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I just got a new puppy, and don't get me wrong, I love her and she's sweet and lots of fun. But she is a TON of work. I work full time, and I feel like every second I'm home, I'm watching her to make sure she's not getting into something, pushing her off because she's biting me, sitting in the back yard with her, or feeling guilty because she's in her crate because I need to do something fun like wash the dishes or take a shower.
I worry that it's going to be like this forever, that I'm never going to be able to just sit on the couch and read without an animal biting me or demanding my attention. Or worse, that once she's 50-60 lbs and her jaws are 10x stronger, she's going to keep trying to bite my face and I'm going to get hurt.
I'm interested in hearing from Bees who got their dogs as puppies and now have older dogs--did you feel this way too? Does it get better? How long does it take before your dog is just a part of your life and not the complete focus of it?
Is this just the "puppy phase," or is this what dog ownership is really like, and I just never knew?
our "pup" is now 3 1/2, and is so much calmer now! he basically sleeps in between his walks and feedings now, besides from following us around when we're going from room to room. he still has moments when he really, really wants to play, and we'll play fetch or something inside, but the majority of time he's inside he's lying down near either dh or me. so yes, it gets much easier! I don't remember exactly when he calmed down, maybe around 1 year?
Our puppy is 7 months old and it has stopped! Don't get me wrong, she's still a puppy and gets curious, but she isn't constantly nibbling at my arms and peeing on the floor and getting into things. Don't worry, it gets better! She's been potty trained since she was 4 months old and is even trusted enough to sleep in our bed now =]
@finnaroo: Thank you! That is really helpful. I definitely don't mind if she follows me room to room--I just prefer that she not be violently biting my feet while doing so, haha. It's also good to hear that he only really wants to play sometimes--I feel like our girl ALWAYS wants to when she's out!
I promise it won't be like this forever!
We just went through the puppy stage. My Maverick is about 16 months old now and it is soooo much easier. He is still crated when we aren't home for long periods but he can now be home for about an hour without us being there and he is free to do his own thing (meaning we aren't watching him all the time) when we are home!
As long as you are consistant with training during the puppy stage they will grow into a good dog. I have read that you need to tell a puppy something 100 times before they "get it". I know your frustrated and you feel like you are saying "NO" a thousand times a day but it will be worth it I promise!
Exercise is your best friend - a tired puppy is a good puppy!
@LoveMySailor1018: That's so great to hear! Our girl is pretty good about potty training--at least, we have hard floors so any and all accidents aren't that big of a deal. It's more the hyperness that is driving me crazy!
By the way, what kind of dog does each of you have?
It'll get better, don't worry! Puppies just take a lot of attention! I think the first few weeks or so I had mine (now almost 10 years old) I felt the same way! But it does get easier, and it's so worth it. I couldn't imagine not having had my dog with me all these years. You'll get past the craziness 
@Future Mrs. Martin: Thank you! I know she probably does need more exercise. I'd be happy to take her for walks, but she doesn't really "walk," more just stands in one place sniffing a bush! But probably I just need to be more patient.
Do you guys let your dogs out in your backyard by themselves (if you have one)? I feel like if I could just let her out for 15 minutes and do some laundry or something then come back, that would help a lot, but I don't know if its dangerous to leave a young puppy outside by themselves.
@MercyK: Thank you! That's what I needed to hear. I'm sure soon she'll feel like part of the family, and I won't be able to picture life without her. Just gotta get through this early stage!
@LoveMySailor1018: Yayyy! Okay, we have a boxer, too, now I feel MUCH better, haha, cause they're known for being one of the most energetic breeds.
Your puppy is ADORABLE!! I love the black & white look on a boxer! So fun.
I didn't get her as a puppy puppy, she was 9 months, but I have a pit bull mix. Like boxers, they are supossed to be super energetic. Ha. My girl is 8 (!) now and she has not done anything for the last 4 years but lie in front of the heating vent, haha. She was pretty well behaved when we got her, already potty trained, etc, but she chewed. A lot. Until maybe she was about 3? Granted, it was just her own bed she chewed up, but she seemed to really enjoy it. Pits are known for staying in their puppy phase for a while, though.
The benefit of a super young pup is that you have a greater chance of raising a super obedient dog. Take her to some training classes! It really pays off in the future.
@All In: This is how we structured exercise with Maverick. Everyday he goes for a walk in the morning. This is leash training (teaching him how to walk at our sides on the leash) he is only allowed "free" sniffing time if we let him!!! Then he also goes to the dog park everyday! This is when he gets the most exercise as he is running like crazy and it's great for socialization.
Even if you don't have a dog park you can get a long lead and play with her in a park until you can leave her off leash.
Formal training sessions can tire them out to. So make sure you are doing at least 10 min of training everyday! This keeps them thinking and teaches them to listen to you!
As far as leaving them outside. We have always let Maverick be outside without supervision. He had a few houdini moments (dug his way out of the backyard) but we quickly nipped that habit in the bud! I am sure she will be fine as long as she behaves herself when you are watching and can't get out!
