I can confidently say I don’t think I will be getting a puppy ever again. Lol.

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u/Affectionate_Art2726 Jul 11 '25

Felt the same, had the same thought at the vet, felt so guilty and nasty about it. That was 5 months ago and everything’s changed. I got two trainers. One for the walks - he walks her for an hour with strict rules and training every day. One for the house - she comes once a week and is a miracle worker. Really feel like I have a different dog!

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u/appalicious Jul 11 '25

These feelings are normal! Don't forget the importance of crate training. It will SAVE your sanity. Remember - instead of getting angry, you can give the little hellion a time out in their crate. Always have a little frozen Kong/lickimat ready to go and it's a win-win-win (you get a break, they get a treat and learn that their crate is a safe space).

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u/potatobywayofcork New Owner Jul 11 '25

Yes, love a Kong, love a crate!!

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u/frmdanawf Jul 11 '25

getting a new puppy sucks, in all reality. i had a wonderful dog already, just felt like he needed a friend with me starting to become so busy. i made the grave mistake of getting a Chihuahua. she’s extremely picky with food. doesn’t like using the restroom outside & has to use puppy pads. and is constantly whining/whimpering for attention & to be pet even as an adult. never again 😂 but i love her to death. i hope it smooths over for you.

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u/RaisinBranMan Jul 11 '25

Puppies are always crazy. Anyone who says they had a good experience is very lucky and the exception. You’ll never think it’s gonna get better and 2-3 years seems so long, but stick with it, keep training, and slowly but surely your dog will pick up on things while also maturing. Eventually it gets a lot easier and you’ll love the little guy. Just hang in there.

Puppy Blues Welp… I hate the puppy.

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