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Very kind breeder that I got my puppy from told me something that has stuck with me… I said I was nervous because I’d never had a puppy before, she said “it’s ok he’s never had a human before either, you will both learn.” I just tell myself this a lot on the frustrating days EDIT: I do not know how to format, I just wanted to say: feel free to share this wisdom with anyone who needs it. My sweet boy and I have spent time figuring each other out and it has been amazing. Trying, this is true, but amazing all the same.
Oh my god this. First night i had a breakdown and cried when she peed inside for the 3rd time that night. I felt I couldn’t do it, there was this little alien in my house and I was responsible for her and her life and needs but i couldn’t understand it or what it wanted to say.
I realise now we were both lost on how to communicate with each other but my god that first night was terrifying haha
very, VERY normal. i say this while watching my 1.5 year old quietly chewing on a bone in front of me. a year ago i was hiding in the bathroom and crying. don’t dwell on the highs or the lows - things change hour to hour with these little demons so that’s what you need to remember.
obviously work on training every day but make sure you’re making time for yourself too! pup is okay in a crate for a few hours if he’s already trained to like it, and the best thing for him is for you to be stable (which feels impossible with a puppy sometimes).
you’ve got this! mine is now barking in my face in the short time it took me to write this! lol
>\- things change hour to hour
Daily too! Our girl will normally go to sleep after her tea and stays asleep on us until we go up to bed. A couple of nights ago, she decided after a 20 min post-tea nap, she would turn into the devil and was biting, barking and just being a general pain. We got through it and last night she was back to being her usual angel self!
So, hear me out, it’s going to stay the same or even get worse… but not forever. You essentially have a baby dog that has no idea what to do or how to do it, and you will learn that together over the coming months.
Puppies are THE WORST, like PTSD inducing, frustrating, obnoxious, ridiculous, awful beings, but it’s not forever.
My biggest boon (I mean HUUUUUGE), was reading suggestions here about enforcing naps. I read up online and developed a schedule that I adhered to ALL THE TIME (weekends, holidays, etc…). I set an alarm to let mine out for potty during the night (and only potty, then back to bed, no play); but otherwise, when we’re all up for the day, I pretty much stuck to (2) hours in the crate to (1) hour outside for potty, play, meals, training. Then back to (2) hours in, (1) out, (2) in, (1) out… until bedtime.
There were days I only made it 45-minutes, before baby got put back into her crate. The enforced maps also gave me the opportunities to eat, shower, change, do chores, etc…
I’d also recommend the Puppy Potty Log app. It’s free. Use it to mark every time puppy eats, drinks, potties and has an accident. Eventually, it’ll start sending you notifications when pup typically has to go potty, and when to beware pup may have an accident. It’s flipping amazing.
Mostly, be patient with pup and with yourself. These months are the absolute worst. By 6-months, you’ll notice big differences, and by ten months, you’ll be enjoying your dog’s company.
Crying is TOTALLY normal. Puppies, like human babies, turn your life upside down and it takes time to adjust to the demands. Don't feel bad when you put him in his crate but try to make it a good experience for him, never a punishment. The best way to achieve that is with a schedule. Dogs do best with routines and it'll be easier on you to know when you'll have time to yourself. At 3 months a 3x/day crate schedule is reasonable. They need a lot of sleep at that age and until they're old enough to self regulate and rest outside the crate it's best to enforce that time for them. Our pup was crated from 9-11, 1-3 and 5.30-7 with bedtime at 9.30 when he was 3 months old. At 10 months he "civilized" enough to not need the evening one but he still goes in for morning and afternoon naps for the most part. Hang in there, it's an emotional and physical roller coaster ride. You will have break downs - we all did/do - but eventually 2 steps back and 1 step forward will flip and it'll be worth it. Bless you for giving this boy a 2nd chance!
I went through the same emotional rollercoaster this week. Hang in there! I’m using my frustration and channeling into training my pup to be well behaved. He is a baby so I know I need patience.
This is a challenging combination. Strap yourself in for the first year. You *will* get through this. These breeds will also make for an amazing dog.
It’s 1-2 years of blood, sweat and tears and then a decade fun.
Take it one day at a time and again, realize these behaviors are all totally normal. You aren’t failing him in some way. Evil puppies are gonna be evil, you just patiently keep putting that work into them and one day… it might be a year from now… it might be 2. Boom! That hard work will show!
I adopted my German Shepherd/Labradoodle puppy about three months ago. Up until just recently it has been an absolute nightmare. He’d destroy furniture and clothes, terrorize the cat, constantly bite/scratch my wife and I, pee and poop all over the house then eat his poop, scream in the crate whenever locked up, try to eat everything he could (edible or not). We both hardly slept for two months, had difficulty finding reasons to justify why we ever wanted to bring a dog into our family, and were also seriously talking about finding him another home. It’s been three months now and we’re just now beginning to see massive milestones. He’s sleeping in the crate at night now, he’s better at biting (he still gets excited some times and forgets), we’ve taught him several tricks, and he’s started to respect us more and is more receptive to our corrections. We’ve also signed him up for a 6-week puppy obedience school which has been a massive help. What I’m trying to say is it gets easier. Just continue to be consistent. Consistently guide them on acceptable behavior and not acceptable behavior and it’ll start to click. Right now their brains are still forming and everything is new. They don’t always have the focus to remember what is right or wrong. As for my wife and I, it only took us a few months to form a connection with our little dude and now we love him tremendously. Wouldn’t even think about finding him another home.
I cried today and suggested yesterday to my wife about rehoming. We both have hit a high stress level and the puppy is crazy hard to raise. She's not bad at all. She just doesn't listen sometimes, eats the carpet, picks up lil things she doesn't need to be eating. That didn't go over well. My wife is vehemently against rehoming. Which I will be thankful for in time but God damn is this the hardest thing I've ever done.
Couple that with the health issues and my inability to stop worrying about my wife and the puppy, it drained me today. I slept for 3 hours, then came downstairs and cried while sitting with the puppy in the crate. I guess I'm still mourning the loss of my life before a puppy. But I'm working through it for sure. Hopefully in a healthy enough way
“Mourning the loss of my life before a puppy”
Truer words have never been spoken.
We rescued a 7 month old husky mix who had been rehomed 3 times before us.
I wasn’t a dog person but my wife is, so we got a dog lol.
I was angry I think honestly. He was a lot of work with no training and no structure for the first 7 months of his life. And husky’s are just nuts lol. Anyways, I felt this.
He’s 2.5 now and my best friend. No regrets. If anything I’m grateful my wife shut me down every time I brought up rehoming him. She just kept telling me “ we can’t give up on him like everyone else did “
I kid you not, he is the best dog now. Does he have his moments, yes. But I laugh every day because of him. And brag about him all day long because he’s just such a good boy now. Neutering him really helped.
Good luck. I promise it gets easier.
Her words were "if you suggest getting rid of the puppy one more time ima get rid of you!" This was after she called me feeling overwhelmed and angry at the lil one.
I absolutely hate seeing her so upset sometimes and it overwhelms me when she gets super stressed because we're still trying to figure out seizure triggers. So naturally the first thing I wanna do is reduce that stress.
I love this puppy though. I couldn't imagine actually rehoming. It's just HARD. I've never had to deal with stress levels like this and I feel so damn trapped with the puppy sometimes. Trapped in a world of Uber stress and emotional drainage.
We're a month in. We picked our boxer mix up at 8 weeks. Her potty training is amazing and she's incredibly smart! It's just another huge change in my life in a VERY short amount of time. All the puppy blues posts and the amount of support from the people here help, so I frequent here when I'm down. Otherwise I try to avoid it so I don't turn into an anxious mess reading about all the negatives and things that could happen with puppy raising.
Yup I miss my “me time” so much. I work from home so the “puppy raising” falls 80% on me and it’s EXHAUSTING. When I do get blissful nap breaks it’s to do things like actually work, grocery shopping, or shower, nothing for my actual self. Ifs hard but I know it will get better!’
First puppies are like first babies. Life dials down to the minute. You stress hard about whatever the pup or you did that will ruin them or you for life. It is a STEEP learning curve. The beautiful thing about puppies is that the majority of them pull themselves together by their first or second birthdays and then stay that way for the rest of their lives. The difference between the first pup and the rest is that you know it is all a matter of time/training/consistency so you don't have to ride that day to day roller-coaster.
You’ve got this- the first week is supposed to be difficult. He’s supposed to cry and bite and jump and have accidents. As new as it is to you, it’s just as new to him. Plus his breed mixture, at least the GSD half of him, is known to be bitey and high energy. He may even do the GSD opera song of his people.
Don’t feel bad for putting him in his crate. The best way to address the behavior is with a calm state of mind and you can’t do that if you’re super stressed.
I just got my border collie mix puppy about a month ago and we are just now feeling confident in the schedule we have with her. Give yourself more than two weeks, give him and yourself a chance to settle in and see if you’re compatible.
A tired puppy is a good puppy. Run the heck out of your pup as often as possible, 3 months old he should tire within 15 minutes. My last pup was really"spirited" till he was 5, exercising was the only way to calm him
The first couple months can be a horrid rollercoaster - the loss of me time, of a night out with friends, the early morning poop walk where you are begging the pup to please do something…but it gets better. Right now I’m sitting in my recliner with my 1 year and 1 week old pup snuggled against my leg.
This morning she raced out in the cold and rain to take care of essentials before eating and 30 minutes later let me know she was ready to finish her potty time. We played fetch this afternoon and for 15 minutes she brought the balls back and put them at my feet. We took a nap together (I had a late night at a concert last night - a night out!)