And to answer your earlier question Maverick is a black lab X (he was a rescue so we don't really know what he is crossed with but we think it's shepherd!)
Mav at 11 wks
Mav at 10 mos
Yes, it gets better! Definitely exercise her-- go outside and run around with her, throw balls/sticks/etc, get her moving and running to get her energy out. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog!
It gets better :) Also- to deter the biting at your feet thing... try carrying a little spray bottle with you and give her a quick little squirt of water when she is nibbling, say "NO" once, firmly. Then give her a toy or something she IS allowed to chew on. Reward her for playing with whatever you give her.
And to echo everyone else- activity & excerise, and obedience of course. Good luck!
Oh my-- both those dog pictures are ADORABLE! I repeat everyone else, it gets a lot better. BUT, make sure you get obedience training, especially since she will be a big dog someday. My parents' dog was pretty terrible at first, really destructive beyond usual puppy things. They actually hired a personal trainer to come to the house and work one on one with her (she was like Marley and Me, too crazy for group classes). She's much much better now, but my parents aren't consistant with her training and discipline and she's still kind of a pain in the a$$-- my mom is good about it, but my dad spoils her when he thinks no one is watching and it undoes everything. My point-- be consistant and get good training and you will all be much happier. :)
I got my dog when he was about a year and while he has definitely chilled out even more, he was never too hyper. He's always prefered laying in his bed to fetch. Lazy bum :)
My pup was a relatively easy puppy... except when he would eat drywall, cabinets, doors... and my shoes... This honestly only lasted about a month or two. He's almost 3 now and he's an angel! Just make sure you keep ontop of disciplining them and they will learn... This time is hard but it will pass!
@Roe: Thanks, that's good advice. We thought we would train her ourselves at home, but life has sort of gotten in the way and it's too hard to find time/energy to do it. Maybe if we set ourselves up with a class, we'll have more success.
@Future Mrs. Martin: Awwww he's such a big cute boy!! I don't think our girl can get out of the backyard--she's never really tried to when I'm there, and on two sides we back up to the neighbor's fence and on the back side is a fenced alley, so we'd probably be okay. Maybe to save my sanity we should start letting her out by herself!
Once she gets all her shots, we will definitely take her to the dog park. It's so frustrating having to wait!
When my dog was a puppy she wasn't too bad. As long as she had a bone/toy she was pretty occupied. Now at 15 she's still pretty needy/clingy and always wants to be near me. Your pup might just really really love you. =P
@bookworm88: Thanks :) When we run around, she only seems interested in biting my feet, but she definitely seems to get a kick out of chasing sticks/leaves and such, so maybe we just need to do more of that.
@DaneLady: I hadn't heard the spray bottle thing before, that's an interesting thought. Others have said to bop her on the nose and say "no" when she nips, but when she's latched onto a foot with all her might, a bop on the nose does no good! Maybe the water would startle her enough to get her to stop.
@foodnerd81: Do you know when the latest we can do obedience training is? We can't really have her around other dogs until 4 months when she's had all her shots, but will it be too late by then?
I hate always worrying that these early weeks I'm going to screw her up forever if I do anything wrong!
Spray bitter apple on your shoes and feet!
Yes, dogs calm down with time, the puppy phase goes away. But it's all about how much work you're willing to put into it. It's tough for dog owners who work full time because you feel guilty if you want to do something besides entertain the dog after work. Eventually they get used to your schedule and as long as they don't develop seperation anxiety everyone is happy!
@All In: That's the idea... I don't even have to spray my dogs anymore. I just point it at them and it works. I don't think I even have any water in there anymore. I did spray my niece once- she was about 2 and getting into something I had told her twice not to, so I squirted her! Probably not exactly an approved parenting technique- but it was effective :)
I have raised 2 jack russell puppies.. one was an angel.. the other was a terror (to some extent) he chewed my sandals, my bf's oakley sunglasses, my mothers Rx glasses. He started peeing on furniture in the house also (thank god it only happened on hardwood floors). He is now turning 7 in June, those times were tough but he's an amazing dog. The puppy phase definitely did not last, he barely chews on anything now (except for his raw hides, and a squeaky toy if it has an accesible squeaky). Good training, lots of love, and work, make a great dog.
I got my dog at 8 weeks, and I remember in the first couple months especially laying in bed and thinking, "was this a huge mistake that I'm going to have to live with for the next 15 years???" Those feelings went away soon, especially when she started sleeping through the night. It definitely helps to make sure they are getting LOTS of exercise. It was somewhere between a year and two years that I notices she was way more content to just lay around and snooze or munch on a bone, although she's still always ready to play or go outside if given the chance. Hang in there! Before you know it, you won't be able to imagine life without the dog!
