New puppy - help me find my sanity!

**hannahemilie** · 09-01-2013, 09:43 PM

Hi all, we got a puppy on sat. She is a golden retriever cross and the cutest thing! I researched getting this puppy for about 6 months maybe, thought it would work, and finally found 'the one'!

Researching and reality is two totally different things! I wondered if anyone else had got or has a puppy? Please tell me it gets easier, because i have an 8 year old daughter of my own, a cat, am a single mum, I've had no sleep for 4 nights, not much food, lost 6 pounds and may have developed a caffeine addiction. I mind 9 kids not all at once. At most I have 4 after schoolies. But it is so difficult, we have a crate which helps. But I am so sleep deprived its worse than having a baby! I am so glad I have her though, but will it get better? Oh and I have my driving test tomorrow. You have to laugh!

Xxx

**Trouble** · 09-01-2013, 09:47 PM

Give it a teddy and leave the radio on low and dont give in or your will regret it

it will soon get the message sounds cruel but they have it sussed and will play on it xxxxx

**Trouble** · 09-01-2013, 09:48 PM

Good luck with your test xx

**littletreasures** · 09-01-2013, 09:50 PM

What she said!!!

However, I did find my pup really didn't like his crate, so I got a playpen and fixed it round his crate, so he had a bigger area. He was much better then.

Take it outside regularly and say "be a good girl" and praise the life out of her when she does a wee or poo.

It does get better, honest.

Oh, and photos please

**Trouble** · 09-01-2013, 09:52 PM

Littletreasures and i are experts on nightmare dogs and puppies

**littletreasures** · 09-01-2013, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Trouble

Littletreasures and i are experts on nightmare dogs and puppies

Too true. Nightmare puppy is lying on the floor in the lounge chewing his stag bar!!!

**Trouble** · 09-01-2013, 09:59 PM

My nightmare dog has been to the vets again he has hurt his toe nail and is so sorry for himself and hes limping

**AliceK** · 09-01-2013, 10:04 PM

Yes it will get better. I found it helpful to give mine a piece of clothing that I had worn to have my scent on it for him to have in his crate with him at night. Actually I gave him my perfectly good fleece jacket which I kind of knew I wouldn't get back. It slowly got chewed to death but it did the trick. Don't give in to the whining but make sure the crate is a nice / good place for him to go and never use it as a punishment. My "puppy" is now nearly 2yrs, he loves his crate and will often just go and lay in there with the door open. (at least thats when he's just been told to get down off the sofas

)
Good luck. It will all be worth it in the end.

xxx

**hannahemilie** · 09-01-2013, 10:11 PM

Thanks

nice to hear I am not alone!!! I don't have much room for a pen, how I will fit in a bigger crate I will never know!! But I had it all worked out...... Didn't I?! Xx I don't know how to upload pics from my phone! Too much for my brain to handle prob

xx

**hannahemilie** · 09-01-2013, 10:13 PM

Thanks Alice xx

**TAZ** · 09-01-2013, 10:44 PM

Good Luck for your driving test

**lynncjt** · 10-01-2013, 07:06 AM

It will get better! Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!

Things I did, got an adaptil diffuser (supposed to give off scent like the mother dog), I covered the crate at night with jacket of mine, (used to settle her like a baby with my hand on the crate where she could smell it until she calmed down and then gradually moved away). A tiny bit of raw liver when ever she poohed/peed outside and give it a name when they do it.

There is a great web forum for dogs where I learnt loads Dog Forums - Pet Forums Community with really helpful people (nearly as good as this one!!)

Good luck it will be worth it!

**Daisy De** · 10-01-2013, 07:27 AM

I have had two puppies in the last four years, when I got the second I remembered how hard it was with the first, a fact, like childbirth, you forget

All the advice in this thread is good so I won't repeat it but just remember to be consistent, firm and train your puppy in little 5 minutes doses a few times a day. The adult dog you get is 90% reliant on what effort and consistency you put in when they are puppies so believe me it is worth the initial work and stress.

I have two Golden Retrievers, I know yours is a retriever cross, I adore them and all the effort and tearing my hair out when they were puppies was so so worth it. Mind you, like children, enjoy those puppy months they are over very very quick.

Sorry couldn't resist a picture

**Daisy De** · 10-01-2013, 07:28 AM

Good luck on your driving test as well

**Tazmin68** · 10-01-2013, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by lynncjt

It will get better! Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!

Things I did, got an adaptil diffuser (supposed to give off scent like the mother dog), I covered the crate at night with jacket of mine, (used to settle her like a baby with my hand on the crate where she could smell it until she calmed down and then gradually moved away). A tiny bit of raw liver when ever she poohed/peed outside and give it a name when they do it.

There is a great web forum for dogs where I learnt loads Dog Forums - Pet Forums Community with really helpful people (nearly as good as this one!!)

Good luck it will be worth it!

My baby is now 3 years old and boxers don't grow up! I have a grate I have a crate in the garage which is off the small hallway I have. My kitchen was too small for the crate so she has a small bed in kitchen and has access to kitchen and hallway when I am out and when have mindees. Yes she sleeps on her bed on the corner of our bedroom she does not sneak onto the bed previous boxer did. I have a throw on one end of one setee which she uses when we are in and normal family time. Went to obedience classes as soon as had injections and vaccination card and pet ins in policies and insurance file. Plus pet handling permission forms signed by all parents. Yes very hard work for a while but most defiantly worth it. I now have a good quite well behaved boxer.

**lynncjt** · 10-01-2013, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Daisy De

I have had two puppies in the last four years, when I got the second I remembered how hard it was with the first, a fact, like childbirth, you forget

All the advice in this thread is good so I won't repeat it but just remember to be consistent, firm and train your puppy in little 5 minutes doses a few times a day. The adult dog you get is 90% reliant on what effort and consistency you put in when they are puppies so believe me it is worth the initial work and stress.

I have two Golden Retrievers, I know yours is a retriever cross, I adore them and all the effort and tearing my hair out when they were puppies was so so worth it. Mind you, like children, enjoy those puppy months they are over very very quick.

Sorry couldn't resist a picture

What beautiful dogs! I was brought up with one like that when I was a child - she was the love of my life!

**hannahemilie** · 10-01-2013, 10:35 AM

Thanks everyone you are making me feel better!
Daisy your dogs are gorgeous
I shall try and post a pic later

Driving test soon although it may be cancelled there is a lot of fog!

**Toothfairy** · 10-01-2013, 11:35 AM

We got our new puppy a couple of months ago.
At night, we put her in her basket with a blanket and one of those teddys you put in the microwave.
She cried for about 5-10 mins and then went off to sleep.
We did this for about a week and then the crying stopped.

Her name is Meg and she is a West Highland White.

**Tazmin68** · 10-01-2013, 12:07 PM

Hi trouble

Hope you boxer is feeling a bit better. When I was supposed to pick up our one from the breeders we had a call and had to collect her a few days later as she climbed out of the puppy pen and sprained her paw. It was rather funny as the breeders then decided to bring her into the house and put her in kitchen to keep an eye on her and that night the other six climbed out of the puppy pen she must have shown them what to do!!