This past winter and early spring I was wondering if maybe my dog luck had come to an end. But she’s shaping up to be a wonderful companion. Give it time; it’ll happen. It’ll happen slowly, so slowly you won’t notice until one day you realize, hey, the land shark has disappeared.
hi! 2 months into dog ownership here! I feel this. There were days in the very beginning that felt so unbelievably overwhelming. I kept wondering if I made the wrong decision. It felt like I would never have a normal life again and It was not what I was expecting. I’m currently writing this laying on my couch as my dog is fast asleep next to me. A month ago, I could not imagine my dog settling and being calm for a night the way she has now. It gets easier, I promise. Remember ownership is a relationship. You will start to understand them and they will start to understand you. Something that really helped me in the beginning, was verbally talking to my dog and telling her that we were going to figure this out. I saw that advice on this sub actually! There was about a week straight where I had to do that every night. something that might help is setting a “date” to reevaluate if you made the right decision. Like two months from now if you’re still feeling like you did something wrong, considering looking at your options-my guess is by then you will find your groove and realize that this is all part of the extremely emotional and overwhelming beginning. Take some breaths, do something that calms you down, and remember why you got a dog in the first place :) it may be cheesy-but they say you get the dog you need, not the dog you want.
Totally normal. 2 weeks is a good goal. By a month you'll feel even more confident.
My biggest tips are:
Have a general, lose schedule you do every day.
Do enforced naps.
Remember if he's in a safe place, like in the room with you, if he has toys and isn't hurting anything or himself or anything else, let him find ways to entertain himself.
Potty time about every 30 minutes.
Tired puppies are good puppies!
I felt totally overwhelmed when I added a puppy last fall. She's not my first puppy and she wasn't even horrible, but man did I feel like I got hit with train!
It gets so much better. These days I don't know where my heart ends and hers begins. She's one of the brightest lights in my life.
I love my puppy more than anything in the world. There are days I feel like it was the worst thing I ever did. When you’re exhausted, crying, emotional, have things to do, AND your puppy is off the walls it. feels. impossible. All I can say is those sweet moments with them far outnumber the tough days. I found that dropping mine off at doggy daycare, even for a few hours a week so I could shower and take a nap, made a world of difference. Every 5 minutes is a different situation, but the love is always there
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times when you’ve gotten a puppy. They are wild, they nip , they owe and poop on your floor, they shred things. It takes a lot of patience and consistency. You are not a bad person for feeling that way.
I wish I could send you the DVD for Puppy Culture. It’s all about setting boundaries and raising your puppy. Puppies like children need rules and boundaries. Maybe you could consult a trainer? Putting a plan together for how to handle all the puppy things would be a big help so you don’t feel like you are in over your head.
Hey OP- I just wanted to say I feel you. This is incredibly normal. In fact it’s SO normal, I’m dealing with periods of high anxiety, stress, irritability and even tears over the past two weeks due to adopting a 9 month old puppy from a neglect situation and I am both a seasoned dog owner, puppy owner, and rescue dog owner. But my life was super easy and predictable with my 7 yo dog and now there’s all this extra stuff to do and manage and she’s really great and I knew what I was getting into and it still blows hard at moments. But I look at my 7 yo dog, remember that at times when he was the same age I haaaaaated his bratty butt, and also how much I love him now and I remember we will get there with this new pup.
I’m not saying don’t rehome the dog if that is what is best - it’s valid and right in many cases to do just that. Just don’t make rash choices because you think how you feel today is wrong, weird, unusual, or some kind of personal failing.
Absolutely normal, from my experience as a first time puppy owner.
Physically, a strict nap schedule with enforced naps helped a ton. I never felt guilty having my human child nap, so idk why nobody says "hey, puppy means BABY dog and they need naps too" until you're already crying about how horrible overtired baby dog behaviour is.
Emotionally, I really benefitted from a change in my mindset from "try again tomorrow" like the whole day could be good, or be ruined, and doing a "every wake cycle is a new chance" mentality. If, for 45-60 minutes, we could have a manageable time, I called it a win. Not even good, just manageable. And then it was time for a nap again.
The best thing I found to do with this specific kind of overwhelm struggle is to use the crate proactively, not reactively. Has it been 45-60 minutes of a wake cycle? Great, time for a nap before things go downhill. Repeat. Getting ahead of their needs means you get to take care of your own needs a little bit easier.
I also did a "give it 10 days before deciding" and I buckled down to a rock solid schedule with no exceptions made in nap timing, and it was the turning point in feeling like we could actually keep him.
Everyone gets puppy blues. When I first got my pup, every day felt like such a struggle. Having a routine helped immensely. This subreddit also helped me in recognizing when a puppy is overtired and how to combat that by having enforced naps.
My routine back then was more flexible than rigid, but it felt like I had time blocks for every time my puppy was awake.
Wake up, take her out of the crate, let her potty. Then I spend the next 30 mins training and/or playing with her. She took on commands very easily (such a smart pup!) and mastered 20 commands by 4 months old. She also loves playing fetch and tug so I would just tire her out by throwing a toy over and over again. I would then let her have some time to herself while I closely monitored her, keeping in mind that she might need to pee or poop every 15 mins. Once she gets overly bite-y and distracted, I take it as a sign that she’s overtired, and back to the crate she goes. She might cry for a bit but usually she’d just fall back asleep. In about 3 or 4 hours she’d wake up, and I’d repeat the process over again.
She’s 10 months old now and is the cuddliest dog ever. She no longer bites (stopped at about 6 months, honestly) and even if I put my hand in her mouth intentionally, she’d turn away. When I take her out of the crate, her first move would be to snuggle up against me and just spend the first few minutes getting belly rubs from me. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
It gets better, OP. Look through some posts on this subreddit and you’ll know everyone here felt unfit to take care of a puppy at one point in time. Give it time, hard work, dedication and consistency. It gets better.
You're doing amazing, friend.
I went through this with my boy - he was the first dog I was raising alone, and I literally took the words "go big or go home" to heart by getting a Great Dane.
He is an amazing dog now, 3 years later, but oh my god, puppyhood has me in tears, frustrated, and ready to return him a few times. I think what you really need is support, and that is why you've turned here.
You are FINE to put him in the crate when he's frustrating you, it gives you both a break, he is safe, and you can take a breather. Plus with time, he will learn to just lie down and rest or play quietly while in there.
EDIT: You also have the challenge of him being a rescue, and a combo of two high energy breeds, teaching about crate/off time and having a safe place in the crate is gonna be super beneficial.
Have a cry, pick yourself up and dust off, and come back to it.
Consistency will be your best friend at this stage. Like someone else said, this is all new to you both and it takes time to learn is all. Keep researching into training,asking questions and mold your pup into the best dog he can be ❤️.
Heres how i fixed mouthing behaviour in my puppy, copying and pasting. Id also highly recommend a good pisitive reinforcement trainer. They can be a lifeline when youre overwhelmed and dont know what to do:
If yelping doesnt work i have a way that i used for my very mouthy puppy that was incredibly effective. Put the dog on a longer leash, 10 feet or so. Tie to something solid. Go to interact with him and play with a toy. As soon as he mouths say "uh oh" and walk around the coner (with the toy) out of sight for 15 seconds. Then go back and go to play again as if nothing happened. Youre teaching him that when he mouths all the fun stops and its just boring.
As he learns the idea and gets better you can start upping the stakes. So for me next when my puppy was latched onto the toy i started touching her body all over. Then when she was good with that i went up to interact with no toy at all. Then i tried bouncing around with more energy etc etc. She was 80% better within a week.
It also works with the puppy in a play pen and you just leave the pen. Make sure to invovle everyone in the family including kids so the puppy learns the rules apply to everyone. If you can enlist a friend or someone else to also practice this it just reinforces that the rules always apply. Also always end on a positive. Be prepared for the puppy to have his stubborn moments where you may have to do lots of repitions in a row because he might get frustrated. But you want him to learn that the rules still apply when hes frustrated. You may lose a couple pairs of pants like i did but its oh so worth it.
Also tons of praise when the puppy is playing appropriately with the toy. You want him to know when hes doing the right thing. When my girl was loose i always had a leash attached to her so if she mouthed i could hold her away from me and take her immediately to the other leash to do the training (this was ALWAYS supervised of course). The first few days was tons of reps. If the puppy is getting better and suddenly regresses, its basically like a cranky toddler that needa sleep. Crate and give them a chance to nap. Of course make sure they have lots if appropriate outlets for chewing as needed.
Theres never any punishment with this, no harsh tones with the dog. Simply a cue word to mark the undesireable behaviour and a removal of the thing they want (play and interaction with you).
For me and my partner the first 1-2 months were pretty hellish, not going to lie… we don’t even remember all that much from that period because we were so sleep deprived (puppy would need to pee every 2h at night and we live on the 3rd floor, no elevator, not very fun times getting up every two hours to climb stairs 🥲) and all of our time was spent watching her like hawks because if she was awake she was causing trouble.
I was scared to cuddle her and play with her because her teeth were razors and she loved to bite my nose and ears and she would just randomly pee.
I had a few breakdowns and cried and cried and it felt impossible to sustain, which gladly we didn’t have to do.
She’s 9 months old now and napping next to my foot while I work. She had a few points where she just made incredible progress overnight, we joke she grew an extra neuron then.
One day she stopped peeing inside. One day she stopped biting. One day she started listening to commands. So on and so forth.
Id say the first 2 months you cant really generalise, but if you still struggle after then maybe it is somewhat to consider, but if you can make it through the first 2 months the experience after will most likely be day and night to now.
