Blackboy98 (10-29-2018)
I'll tell you a secret.
Two weeks until our puppy comes home.
I'm so excited to have a dog back in the house.
And I'm so dreading the puppy part.
Kimber was a hard puppy. She was a piranha landshark, she didn't like to snuggle, she didn't like to nap, and she barked her fool head off for hours in the crate. She didn't sleep through the night until she was 6+ months old.
My main memories of our first 3 months with her are sitting on the floor, redirecting her bites over and over and over, near tears because she was so overwhelming and I was so freakin' tired and omg what had we done.
So I keep reminding myself that I'm better prepared this time, that we've learned some tricks (like having the crate nearby at night), that we'll have a schedule that will help all of us. (Last time, I think we let Kimber run the show. Bad idea.) All the time we put into her will pay off.
And...I had fun playing with the litter yesterday! And I had a lot of fun playing with my neighbors' puppy in the spring! Yes, he was exhausting, but I didn't go to a dark place after watching him. And it won't be forever.
But I'll still happily take any tips or strategies for reminding myself to enjoy the moment and enjoy the puppy.
Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
Hidden Content
Miss Kimber, CGC, 6/15/2005-1/27/2018 forever in our hearts
Blackboy98 (10-29-2018)
I think you hit the nail on the head!! You have learned a lot about puppies with Kimber, but your new puppy may be nothing like her. SO just go with the flow, sit back, enjoy your new pup and learn some more. Most of all, enjoy the quality time with her so you can enjoy her as she gets older. As you know, they grow up so fast and at some time you will miss those times when she was a little snuggle bug.
We are all here for you when you are overwhelmed and when you are overjoyed. We are all waiting for her to bring joy and love back into your home.
kimbersmom (10-29-2018)
Your puppy will live for what, 12-16 years? What's six months? That's how I look at it. Also, I have zero expectations of my puppies. If puppy isn't a screamer in the crate, I am pleasantly surprised. If puppy does something I don't like, I attack it from a practical viewpoint. But, I don't worry about it and train for something that is not happening. Does that make sense? I mean, puppies are not blank slates; they have plenty of genetic make-up that makes them who they are and you just have to work with that but you also choose your breeder and the breeding and, to a lesser extent, the actual puppy based on what works best for you. I carefully selected my puppy and while Presto was performance bred and that was what I wanted, because most of my time is spent just living with him, livability was my number one concern. Mom lives with breeder and we discussed her. I called the sire's owner. I talked to the sire's trainer(s). I also reached out to Presto's half-brother's owner. I asked the breeder, "Why did you breed these two together and what do you expect?" and not just performance, but how they are to live with. And, while some people poo-pooed the fact that having a potty trained puppy was really fantastic, because it's just something that comes with the territory and it's not that difficult, I loved the fact that these pups were raised Avidog because it made my life easier and, therefore, the puppies happier! As someone who raises a puppy on their own and has a job, two other dogs and a home to care for, I'll take what I can get! I try to set myself up for success which sets the puppy up for success as well. I turned down some amazing pups because I didn't think they'd be as easy to live with. And, if I had a propensity to become overwhelmed, I'd definitely do the same. Long story short, but I severely injured my leg two weeks after getting Presto home and it's just now starting to get back to normal. So, everything the breeder did and the fact that Presto is easy to live with (I mean, still a puppy, but no behavioral issues to worry about) was not only "nice" and "convenient" but it may have saved my sanity and our relationship.
You have to take care of you, also, because you can't be a strong leader for your puppy if you're upset and overwhelmed all the time. Can you and your sig other take turns watching the puppy alone so the other person can get some "me time"? Do you agree on a schedule for the puppy? What's your plan? Things like that. I read threads about people crying or being depressed or overwhelmed with their puppies and I've just never felt that way. I've been tired. And, with my injured leg, I didn't sleep for five weeks because I had to sleep on my back with my leg elevated, which I don't do, and I couldn't take sleeping meds because I have a puppy and live alone (I need to be able to be woken in case of a fire or someone breaking into my house, etc.). I've had easier puppies and harder puppies, and even with the dozens of untrained two year old intact male field Lab fosters or the old blind ones or the ones that didn't fit in well with my schedule, dogs, me... And, I've done 90% of all of this on my own because I've mostly been single or dating when I've had puppies. I'm not saying I'm better than those who become overwhelmed...but just that everyone is different and you should think about balance and how you can achieve that based on your personal situation, both with the intended temperament of the puppy, how your breeder raises them and how to manage puppyhood.
kimbersmom (10-29-2018)
You will be fine!
Set some early boundaries, training, and start that crate training right away, and you will be golden. I tell my puppy families that I have done everything I can to send home a happy, confident, stable, eager to please puppy, what you do with the puppy next is up to you. Socialization and exposure to challenges and different environments is very important too.
I sent you a private message with some more information I send my puppies home with.
SO excited for you!!
barry581 (10-29-2018), kimbersmom (10-29-2018)
Thanks, all. I’m a bit of an anxious person, but this board helps halt the mental spiral. I’ve got this!
Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
Hidden Content
Miss Kimber, CGC, 6/15/2005-1/27/2018 forever in our hearts
Jollymolly (10-29-2018)
I will be here to remind you that you got this and that puppy phase in all realty goes way faster than you can imagine. I think your anxiety has a place and recognizing that it is that is a head start
kimbersmom (10-31-2018)
I know you'll do great with your new little girl. Not that every lab puppy is the same as every other but you are an experienced lab owner now and, in my experience, that makes a big difference. You're more mentally prepared for what lies ahead. And who knows, this baby might sleep through the night within just a few weeks. She'll still have teeth, though...
kimbersmom (10-31-2018)
Every puppy is different! Thor was a crazy biter and I remember a few days of "what did I get into?" But we did it again with Barley - and this time there was no biting (seriously, how did I get so lucky??) but the crying and barking - oh boy, that was/is almost as bad as the biting. But we're working on it and we'll get through it. And those short episodes of noise are nothing compared to the hours of snuggles and play time and ADORABLENESS that is a lab puppy. As frustrating as they can be I just remind myself that they are babies (well, now I'm getting into the stubborn teenager phase which is something else altogether) and consistency and persistence will win.
kimbersmom (10-31-2018)
I just rejoined this forum this week as I too am waiting to get our black lab pup in 5 weeks at the end of December. In May of this year I had to put my dear old yellow girl Daisy to sleep...and now here I go 7 months later preparing for an 8 week old puppy...OMG I’m excited but also worried about how much I have forgotten about the amount of work puppies can be. I’m prepared and I know what I am in for, but it’s still kinda scary. This time I’m going to try hard not to get too stressed and try to take things in stride.
I do recall when Daisy was a pup saying many times to my then 10 year old daughter that Daisy was going back to the breeders - at times so frustrating with the biting and constant chewing. But it all got much better after Daisy got past that stage and she was a wonderful dog for her whole life. I still miss her so much.
So my plan is to try to remember when I’m super frustrated and tired that the pain and frustration will be short lived!
kimbersmom (11-29-2018), smartrock (11-29-2018)
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