All In: i PROMISE it gets better. it just takes time. obedience will help (gotta stop that biting), but it's mostly just time. i got my loki at 6 months and i now realize why shelters are full of adolescent dogs (6 mos -18 mos)-- they're HARD. they're bad and willful and full of energy. i will be honest, i went so far as to contact the shelter to return him after about 4 months because it was so bad. now that's so far in the past- he's 4- and i can't imagine if i didn't have him. that's not to say he's not still naughty, but now i know his behaviors and can predict them with precision :)
thoughts:
1. PLENTY of exercise. walk walk walk. find a place that's fenced & let her run. some doggy friends will help too- that's what tires loki out more than anything.
2. discipline. this is not my strong suit, but there are some things that are non-negotiable like biting. loki bit me exactly ONCE and it never happened again. i do not promote hitting your dog at all, but a strong correction on his nose and now 3 years later he has never again used his mouth against me. also, a loud correction always gets his attention no matter what. one quick sharp yell and he stops in his tracks- even if it's a tangle with one of his doggy friends.
3. patience. it's all about time time time. i completely understand the stress, but just know that soon enough you will have the best companion you could ever ask for. i am so in love with my brown doggy and you will be, too.
loki, at 8 months, hiding from me bc he was always "hiding" as a puppy when i would call him.
loki, age 3 1/2, running and sitting politely in front of me as soon as i call him...
So I didn't get my dog as a puppy, she was approximately 2 years old. But she was a rescue and didn't seem to have had any training or even normal homelife before I got her. She was a definite handfull at first. But now she is thisclose to being the perfect dog. If she didn't bark at the doorbell and whine in the car, I'd say she was totally perfect. I've had her for more than a year and a half and in that time she's really calmed down. She's gotten used to the environment, learned what appropriate behavior is, and is perfectyly housetrained.
Just be consistent, give him exercise, and don't feel guilty about leaving him or crating him (assuming it's a reasonable amount of time).
Oh, and my dog's a dachshund/terrier mix.
Our dogs are 2 and 4 years old right now and it gets a lot easier after about the first 6 months. Sometimes, I miss the puppy phase though, not the chewing or accidents, but the other stuff. Enjoy it! It'll go by fast!!
My first dog I got when he was only a few weeks old. Not old enough to be sold yet but I was taking care of him for a friend of a family that owns a pet store. I had to feed him mushed up dog food and formula etc. He is my first love (besides for my FI). When he was younger he was a handful. Fun, but a lot of work. He is now 7 years old and has calmed down ALOT. I think it took him about 2 years (he is a chihuahua) but he just likes to lay around and play with my other dog. I have to say that having 2 dogs definitely does take away some of the time that the dog demands from you when they are hyper. They get to play with each other and tire each other out without you having to sit there an play with them (although I don't mind that either)
On the other hand we also have a pug who is a little over a year now that we've had since he was around 8 weeks old. He is STILL a handful. Big ball of energy, loves to get into EVERYTHING. Licking, biting chewing and running around. I call him crazy dog. His name is Cosmo which happens to suite him very well because he is kind of out in space.
They are both my babies (I have no children as of yet) and I love them to death and they are my family. Period. I don't know if its gotten any easier (esp with the pug) but I don't mind it because I love them so much I guess.
I think that yes, it is a "puppy phase" but it depends on the dog as to when he grows out of this phase. My older dog does not chew on anything, go into garbages or anything like that but I STILL worry when they are in the crate all day or when I have to bring them somewhere and constently watch them because I am worried about what they will do.
Here are my cuties: (they are in their christmas sweaters- don't worry we don't dress them up all the time- only when they are cold and for holiday pictures)
Don't worry it gets A LOT easier if you train your dog well when they're a puppy. I think the first 2 weeks we had our puppy I was definitely having second thoughts about why I ever wanted a dog. We were crate training him so I had to wake up every 2 hours to let him out to go!!! And I'd have to go home during lunch every day to let him out so he could go...It was definitely EXHAUSTING. It got better after a month, but I would say it wasn't "easy" until maybe 6 months later.
@moderndaisy: So far she's been REALLY good about separation. She'll whine a bit when we first crate her, but it's not out of control at all. Same with when we put her to bed at night--the whining usually stops w/in 5-10 minutes (knock on wood). So in that sense we are really lucky--I guess I should count my blessings!
@DaneLady: I'm starting to notice there are many similarities between dogs and children! :)
@TopazWedding: Good to know! I guess it's better that she chews on us than on the furniture or walls? Maybe? Silver lining!
@smores: Thank you, this is EXACTLY what I've been wondering! A puppy is such a huge committment, and sometimes it's hard to picture things ever being different from how they are. This is a really helpful post because it's exactly what I'm going through.
@relaxedabout it: Awww he looks like such a good boy! What did the shelter say when you contacted them at 4 months? Did they just say to give it more time?
Oh gosh it gets so much easier!! When we got Ghost I spent the first few weeks crying from tiredness and frustration. It took him a year to calm down and now he's two and only gets super excited with other dogs now. I love him to bits but man was he hard work!
Here he is as a baba
And here he is now!
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A boxer mix =] This was her at 9 weeks!