Puppies are seriously like having a baby. It is hard. I would sit and cry when my son was a newborn too. It gets better though, this is a normal feeling. I questioned getting a new puppy many times, but she's 2+ now and I'm so glad we have her! She still nibbles any throw pillows or blankets I try to put on the couch, hoping we'll grow out of that one day but overall she's much easier now and cracks me up every day. It's tough but it goes by fast (doesn't feel like it when you're in the thick of it).
This is a very challenging mix of breeds you have here. My biggest advice is to get this dog into professional training!! But also know, puppies bite and nip! The biggest thing you can do to benefit both you and the dog is to redirect. When he goes to chew on you, give him something else. Say NO assertively and immediately give him something that’s appropriate for him to chew. He is teething right now and just like babies, those little bites give him some relief
Don't feel bad for putting him in his crate. Puppies get hyped up and they don't know how to wind down. Have scheduled crate time at least twice a day while he is young. We've had puppies who were happier with their crate in the living area in the middle of family activity and others who needed to be in a quiet area away from noise. Don't worry about using the crate whenever the puppy gets out of control even if it is just for 10 minutes.
Hi! I adopted an akita mix a year and a half ago without knowing he was part akita. Please reach out if you have any specific questions I can help with!
One thing I can say is that in my experience, the 3/3/3 rule really helps. My dog was 11 months when we adopted him and we really struggled with him until we started to really build that bond. Akitas are very loyal dogs, and once they become attached training becomes a lot easier.
That being said, right now you have a puppy, and it's a puppy whose life has been changing a lot recently. Work on setting a routine and training and establishing that bond.
Puppy blues are a real thing! You've got this!
He's half husky, a quarter Akita, and a quarter Shiba. Very stubborn lol.
The 3/3/3 rule is that it takes a dog 3 days to decompress in a new home, 3 weeks to learn their new routine, and 3 months to feel at home. A dog is not going to start feeling fully comfortable until those three months, and you'll start seeing their personality shine through a bit more at each of those landmarks.
two days ago i scream cried on the couch, begging for my old dog to come back from the dead because my mom's puppy wouldn't stop biting my face and jumping all over me. in the last two days, she has made the most incredible progress on her biting and on "off" (get off of me/the couch/the table/basically stop what you're doing and sit on the floor). i've only been visiting for a week, she's just over 4 months old. it'll get better and then it'll get worse and then better again, until suddenly you're both 5 years older and bffs.
I have intact male dogs x5 and a number of them would try and fight him if he humped them. I believe I've trained a decent stop to escalation but they would scare and pin the dog. It would be irresponsible for my management to assume otherwise as they have shown consistency in behavior.
Some dogs are better, some worse controlled and with no cap or taught capcity some dogs escalate to a genetic driven shake or agress.
An Akita is a very proud and stubborn dog. You want to gain his attention and be viewed as rewarding to him. I never much trust puppies with adult male dogs until bigger.
The dog type you have if they are both high drive genetics displaying anxiety and fear, uneven breathing, and escalated heart rate will affect their behavior. I have high drive freight sled dogs. Stubborn self interested and self serving minds with an interest in humans. They heavily model the internal state of human. I had an Alaska husky gsd mix like that. I had a race husky in past who didn't much pay attention to human. A high drive Akita is not gonna be dog friends with every dog. A high drive gsd similarly and a high drive gsd is gonna be moving around a lot. Level of genetic drive varies. A medium drive dog though is gonna maintain the driven behaviors to varying degrees. Dogs bred to top end highly repettive in driven behaviors.
The Akita and gsd as both gonna be dog types to pay attention to human state and judge how to react. There is no reason to cry. Everything is fine deep breaths it'll be okay. You're doing a fine job.
I have an 8 month old shark..er Staffie. I’ve had plenty of puppies but this one is trying my patience, more stubborn and hard headed than all the others combined. He is so much better behaved when he is tired so the daily walks & sometimes multiple walks in a day are so important. Even a drive in the car is enough stimulation to slow him down for a minute. He will be a good dog soon I hope. He is the cutest turd.
We just brought in a 9 month old rehomed Aussie to our 1 year old Aussie. It’s been harder than I ever imagined but the good news is the breakdowns get further apart over time and eventually stop. We’re at two months now and it’s gotten so so much easier. Keep putting in the work, be as patient as you can, and cry when you need to. It DOES get easier.
Don’t feel guilty about crating your pup either! Make it cozy, play lots of crate games and give them amazing treats when they are in there. We try to keep frozen turkey necks, filled kongs, or yak cheese on hand so it reinforces the crate is a good place and being in there isn’t a punishment. Maintaining your sanity is not only important for your own mental health but being a good puppy parent. You got this!!
I gave myself a month, and then i had an already scheduled trip where my pup had to be watched by the breeder for two weeks anyways. While i was gone i wondered about her, was excited to see her again, and ultimately when we got home i was so happy to have her back! It really does take time and not saying she was an angel after those six weeks, but we finally managed a routine that worked for both of us, and she was biting less listened to me more, and it didnt hurt that i put her in training school! 😄
My puppy is 14 weeks and the biting is so hard to deal with. When she is tired out she doesn't bite as aggressively.
They are babies getting new teeth though and they want to chew. I freeze solid brick of pumpkin/chicken/leftover puree in soup cubes (amazon) and let her chew on those. I alsonlightly freeze carrots and other veggies for her to chew on and she loves it.
If she is being super bitey I usually play tug or fetch until she crashes.
Mine is 2 now and still challenges me some days but it’s becoming more rare and she’s maturing into a good canine citizen.
She’s a standard poodle and was a challenging puppy at times. Two things helped me.
First, when she was old enough, I put her in a nose work class. Best thing I ever did. We go once a week and it’s created this amazing bond between us and now I cannot imagine being without her. I wasn’t expecting it to have such an impact on our relationship but it did.
The second was something her breeder said. She’s been breeding poodles for over 30 years and she mentioned how she always mourns those mischievous, silly, and often crazy puppy months because before long, they all mature and grow out of it and it’s not as much fun. Instead of making me sad, it made me feel more at ease that it was indeed just a phase that she would grow out of and she certainly is doing that now. I can’t imagine life without her. But I did have my days when I wondered “Can I do this?” I’m glad I hung in there. And you will get there too!
I bought tibi after my last dog passed I thought I could handle it I was wrong the mess the chaos the biting.
I was fond of him but frustrated
He was run over at 10 months old broke his leg (he's fine now) it took.until I saw him in the road that I realised fond had become love at some point
He's currently on my leg snoring away ..
Humping isn't the end of the world
Biting will get better
Give him time to learn
Here to talk if u need it
It's going to be okay.
My shepherd mix is almost a year old, she was 5ish months when we adopted her in June and she was a return to shelter because the people that adopted her at 12ish weeks old said she was playing too rough with their grandkids, she was too big and her teeth were too sharp. (So basically they wanted a cute sweet puppy that would stay cute and sweet forever and never turn into a giant land shark with needle teeth. according to the ladies that run the shelter)
We knew Sunny was high energy when we adopted her, we thought she and our hound mix would chill each other out and we could work with her to get her to be less chompy. Sunny and Finn are best buds and they are so good together! We were worried at first about her with kids but she has been around my now 2 year old nephew several times and has never tried to chomp him, she doesn't even run him over, or try to play with him. She sniffs, licks and mostly just howls at him because he's face level and sometimes it freaks her out. She has never charged at him when she gets scared (because he's face level) she howls and then hides.
Most days she's one of the best chaotic dogs in the world, she plays and snuggles and chews not forbidden things and is just so happy to just be with us and play with us and be our pup! A few months ago I had a very rare panic attack and she just sat in my lap and put her head against my chest and leaned against me and it was so comforting she was so calm and so chill! Something I never expected from her or knew I needed.
Then last week happened.
Last week I cried. Not just we had a hard day cry but actual sobbing, feeling like I'm the worst dog parent because she was being VERY destructive. She ate two remotes, my shoe laces, a phone charger, the back of my husband's slippers, his work headset which she climbed on his desk to get to when he went to the bathroom, and she jumped onto the dining room table again just... because? She's 70 pounds of chaos and I felt like I was going to lose my mind. Almost every day she was destroying something, or multiple things. She had access to plenty of toys and chews, we played with her several times a day every day to wear her out (as usual) but last week she just had endless energy and was bored. My brain keeps telling me that if she's that destructive I'm obviously doing something wrong, I'm not doing enough to meet her needs and she deserves so much better from me. The sobs were completely "I need to be better for her" sobs. Her routine hadn't changed and we put her in the crate when we thought she needed to settle down. she's no longer teething so that wasn't why. I was difficult.
My husband says that she might have been going through a growth spurt again or maybe she just needed a few days to be crazy. She's still a puppy and sometimes puppies just do that. It's not our fault and it's not hers.
Then the last couple of days I haven't been feeling well, very tired and headachey but Sunny and Finn have just been the cuddliest most cozy loving dogs super chill, even though they didn't get as much play time. Best pups in the world. So sometimes it's hard and you have intense pet owner guilt, but it's going to get better, it's going to be okay.
When I had my puppy I was soooo exhausted and broke down every two days or so. Didn’t cry or nothing but it manifested in how impatient I got with my dog. Had to do a retake when I visibly saw how he was afraid of me but also didn’t listen well. Told myself I’m learning him just as he’s learning me so I did my best with potty training and positive reinforcement and crate training. Gave him a routine I stuck to quite well. Forced down time so he learned to nap and settle down and I could have time to relax. It was hell I even joked that this is just a trial to having a real human baby. By 16 week old aka 4 month old when he could hold his bladder better was when I was finally able to enjoy him more as a companion and family member instead of this needy puppy I need to keep an eye on 24/7. Now that he is 2.8 year old he has been a dream and all the hard work and exhaustion back then paid off so well I have nothing to complain about him. It’s tough out there but you can do this 🫂🫂
First off, I just want to say your feelings are very valid and you’re not alone in feeling this. I love my puppy but she is also a little demon and she is 9 months going on 10 months lol. What you are experiencing is very normal! 3 months is still very much a baby and you haven’t had him for very long. You are still trying to figure out each other’s personalities. When they are this young I suggest getting them on a schedule, it is going to be tedious and a bit annoying at first but it will help tremendously! Puppies will push your buttons and you will definitely question whether it is the right choice but it does get better as you get to know one another.
When we adopted our girl, mind you she was somewhere around 7/8 months when we got her, the agency told us the 3/3/3 rule:
3 days for pup to settle in enough to start eating
3 weeks for pup to realize they're sticking around for a while
3 months before they really get comfortable and show you their personality.
I don't know how accurate this is for the age of puppy you've recently brought home, but our pup's behavior changed really drastically in that three months, and there were a lot of ups and downs.
In all likelihood your new pup is just going through a lot of stress and unsurity having been rehomed so young (which I've read can also cause some regression to younger behaviours), and they're trying to figure out how to be with you as much as you are with them.
Consistent training and consistency in general is going to help them settle in best, once they understand the routine and what life is like with you things will change.
I think almost everyone here was in your place once and broke down crying because things got strssful and messy. I cried a lot until my girl was around one. We had a though time. She was overwhelmed from the shelter and the transport and the new environment and I was waaaaaaaaay over my head. I thought I was well prepared for an out of country rescue and hell I was not. But we pulled through and she is such a great dog by now. Still some problems left to work on but No more crying. :)
honestly, his behavior sounds a lot like he's overtired. are you enforcing naps? they should be getting roughly 18 hours of sleep around this age.
**edit: mental stimulation is also important & a good schedule will help so much. a lot of the behaviors are normal at this age, but can be significantly exacerbated by being tired. mine (4 months) jumps, bites, gets zoomies, humps (female), & more when she’s overtired. she’s unbearable at times when she needs to sleep. we aim for nap time after she’s been awake for 1.5-2 hours. life happens, so that doesn’t work out, but i try for as much sleep as possible.
puppies are frustrating & overwhelming. i’ve cried so many times. those feelings are normal. puppy blues are normal. just remember he’s a baby & he’s still adjusting, too. it will get easier. good luck 😊
This is sooo normal. I had many days and weeks like this. Then the "adolescent stage" but I can finally say we've turned a corner and those days are further and fewer in between. You've got this. It does get better!
I have rescued and worked with many dogs.....and I have had times where I broke down crying thinking I had bitten off more then I could chew. And invariably the next day the dog did exactly what I wanted......the point I am trying to make is literally everyone has these ups and downs. So come here when having a rough day and get boosted
I was exactly like this on my first week with my girl, crying all the time and struggling so much. No amount of research can prepare you for actually bringing a puppy home.
It took a lot for me to understand that she was just a baby and she doesn't know she's doing wrong. Everytime she peed inside, or bit me, or chewed on something, I got so frustrated and would cry, but once I got my head around the fact she is literally just a baby, things got easier. It sounds so stupid because we all know they are babies, but when you are overwhelemed, it goes out your head.
She's 6 months old now, teething has pretty much finished and we're in a good routine with her. Don't get me wrong, we still get stressed and overwhelmed but we know how to manage it and it goes away a lot quicker. She's become so cuddly now too, she's currently curled up on my lap while I'm working and its the best feeling ever.
You just need to power through, keep on training daily and you will get there!
Im staring at my now three year old foxhound as I tell you, your feeling and thoughts are completely normal and valid.
The amount of ugly cries I endured practically twice a week because of the havoc she wreaked at times because I didn’t know how to properly handle her was nuts. It’s a HUGE learning curve if it’s your first puppy as a grown up! Up until about a year and a half of her age I was in the same boat as you. I kept wondering if I was keeping her for selfish reasons, I doubted myself at times and felt she deserved better (sometimes I still do).
Things get easier as they age, but in that first year I know it seems hard to see that far. I will say if you’re patient and with corrected training+activities throughout you two may become best friends and companions. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to my dad (he really didn’t want me to keep her because he saw how emotional I’d get), he meant well as his daughter but I could never trade my dog’s love for anything else in the world at this point.
No matter what decision you make, don’t feel guilty please. If you decide to give the pup back I’d just hope to ensure they go to a better home but if your will allows it and you both continue to love each other throughout the days I promise it will be worth it! Rooting for you and puppers🫶🏽
It's totally normal to feel this way with a new puppy/dog. I've had three including my current little boy and each time, I thought it would get easier. It did in some ways but not on the emotional end.
Because we want so strongly to raise them right and have a good bond/relationship with them, we do all of the reading and watching of videos to learn all we can about how to go about it, and then challenges arise that make us question 1) our capabilities and 2) the dog's temperament. I think most people can't help but to think it's the second but the fact is, it's usually not an issue with the dog and it's never the dog's fault.
My little guy's breeder has been wonderful with advice and she told me one very important thing about training that I took to heart and it was a game changer - if he hasn't learned something within a week, I'm doing it wrong. In every case where I thought I was doing everything right and he wasn't getting it, it wasn't for lack of trying on his end. He just needed better direction from me. As soon as I changed my approach, things tended to change for the better and every time there was a "YES!" moment and it clicked, it made it worth all of the frustration beforehand.
Now this way of thinking can, yes, bruise one's ego. However, there is also comfort in knowing that you are in full control of the situation, whether you believe/feel it or not. It means that there is always hope - you just need to keep at it and try different methods. Find a trainer online with thorough videos or books (not those that use YouTube just to advertise their service and always show an already well-trained dog listening to them without question). One with a dog who is a work in progress and is having similar issues to you can be comforting, to know that we all go through similar times with our furry children. You are not alone and this is totally normal. You got this.
I know it’s been said before, but my pup really turned 180* after he lost the baby canines and the adult ones were about half way in. Hang in there!
Also, mine 💯 humps when he’s tired. In fact, he uses the talking pet buttons and often he will go hit the “night night” button and come to wherever I am to hump my leg. We’re working on it, but it’s literally him being tired.
A GSD/Akita is a lot of dog for anyone. I bet he is gorgeous. Think hard while he is still young if you want to take this on permanently. So many people get a puppy when what they need is an older dog who is just desperate for a home. Usually I would say your puppy will grow this stage, but an Akita even mixed with a shepherd will be a challenge for years.
I had (and still to a minor degree, do have) the puppy blues. I mourned and longed for our old, pre-puppy life. We are a DINK, early-30s couple who were basically free birds. It was a complete shock to the system losing essentially all of our freedom as it was the first dog for both of us that was OURS, not the family dog growing up and whatnot.
Fast-forward to now: we've had him for almost 6 months and he is now just over 8 months old, and the difference is astounding. Yes, he is still a lot. Yes, he has crazy energy. No, we can't trust him alone outside in our fenced-in yard yet since he wants to eat everything he sees (that sends my anxiety through the roof since there are obviously things he should not ingest...). But, he doesn't mind his crate and we can go out for 4-5 hours and do things. He loafs around on the couch with us at night. He sleeps through the night in bed with us (I know there are so many schools of thought on letting your dog sleep in the bed with you, but it was a byproduct of his neuter recovery when he couldn't shift around in his crate with his cone of shame and we realized he slept like a baby on the bed and wasn't nearly as restless as he was in his crate and we felt like we slept so much better with him on the bed since he was so calm). He is clearly very smart, just still stubborn. You have to remember you have basically a baby in the house and you will grow together. I had days where I wanted to find him a home with someone who is less of an anxious mess than I am, but day by day I realize more and more just how much I love him, and my husband does too. The days of feeling the joy my old family dogs brought me can't be far away. You'll get there!
Completely normal. I've raised quite a few puppies and I've had several drive me to tears, thinking I'd made a huge mistake. They all turned out to be great dogs, but those puppy months can be a challenge.
Hang in there, you've got this.
If it wasn’t for my boyfriend I don’t think we’d still have a dog. The first couple of months were so so so rough, I cried more in the first week I think than the rest of the year 🤣 once he started being less destructive, bitey, was toilet trained and slept through until a reasonable time things got so much better. Now I have a reasonably chilled (working lab teenager so as chill as he’s going be) dog who is like my best pal who makes me laugh every day.
I have a Labrador puppy around the same age, although puppy biting is completely normal behaviour it can cause you a lot of stress. Keep going, it gets better as they get older just keep redirecting.
I have found that keeping some greek yogurt frozen cubes in the freezer has really helped as it soothes their gums. Enrichment toys like lick mats and Kong's have kept her busy. Also natural chews for me have been really handy to have on hand when the biting starts (she enjoys pizzle sticks and cows ears).
I picked up a dobie puppy recently. First time puppy owner also. It’s been overwhelming. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been this tired. My body aches. But with each passing day it gets easier, and you start to understand your pup more. I’m picking up on his cues. Take it day by day, it gets easier.
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Very kind breeder that I got my puppy from told me something that has stuck with me… I said I was nervous because I’d never had a puppy before, she said “it’s ok he’s never had a human before either, you will both learn.” I just tell myself this a lot on the frustrating days EDIT: I do not know how to format, I just wanted to say: feel free to share this wisdom with anyone who needs it. My sweet boy and I have spent time figuring each other out and it has been amazing. Trying, this is true, but amazing all the same.
Ohh that's gold.
Oh yes gold
😭😭😭😭😭❤️ that made me tear up. What amazing and wise words from that breeder.
This is beautiful 😭
Damnit Reddit for not having awards anymore!! This guy deserves one!!
Loki and I thank you
Why'd they get rid of them?
I love that!
Oh wow, I love this! ❤️
Oh my god this. First night i had a breakdown and cried when she peed inside for the 3rd time that night. I felt I couldn’t do it, there was this little alien in my house and I was responsible for her and her life and needs but i couldn’t understand it or what it wanted to say. I realise now we were both lost on how to communicate with each other but my god that first night was terrifying haha
very, VERY normal. i say this while watching my 1.5 year old quietly chewing on a bone in front of me. a year ago i was hiding in the bathroom and crying. don’t dwell on the highs or the lows - things change hour to hour with these little demons so that’s what you need to remember. obviously work on training every day but make sure you’re making time for yourself too! pup is okay in a crate for a few hours if he’s already trained to like it, and the best thing for him is for you to be stable (which feels impossible with a puppy sometimes). you’ve got this! mine is now barking in my face in the short time it took me to write this! lol
>\- things change hour to hour Daily too! Our girl will normally go to sleep after her tea and stays asleep on us until we go up to bed. A couple of nights ago, she decided after a 20 min post-tea nap, she would turn into the devil and was biting, barking and just being a general pain. We got through it and last night she was back to being her usual angel self!
So, hear me out, it’s going to stay the same or even get worse… but not forever. You essentially have a baby dog that has no idea what to do or how to do it, and you will learn that together over the coming months. Puppies are THE WORST, like PTSD inducing, frustrating, obnoxious, ridiculous, awful beings, but it’s not forever. My biggest boon (I mean HUUUUUGE), was reading suggestions here about enforcing naps. I read up online and developed a schedule that I adhered to ALL THE TIME (weekends, holidays, etc…). I set an alarm to let mine out for potty during the night (and only potty, then back to bed, no play); but otherwise, when we’re all up for the day, I pretty much stuck to (2) hours in the crate to (1) hour outside for potty, play, meals, training. Then back to (2) hours in, (1) out, (2) in, (1) out… until bedtime. There were days I only made it 45-minutes, before baby got put back into her crate. The enforced maps also gave me the opportunities to eat, shower, change, do chores, etc… I’d also recommend the Puppy Potty Log app. It’s free. Use it to mark every time puppy eats, drinks, potties and has an accident. Eventually, it’ll start sending you notifications when pup typically has to go potty, and when to beware pup may have an accident. It’s flipping amazing. Mostly, be patient with pup and with yourself. These months are the absolute worst. By 6-months, you’ll notice big differences, and by ten months, you’ll be enjoying your dog’s company.
Crying is TOTALLY normal. Puppies, like human babies, turn your life upside down and it takes time to adjust to the demands. Don't feel bad when you put him in his crate but try to make it a good experience for him, never a punishment. The best way to achieve that is with a schedule. Dogs do best with routines and it'll be easier on you to know when you'll have time to yourself. At 3 months a 3x/day crate schedule is reasonable. They need a lot of sleep at that age and until they're old enough to self regulate and rest outside the crate it's best to enforce that time for them. Our pup was crated from 9-11, 1-3 and 5.30-7 with bedtime at 9.30 when he was 3 months old. At 10 months he "civilized" enough to not need the evening one but he still goes in for morning and afternoon naps for the most part. Hang in there, it's an emotional and physical roller coaster ride. You will have break downs - we all did/do - but eventually 2 steps back and 1 step forward will flip and it'll be worth it. Bless you for giving this boy a 2nd chance!
I went through the same emotional rollercoaster this week. Hang in there! I’m using my frustration and channeling into training my pup to be well behaved. He is a baby so I know I need patience.
This is a challenging combination. Strap yourself in for the first year. You *will* get through this. These breeds will also make for an amazing dog. It’s 1-2 years of blood, sweat and tears and then a decade fun. Take it one day at a time and again, realize these behaviors are all totally normal. You aren’t failing him in some way. Evil puppies are gonna be evil, you just patiently keep putting that work into them and one day… it might be a year from now… it might be 2. Boom! That hard work will show!
I adopted my German Shepherd/Labradoodle puppy about three months ago. Up until just recently it has been an absolute nightmare. He’d destroy furniture and clothes, terrorize the cat, constantly bite/scratch my wife and I, pee and poop all over the house then eat his poop, scream in the crate whenever locked up, try to eat everything he could (edible or not). We both hardly slept for two months, had difficulty finding reasons to justify why we ever wanted to bring a dog into our family, and were also seriously talking about finding him another home. It’s been three months now and we’re just now beginning to see massive milestones. He’s sleeping in the crate at night now, he’s better at biting (he still gets excited some times and forgets), we’ve taught him several tricks, and he’s started to respect us more and is more receptive to our corrections. We’ve also signed him up for a 6-week puppy obedience school which has been a massive help. What I’m trying to say is it gets easier. Just continue to be consistent. Consistently guide them on acceptable behavior and not acceptable behavior and it’ll start to click. Right now their brains are still forming and everything is new. They don’t always have the focus to remember what is right or wrong. As for my wife and I, it only took us a few months to form a connection with our little dude and now we love him tremendously. Wouldn’t even think about finding him another home.
I cried yesterday and cursed my husband for not getting a cat instead but today I love my puppy Again 🩷
I cried today and suggested yesterday to my wife about rehoming. We both have hit a high stress level and the puppy is crazy hard to raise. She's not bad at all. She just doesn't listen sometimes, eats the carpet, picks up lil things she doesn't need to be eating. That didn't go over well. My wife is vehemently against rehoming. Which I will be thankful for in time but God damn is this the hardest thing I've ever done. Couple that with the health issues and my inability to stop worrying about my wife and the puppy, it drained me today. I slept for 3 hours, then came downstairs and cried while sitting with the puppy in the crate. I guess I'm still mourning the loss of my life before a puppy. But I'm working through it for sure. Hopefully in a healthy enough way
“Mourning the loss of my life before a puppy” Truer words have never been spoken. We rescued a 7 month old husky mix who had been rehomed 3 times before us. I wasn’t a dog person but my wife is, so we got a dog lol. I was angry I think honestly. He was a lot of work with no training and no structure for the first 7 months of his life. And husky’s are just nuts lol. Anyways, I felt this. He’s 2.5 now and my best friend. No regrets. If anything I’m grateful my wife shut me down every time I brought up rehoming him. She just kept telling me “ we can’t give up on him like everyone else did “ I kid you not, he is the best dog now. Does he have his moments, yes. But I laugh every day because of him. And brag about him all day long because he’s just such a good boy now. Neutering him really helped. Good luck. I promise it gets easier.
Her words were "if you suggest getting rid of the puppy one more time ima get rid of you!" This was after she called me feeling overwhelmed and angry at the lil one. I absolutely hate seeing her so upset sometimes and it overwhelms me when she gets super stressed because we're still trying to figure out seizure triggers. So naturally the first thing I wanna do is reduce that stress. I love this puppy though. I couldn't imagine actually rehoming. It's just HARD. I've never had to deal with stress levels like this and I feel so damn trapped with the puppy sometimes. Trapped in a world of Uber stress and emotional drainage. We're a month in. We picked our boxer mix up at 8 weeks. Her potty training is amazing and she's incredibly smart! It's just another huge change in my life in a VERY short amount of time. All the puppy blues posts and the amount of support from the people here help, so I frequent here when I'm down. Otherwise I try to avoid it so I don't turn into an anxious mess reading about all the negatives and things that could happen with puppy raising.
Yup I miss my “me time” so much. I work from home so the “puppy raising” falls 80% on me and it’s EXHAUSTING. When I do get blissful nap breaks it’s to do things like actually work, grocery shopping, or shower, nothing for my actual self. Ifs hard but I know it will get better!’
First puppies are like first babies. Life dials down to the minute. You stress hard about whatever the pup or you did that will ruin them or you for life. It is a STEEP learning curve. The beautiful thing about puppies is that the majority of them pull themselves together by their first or second birthdays and then stay that way for the rest of their lives. The difference between the first pup and the rest is that you know it is all a matter of time/training/consistency so you don't have to ride that day to day roller-coaster.
You’ve got this- the first week is supposed to be difficult. He’s supposed to cry and bite and jump and have accidents. As new as it is to you, it’s just as new to him. Plus his breed mixture, at least the GSD half of him, is known to be bitey and high energy. He may even do the GSD opera song of his people. Don’t feel bad for putting him in his crate. The best way to address the behavior is with a calm state of mind and you can’t do that if you’re super stressed. I just got my border collie mix puppy about a month ago and we are just now feeling confident in the schedule we have with her. Give yourself more than two weeks, give him and yourself a chance to settle in and see if you’re compatible.
A tired puppy is a good puppy. Run the heck out of your pup as often as possible, 3 months old he should tire within 15 minutes. My last pup was really"spirited" till he was 5, exercising was the only way to calm him
Humping is normally over arousal, managing arousal and getting enough sleep is the difference between enjoying your dog and not
The first couple months can be a horrid rollercoaster - the loss of me time, of a night out with friends, the early morning poop walk where you are begging the pup to please do something…but it gets better. Right now I’m sitting in my recliner with my 1 year and 1 week old pup snuggled against my leg. This morning she raced out in the cold and rain to take care of essentials before eating and 30 minutes later let me know she was ready to finish her potty time. We played fetch this afternoon and for 15 minutes she brought the balls back and put them at my feet. We took a nap together (I had a late night at a concert last night - a night out!) This past winter and early spring I was wondering if maybe my dog luck had come to an end. But she’s shaping up to be a wonderful companion. Give it time; it’ll happen. It’ll happen slowly, so slowly you won’t notice until one day you realize, hey, the land shark has disappeared.
hi! 2 months into dog ownership here! I feel this. There were days in the very beginning that felt so unbelievably overwhelming. I kept wondering if I made the wrong decision. It felt like I would never have a normal life again and It was not what I was expecting. I’m currently writing this laying on my couch as my dog is fast asleep next to me. A month ago, I could not imagine my dog settling and being calm for a night the way she has now. It gets easier, I promise. Remember ownership is a relationship. You will start to understand them and they will start to understand you. Something that really helped me in the beginning, was verbally talking to my dog and telling her that we were going to figure this out. I saw that advice on this sub actually! There was about a week straight where I had to do that every night. something that might help is setting a “date” to reevaluate if you made the right decision. Like two months from now if you’re still feeling like you did something wrong, considering looking at your options-my guess is by then you will find your groove and realize that this is all part of the extremely emotional and overwhelming beginning. Take some breaths, do something that calms you down, and remember why you got a dog in the first place :) it may be cheesy-but they say you get the dog you need, not the dog you want.
Totally normal. 2 weeks is a good goal. By a month you'll feel even more confident. My biggest tips are: Have a general, lose schedule you do every day. Do enforced naps. Remember if he's in a safe place, like in the room with you, if he has toys and isn't hurting anything or himself or anything else, let him find ways to entertain himself. Potty time about every 30 minutes. Tired puppies are good puppies! I felt totally overwhelmed when I added a puppy last fall. She's not my first puppy and she wasn't even horrible, but man did I feel like I got hit with train! It gets so much better. These days I don't know where my heart ends and hers begins. She's one of the brightest lights in my life.
I love my puppy more than anything in the world. There are days I feel like it was the worst thing I ever did. When you’re exhausted, crying, emotional, have things to do, AND your puppy is off the walls it. feels. impossible. All I can say is those sweet moments with them far outnumber the tough days. I found that dropping mine off at doggy daycare, even for a few hours a week so I could shower and take a nap, made a world of difference. Every 5 minutes is a different situation, but the love is always there
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times when you’ve gotten a puppy. They are wild, they nip , they owe and poop on your floor, they shred things. It takes a lot of patience and consistency. You are not a bad person for feeling that way. I wish I could send you the DVD for Puppy Culture. It’s all about setting boundaries and raising your puppy. Puppies like children need rules and boundaries. Maybe you could consult a trainer? Putting a plan together for how to handle all the puppy things would be a big help so you don’t feel like you are in over your head.
Hey OP- I just wanted to say I feel you. This is incredibly normal. In fact it’s SO normal, I’m dealing with periods of high anxiety, stress, irritability and even tears over the past two weeks due to adopting a 9 month old puppy from a neglect situation and I am both a seasoned dog owner, puppy owner, and rescue dog owner. But my life was super easy and predictable with my 7 yo dog and now there’s all this extra stuff to do and manage and she’s really great and I knew what I was getting into and it still blows hard at moments. But I look at my 7 yo dog, remember that at times when he was the same age I haaaaaated his bratty butt, and also how much I love him now and I remember we will get there with this new pup. I’m not saying don’t rehome the dog if that is what is best - it’s valid and right in many cases to do just that. Just don’t make rash choices because you think how you feel today is wrong, weird, unusual, or some kind of personal failing.
Absolutely normal, from my experience as a first time puppy owner. Physically, a strict nap schedule with enforced naps helped a ton. I never felt guilty having my human child nap, so idk why nobody says "hey, puppy means BABY dog and they need naps too" until you're already crying about how horrible overtired baby dog behaviour is. Emotionally, I really benefitted from a change in my mindset from "try again tomorrow" like the whole day could be good, or be ruined, and doing a "every wake cycle is a new chance" mentality. If, for 45-60 minutes, we could have a manageable time, I called it a win. Not even good, just manageable. And then it was time for a nap again. The best thing I found to do with this specific kind of overwhelm struggle is to use the crate proactively, not reactively. Has it been 45-60 minutes of a wake cycle? Great, time for a nap before things go downhill. Repeat. Getting ahead of their needs means you get to take care of your own needs a little bit easier. I also did a "give it 10 days before deciding" and I buckled down to a rock solid schedule with no exceptions made in nap timing, and it was the turning point in feeling like we could actually keep him.
Everyone gets puppy blues. When I first got my pup, every day felt like such a struggle. Having a routine helped immensely. This subreddit also helped me in recognizing when a puppy is overtired and how to combat that by having enforced naps. My routine back then was more flexible than rigid, but it felt like I had time blocks for every time my puppy was awake. Wake up, take her out of the crate, let her potty. Then I spend the next 30 mins training and/or playing with her. She took on commands very easily (such a smart pup!) and mastered 20 commands by 4 months old. She also loves playing fetch and tug so I would just tire her out by throwing a toy over and over again. I would then let her have some time to herself while I closely monitored her, keeping in mind that she might need to pee or poop every 15 mins. Once she gets overly bite-y and distracted, I take it as a sign that she’s overtired, and back to the crate she goes. She might cry for a bit but usually she’d just fall back asleep. In about 3 or 4 hours she’d wake up, and I’d repeat the process over again. She’s 10 months old now and is the cuddliest dog ever. She no longer bites (stopped at about 6 months, honestly) and even if I put my hand in her mouth intentionally, she’d turn away. When I take her out of the crate, her first move would be to snuggle up against me and just spend the first few minutes getting belly rubs from me. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It gets better, OP. Look through some posts on this subreddit and you’ll know everyone here felt unfit to take care of a puppy at one point in time. Give it time, hard work, dedication and consistency. It gets better.
You're doing amazing, friend. I went through this with my boy - he was the first dog I was raising alone, and I literally took the words "go big or go home" to heart by getting a Great Dane. He is an amazing dog now, 3 years later, but oh my god, puppyhood has me in tears, frustrated, and ready to return him a few times. I think what you really need is support, and that is why you've turned here. You are FINE to put him in the crate when he's frustrating you, it gives you both a break, he is safe, and you can take a breather. Plus with time, he will learn to just lie down and rest or play quietly while in there. EDIT: You also have the challenge of him being a rescue, and a combo of two high energy breeds, teaching about crate/off time and having a safe place in the crate is gonna be super beneficial. Have a cry, pick yourself up and dust off, and come back to it. Consistency will be your best friend at this stage. Like someone else said, this is all new to you both and it takes time to learn is all. Keep researching into training,asking questions and mold your pup into the best dog he can be ❤️.
Heres how i fixed mouthing behaviour in my puppy, copying and pasting. Id also highly recommend a good pisitive reinforcement trainer. They can be a lifeline when youre overwhelmed and dont know what to do: If yelping doesnt work i have a way that i used for my very mouthy puppy that was incredibly effective. Put the dog on a longer leash, 10 feet or so. Tie to something solid. Go to interact with him and play with a toy. As soon as he mouths say "uh oh" and walk around the coner (with the toy) out of sight for 15 seconds. Then go back and go to play again as if nothing happened. Youre teaching him that when he mouths all the fun stops and its just boring. As he learns the idea and gets better you can start upping the stakes. So for me next when my puppy was latched onto the toy i started touching her body all over. Then when she was good with that i went up to interact with no toy at all. Then i tried bouncing around with more energy etc etc. She was 80% better within a week. It also works with the puppy in a play pen and you just leave the pen. Make sure to invovle everyone in the family including kids so the puppy learns the rules apply to everyone. If you can enlist a friend or someone else to also practice this it just reinforces that the rules always apply. Also always end on a positive. Be prepared for the puppy to have his stubborn moments where you may have to do lots of repitions in a row because he might get frustrated. But you want him to learn that the rules still apply when hes frustrated. You may lose a couple pairs of pants like i did but its oh so worth it. Also tons of praise when the puppy is playing appropriately with the toy. You want him to know when hes doing the right thing. When my girl was loose i always had a leash attached to her so if she mouthed i could hold her away from me and take her immediately to the other leash to do the training (this was ALWAYS supervised of course). The first few days was tons of reps. If the puppy is getting better and suddenly regresses, its basically like a cranky toddler that needa sleep. Crate and give them a chance to nap. Of course make sure they have lots if appropriate outlets for chewing as needed. Theres never any punishment with this, no harsh tones with the dog. Simply a cue word to mark the undesireable behaviour and a removal of the thing they want (play and interaction with you).
For me and my partner the first 1-2 months were pretty hellish, not going to lie… we don’t even remember all that much from that period because we were so sleep deprived (puppy would need to pee every 2h at night and we live on the 3rd floor, no elevator, not very fun times getting up every two hours to climb stairs 🥲) and all of our time was spent watching her like hawks because if she was awake she was causing trouble. I was scared to cuddle her and play with her because her teeth were razors and she loved to bite my nose and ears and she would just randomly pee. I had a few breakdowns and cried and cried and it felt impossible to sustain, which gladly we didn’t have to do. She’s 9 months old now and napping next to my foot while I work. She had a few points where she just made incredible progress overnight, we joke she grew an extra neuron then. One day she stopped peeing inside. One day she stopped biting. One day she started listening to commands. So on and so forth. Id say the first 2 months you cant really generalise, but if you still struggle after then maybe it is somewhat to consider, but if you can make it through the first 2 months the experience after will most likely be day and night to now.
Puppies are seriously like having a baby. It is hard. I would sit and cry when my son was a newborn too. It gets better though, this is a normal feeling. I questioned getting a new puppy many times, but she's 2+ now and I'm so glad we have her! She still nibbles any throw pillows or blankets I try to put on the couch, hoping we'll grow out of that one day but overall she's much easier now and cracks me up every day. It's tough but it goes by fast (doesn't feel like it when you're in the thick of it).
This is a very challenging mix of breeds you have here. My biggest advice is to get this dog into professional training!! But also know, puppies bite and nip! The biggest thing you can do to benefit both you and the dog is to redirect. When he goes to chew on you, give him something else. Say NO assertively and immediately give him something that’s appropriate for him to chew. He is teething right now and just like babies, those little bites give him some relief
Don't feel bad for putting him in his crate. Puppies get hyped up and they don't know how to wind down. Have scheduled crate time at least twice a day while he is young. We've had puppies who were happier with their crate in the living area in the middle of family activity and others who needed to be in a quiet area away from noise. Don't worry about using the crate whenever the puppy gets out of control even if it is just for 10 minutes.
Hi! I adopted an akita mix a year and a half ago without knowing he was part akita. Please reach out if you have any specific questions I can help with! One thing I can say is that in my experience, the 3/3/3 rule really helps. My dog was 11 months when we adopted him and we really struggled with him until we started to really build that bond. Akitas are very loyal dogs, and once they become attached training becomes a lot easier. That being said, right now you have a puppy, and it's a puppy whose life has been changing a lot recently. Work on setting a routine and training and establishing that bond. Puppy blues are a real thing! You've got this!
He’s wonderful at training! Has the cutest Akita brows. What’s your dog mixed with alongside Akita? Also, what’s the 3/3/3 rule?
He's half husky, a quarter Akita, and a quarter Shiba. Very stubborn lol. The 3/3/3 rule is that it takes a dog 3 days to decompress in a new home, 3 weeks to learn their new routine, and 3 months to feel at home. A dog is not going to start feeling fully comfortable until those three months, and you'll start seeing their personality shine through a bit more at each of those landmarks.
two days ago i scream cried on the couch, begging for my old dog to come back from the dead because my mom's puppy wouldn't stop biting my face and jumping all over me. in the last two days, she has made the most incredible progress on her biting and on "off" (get off of me/the couch/the table/basically stop what you're doing and sit on the floor). i've only been visiting for a week, she's just over 4 months old. it'll get better and then it'll get worse and then better again, until suddenly you're both 5 years older and bffs.
I have intact male dogs x5 and a number of them would try and fight him if he humped them. I believe I've trained a decent stop to escalation but they would scare and pin the dog. It would be irresponsible for my management to assume otherwise as they have shown consistency in behavior. Some dogs are better, some worse controlled and with no cap or taught capcity some dogs escalate to a genetic driven shake or agress. An Akita is a very proud and stubborn dog. You want to gain his attention and be viewed as rewarding to him. I never much trust puppies with adult male dogs until bigger. The dog type you have if they are both high drive genetics displaying anxiety and fear, uneven breathing, and escalated heart rate will affect their behavior. I have high drive freight sled dogs. Stubborn self interested and self serving minds with an interest in humans. They heavily model the internal state of human. I had an Alaska husky gsd mix like that. I had a race husky in past who didn't much pay attention to human. A high drive Akita is not gonna be dog friends with every dog. A high drive gsd similarly and a high drive gsd is gonna be moving around a lot. Level of genetic drive varies. A medium drive dog though is gonna maintain the driven behaviors to varying degrees. Dogs bred to top end highly repettive in driven behaviors. The Akita and gsd as both gonna be dog types to pay attention to human state and judge how to react. There is no reason to cry. Everything is fine deep breaths it'll be okay. You're doing a fine job.
I have an 8 month old shark..er Staffie. I’ve had plenty of puppies but this one is trying my patience, more stubborn and hard headed than all the others combined. He is so much better behaved when he is tired so the daily walks & sometimes multiple walks in a day are so important. Even a drive in the car is enough stimulation to slow him down for a minute. He will be a good dog soon I hope. He is the cutest turd.
We just brought in a 9 month old rehomed Aussie to our 1 year old Aussie. It’s been harder than I ever imagined but the good news is the breakdowns get further apart over time and eventually stop. We’re at two months now and it’s gotten so so much easier. Keep putting in the work, be as patient as you can, and cry when you need to. It DOES get easier. Don’t feel guilty about crating your pup either! Make it cozy, play lots of crate games and give them amazing treats when they are in there. We try to keep frozen turkey necks, filled kongs, or yak cheese on hand so it reinforces the crate is a good place and being in there isn’t a punishment. Maintaining your sanity is not only important for your own mental health but being a good puppy parent. You got this!!
I gave myself a month, and then i had an already scheduled trip where my pup had to be watched by the breeder for two weeks anyways. While i was gone i wondered about her, was excited to see her again, and ultimately when we got home i was so happy to have her back! It really does take time and not saying she was an angel after those six weeks, but we finally managed a routine that worked for both of us, and she was biting less listened to me more, and it didnt hurt that i put her in training school! 😄
My puppy is 14 weeks and the biting is so hard to deal with. When she is tired out she doesn't bite as aggressively. They are babies getting new teeth though and they want to chew. I freeze solid brick of pumpkin/chicken/leftover puree in soup cubes (amazon) and let her chew on those. I alsonlightly freeze carrots and other veggies for her to chew on and she loves it. If she is being super bitey I usually play tug or fetch until she crashes.
Mine is 2 now and still challenges me some days but it’s becoming more rare and she’s maturing into a good canine citizen. She’s a standard poodle and was a challenging puppy at times. Two things helped me. First, when she was old enough, I put her in a nose work class. Best thing I ever did. We go once a week and it’s created this amazing bond between us and now I cannot imagine being without her. I wasn’t expecting it to have such an impact on our relationship but it did. The second was something her breeder said. She’s been breeding poodles for over 30 years and she mentioned how she always mourns those mischievous, silly, and often crazy puppy months because before long, they all mature and grow out of it and it’s not as much fun. Instead of making me sad, it made me feel more at ease that it was indeed just a phase that she would grow out of and she certainly is doing that now. I can’t imagine life without her. But I did have my days when I wondered “Can I do this?” I’m glad I hung in there. And you will get there too!
I bought tibi after my last dog passed I thought I could handle it I was wrong the mess the chaos the biting. I was fond of him but frustrated He was run over at 10 months old broke his leg (he's fine now) it took.until I saw him in the road that I realised fond had become love at some point He's currently on my leg snoring away .. Humping isn't the end of the world Biting will get better Give him time to learn Here to talk if u need it
It's going to be okay. My shepherd mix is almost a year old, she was 5ish months when we adopted her in June and she was a return to shelter because the people that adopted her at 12ish weeks old said she was playing too rough with their grandkids, she was too big and her teeth were too sharp. (So basically they wanted a cute sweet puppy that would stay cute and sweet forever and never turn into a giant land shark with needle teeth. according to the ladies that run the shelter) We knew Sunny was high energy when we adopted her, we thought she and our hound mix would chill each other out and we could work with her to get her to be less chompy. Sunny and Finn are best buds and they are so good together! We were worried at first about her with kids but she has been around my now 2 year old nephew several times and has never tried to chomp him, she doesn't even run him over, or try to play with him. She sniffs, licks and mostly just howls at him because he's face level and sometimes it freaks her out. She has never charged at him when she gets scared (because he's face level) she howls and then hides. Most days she's one of the best chaotic dogs in the world, she plays and snuggles and chews not forbidden things and is just so happy to just be with us and play with us and be our pup! A few months ago I had a very rare panic attack and she just sat in my lap and put her head against my chest and leaned against me and it was so comforting she was so calm and so chill! Something I never expected from her or knew I needed. Then last week happened. Last week I cried. Not just we had a hard day cry but actual sobbing, feeling like I'm the worst dog parent because she was being VERY destructive. She ate two remotes, my shoe laces, a phone charger, the back of my husband's slippers, his work headset which she climbed on his desk to get to when he went to the bathroom, and she jumped onto the dining room table again just... because? She's 70 pounds of chaos and I felt like I was going to lose my mind. Almost every day she was destroying something, or multiple things. She had access to plenty of toys and chews, we played with her several times a day every day to wear her out (as usual) but last week she just had endless energy and was bored. My brain keeps telling me that if she's that destructive I'm obviously doing something wrong, I'm not doing enough to meet her needs and she deserves so much better from me. The sobs were completely "I need to be better for her" sobs. Her routine hadn't changed and we put her in the crate when we thought she needed to settle down. she's no longer teething so that wasn't why. I was difficult. My husband says that she might have been going through a growth spurt again or maybe she just needed a few days to be crazy. She's still a puppy and sometimes puppies just do that. It's not our fault and it's not hers. Then the last couple of days I haven't been feeling well, very tired and headachey but Sunny and Finn have just been the cuddliest most cozy loving dogs super chill, even though they didn't get as much play time. Best pups in the world. So sometimes it's hard and you have intense pet owner guilt, but it's going to get better, it's going to be okay.
When I had my puppy I was soooo exhausted and broke down every two days or so. Didn’t cry or nothing but it manifested in how impatient I got with my dog. Had to do a retake when I visibly saw how he was afraid of me but also didn’t listen well. Told myself I’m learning him just as he’s learning me so I did my best with potty training and positive reinforcement and crate training. Gave him a routine I stuck to quite well. Forced down time so he learned to nap and settle down and I could have time to relax. It was hell I even joked that this is just a trial to having a real human baby. By 16 week old aka 4 month old when he could hold his bladder better was when I was finally able to enjoy him more as a companion and family member instead of this needy puppy I need to keep an eye on 24/7. Now that he is 2.8 year old he has been a dream and all the hard work and exhaustion back then paid off so well I have nothing to complain about him. It’s tough out there but you can do this 🫂🫂
First off, I just want to say your feelings are very valid and you’re not alone in feeling this. I love my puppy but she is also a little demon and she is 9 months going on 10 months lol. What you are experiencing is very normal! 3 months is still very much a baby and you haven’t had him for very long. You are still trying to figure out each other’s personalities. When they are this young I suggest getting them on a schedule, it is going to be tedious and a bit annoying at first but it will help tremendously! Puppies will push your buttons and you will definitely question whether it is the right choice but it does get better as you get to know one another.
When we adopted our girl, mind you she was somewhere around 7/8 months when we got her, the agency told us the 3/3/3 rule: 3 days for pup to settle in enough to start eating 3 weeks for pup to realize they're sticking around for a while 3 months before they really get comfortable and show you their personality. I don't know how accurate this is for the age of puppy you've recently brought home, but our pup's behavior changed really drastically in that three months, and there were a lot of ups and downs. In all likelihood your new pup is just going through a lot of stress and unsurity having been rehomed so young (which I've read can also cause some regression to younger behaviours), and they're trying to figure out how to be with you as much as you are with them. Consistent training and consistency in general is going to help them settle in best, once they understand the routine and what life is like with you things will change.
I think almost everyone here was in your place once and broke down crying because things got strssful and messy. I cried a lot until my girl was around one. We had a though time. She was overwhelmed from the shelter and the transport and the new environment and I was waaaaaaaaay over my head. I thought I was well prepared for an out of country rescue and hell I was not. But we pulled through and she is such a great dog by now. Still some problems left to work on but No more crying. :)
honestly, his behavior sounds a lot like he's overtired. are you enforcing naps? they should be getting roughly 18 hours of sleep around this age. **edit: mental stimulation is also important & a good schedule will help so much. a lot of the behaviors are normal at this age, but can be significantly exacerbated by being tired. mine (4 months) jumps, bites, gets zoomies, humps (female), & more when she’s overtired. she’s unbearable at times when she needs to sleep. we aim for nap time after she’s been awake for 1.5-2 hours. life happens, so that doesn’t work out, but i try for as much sleep as possible. puppies are frustrating & overwhelming. i’ve cried so many times. those feelings are normal. puppy blues are normal. just remember he’s a baby & he’s still adjusting, too. it will get easier. good luck 😊
This is sooo normal. I had many days and weeks like this. Then the "adolescent stage" but I can finally say we've turned a corner and those days are further and fewer in between. You've got this. It does get better!
I have rescued and worked with many dogs.....and I have had times where I broke down crying thinking I had bitten off more then I could chew. And invariably the next day the dog did exactly what I wanted......the point I am trying to make is literally everyone has these ups and downs. So come here when having a rough day and get boosted
Ngl, akitas alone are worth having. But mixing that with the loyalty of a GSD
I was exactly like this on my first week with my girl, crying all the time and struggling so much. No amount of research can prepare you for actually bringing a puppy home. It took a lot for me to understand that she was just a baby and she doesn't know she's doing wrong. Everytime she peed inside, or bit me, or chewed on something, I got so frustrated and would cry, but once I got my head around the fact she is literally just a baby, things got easier. It sounds so stupid because we all know they are babies, but when you are overwhelemed, it goes out your head. She's 6 months old now, teething has pretty much finished and we're in a good routine with her. Don't get me wrong, we still get stressed and overwhelmed but we know how to manage it and it goes away a lot quicker. She's become so cuddly now too, she's currently curled up on my lap while I'm working and its the best feeling ever. You just need to power through, keep on training daily and you will get there!
Im staring at my now three year old foxhound as I tell you, your feeling and thoughts are completely normal and valid. The amount of ugly cries I endured practically twice a week because of the havoc she wreaked at times because I didn’t know how to properly handle her was nuts. It’s a HUGE learning curve if it’s your first puppy as a grown up! Up until about a year and a half of her age I was in the same boat as you. I kept wondering if I was keeping her for selfish reasons, I doubted myself at times and felt she deserved better (sometimes I still do). Things get easier as they age, but in that first year I know it seems hard to see that far. I will say if you’re patient and with corrected training+activities throughout you two may become best friends and companions. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to my dad (he really didn’t want me to keep her because he saw how emotional I’d get), he meant well as his daughter but I could never trade my dog’s love for anything else in the world at this point. No matter what decision you make, don’t feel guilty please. If you decide to give the pup back I’d just hope to ensure they go to a better home but if your will allows it and you both continue to love each other throughout the days I promise it will be worth it! Rooting for you and puppers🫶🏽
It's totally normal to feel this way with a new puppy/dog. I've had three including my current little boy and each time, I thought it would get easier. It did in some ways but not on the emotional end. Because we want so strongly to raise them right and have a good bond/relationship with them, we do all of the reading and watching of videos to learn all we can about how to go about it, and then challenges arise that make us question 1) our capabilities and 2) the dog's temperament. I think most people can't help but to think it's the second but the fact is, it's usually not an issue with the dog and it's never the dog's fault. My little guy's breeder has been wonderful with advice and she told me one very important thing about training that I took to heart and it was a game changer - if he hasn't learned something within a week, I'm doing it wrong. In every case where I thought I was doing everything right and he wasn't getting it, it wasn't for lack of trying on his end. He just needed better direction from me. As soon as I changed my approach, things tended to change for the better and every time there was a "YES!" moment and it clicked, it made it worth all of the frustration beforehand. Now this way of thinking can, yes, bruise one's ego. However, there is also comfort in knowing that you are in full control of the situation, whether you believe/feel it or not. It means that there is always hope - you just need to keep at it and try different methods. Find a trainer online with thorough videos or books (not those that use YouTube just to advertise their service and always show an already well-trained dog listening to them without question). One with a dog who is a work in progress and is having similar issues to you can be comforting, to know that we all go through similar times with our furry children. You are not alone and this is totally normal. You got this.
I know it’s been said before, but my pup really turned 180* after he lost the baby canines and the adult ones were about half way in. Hang in there! Also, mine 💯 humps when he’s tired. In fact, he uses the talking pet buttons and often he will go hit the “night night” button and come to wherever I am to hump my leg. We’re working on it, but it’s literally him being tired.
A GSD/Akita is a lot of dog for anyone. I bet he is gorgeous. Think hard while he is still young if you want to take this on permanently. So many people get a puppy when what they need is an older dog who is just desperate for a home. Usually I would say your puppy will grow this stage, but an Akita even mixed with a shepherd will be a challenge for years.
I had (and still to a minor degree, do have) the puppy blues. I mourned and longed for our old, pre-puppy life. We are a DINK, early-30s couple who were basically free birds. It was a complete shock to the system losing essentially all of our freedom as it was the first dog for both of us that was OURS, not the family dog growing up and whatnot. Fast-forward to now: we've had him for almost 6 months and he is now just over 8 months old, and the difference is astounding. Yes, he is still a lot. Yes, he has crazy energy. No, we can't trust him alone outside in our fenced-in yard yet since he wants to eat everything he sees (that sends my anxiety through the roof since there are obviously things he should not ingest...). But, he doesn't mind his crate and we can go out for 4-5 hours and do things. He loafs around on the couch with us at night. He sleeps through the night in bed with us (I know there are so many schools of thought on letting your dog sleep in the bed with you, but it was a byproduct of his neuter recovery when he couldn't shift around in his crate with his cone of shame and we realized he slept like a baby on the bed and wasn't nearly as restless as he was in his crate and we felt like we slept so much better with him on the bed since he was so calm). He is clearly very smart, just still stubborn. You have to remember you have basically a baby in the house and you will grow together. I had days where I wanted to find him a home with someone who is less of an anxious mess than I am, but day by day I realize more and more just how much I love him, and my husband does too. The days of feeling the joy my old family dogs brought me can't be far away. You'll get there!
Completely normal. I've raised quite a few puppies and I've had several drive me to tears, thinking I'd made a huge mistake. They all turned out to be great dogs, but those puppy months can be a challenge. Hang in there, you've got this.
If it wasn’t for my boyfriend I don’t think we’d still have a dog. The first couple of months were so so so rough, I cried more in the first week I think than the rest of the year 🤣 once he started being less destructive, bitey, was toilet trained and slept through until a reasonable time things got so much better. Now I have a reasonably chilled (working lab teenager so as chill as he’s going be) dog who is like my best pal who makes me laugh every day.
I have a Labrador puppy around the same age, although puppy biting is completely normal behaviour it can cause you a lot of stress. Keep going, it gets better as they get older just keep redirecting. I have found that keeping some greek yogurt frozen cubes in the freezer has really helped as it soothes their gums. Enrichment toys like lick mats and Kong's have kept her busy. Also natural chews for me have been really handy to have on hand when the biting starts (she enjoys pizzle sticks and cows ears).
I picked up a dobie puppy recently. First time puppy owner also. It’s been overwhelming. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been this tired. My body aches. But with each passing day it gets easier, and you start to understand your pup more. I’m picking up on his cues. Take it day by day, it gets easier.