Anyone Else Exhausted?

[Teebs]

So when people complain about the normal pet pups I find it rather unfounded. Dont want things chewed - move them. Sick of them under your feet - crate them. At least yours tire out mine would GO GO GO for almost every moment I was home and giving her a sleep routine from the moment she came home was a godsend!

I dont have working dogs, but i agree.

I have never been exhausted from raising a puppy. I had a routine from the day they came home and stuck to it, both used crates, i did get up for a few weeks to take them out to the loo at night and things and NEVER had an accident inside with Atlas, I watched him all the times he was not crated and he has never been to the loo inside. Kaos was a bit harder to train, but it was my fault, I thought she was trained, so let her out at night and she would go to the loo when i was asleep!

I loved raising puppies and could easily do it again! And it is just me, no other half or flat mate to help do it all!

[poodle proud]

I have never been so fit as I am now after getting our toy poodle pup. She is a real livewire. It was ok at first because she would go nuts and then sleep for hours. As she got older the energy was the same and the sleeps shorter and shorter.

I realised that I had to drain her of that energy if I wanted any peace and quiet, so now we all get at least an hours walk every day and even then it takes a while for her to tire. Mind you one hour at puppy school and she is gone for the whole day

I am exhausted but she's worth it. We had to take her to the emergency vet recently because she had vomited 14+ times in a couple of hours. They kept her overnight and we all realised how much she had become part of our family. I have so many posts on here about the issues my older dog had with her in the first 6 months. When she was at the vets Osca was so out of sorts and we thought he was getting sick too. All was well when Middi got home and it finally hit us that he had really missed her and finally not only tolerated her but loved her!!

[princesszelda]

Well, its been less than 2 weeks since my original post, and I'm pleased to say that things are much improved. Hubby & I are getting more sleep, Bella is calming down (a bit) and we are starting to feel like she is a real part of our family. We still call her "our nightmare", but it is an affectionate term!

Its amazing how much things can change in such a short periord of time! Looking back on it, it wasn't that bad, but I'm sure thats what new mums say about labour....

[Danois]

I agree with Teebs and Nekbet - I never found having a puppy tiring. From day 1 routines were put into place to integrate the dog into the house - he fitted around me, I did not fit around him.

[flux]

Yes. Particularly the stage when you realise you've been worrying fffaaaaarrrrrrrrrr too much and all the exhaustion was pretty much self-created. Well, for me anyway I'm a worry-wort! I hear though that us humans get the hang of it and calm down as the puppy gets older

[Miz J]

We have a couple of boxers. The young one has just turned 7 months so I guess hes really not a pup anymore ( in chronological terms!!!) Early days were such a readjustment for us and our adult girl (3 1/2 years old, shes the most wonderful dog, pretty much the best either of us has had). The toilet training was the one that got me, many trips in the rain with me in PJ's wellies and holding an umbrella over him so he didnt get wet, I usually was drenched. Its all worth it but as soon as the toilet training is over, the teething has finished, eating patterns established and basic obedience has happened its into the next phase. Juvenile delinquency!!!!! He is so naughty. Nothing is sacred honestly and he knows what is expected. We adore him. He is a gorgeous dog and an absolute clown. Dont think he will ever "grow up" We have our hands full with him but thats our responsibility and we took it on willingly and continue to. Cant imagine not having either of them. I have been told that boxers grow up at 9 1/2 then you get their remaining time as a geriatric dog before they decide to leave you.

So my message is enjoy puppyhood, its short lived and delightful because the next step will take you to a whole new zone!! I intend to enjoy that as much

Joyce

[princesszelda]

Yes. Particularly the stage when you realise you've been worrying fffaaaaarrrrrrrrrr too much and all the exhaustion was pretty much self-created. Well, for me anyway I'm a worry-wort! I hear though that us humans get the hang of it and calm down as the puppy gets older

Exactly my experience! I wanted everything to be perfect and had really high expectations for myself and for Bella - because we have relaxed a little, so has she! :D

[Belgianlover]

you think you have it tough

try raising a working malinois.

Oh I was lucky and didnt have the whining, the chewing, the crying, the mouthing she was never allowed.

I did have day in day out of routine, drive building, socialisation, bitework, praise, training etc

you have it lucky with just a pet so appreciate it and simply put your foot down to unwanted behaviors. If I can with mega chewing, high drive pups whilst holding down a full time job as well you guys have the easy road

I feel your pain Nekhbet, and my girls a Groen, so not as full on as a Mal (especially a working one). She is still crazy at times though and I don't dare leave her without stimulation for fear of the havoc the backyard will cop.

To have a dog with drive and character is so much fun though IMO especially if you channel all the energy constructively. :D

[dianed]

This was my experience -

8 week old pup - 3 months of age(ish)

Always have to watch her, chewing everything, eating everything, poo and pee inside if not taken outside regularly, chasing cats, chomping on power cords, lots of energy and whining when bored, waking up halfway through the night for toilet, having to be locked in crate at night, pulling on leash, scared of the dark, waking up at 7am even on weekends cos thats when she woke up and I couldn't leave her unsupervised

Now I have a 6.5month old more mature and beautiful dog! -

Fully toilet trained, obedient, knows lots of tricks, doesn't pull on leash so walks are enjoyable, sleeps in our room with us free, I can SLEEP IN FINALLY cos I can leave her in the house unsupervised and she doesn't do *too* much damage (lol), is a lot nicer to the 3 cats now, can walk out the front door without running off, jumps straight into the van for car trips, knows our routine and never whines out of angst anymore, goes to 'bed' at 10pm every night (falls asleep then), happy to entertain herself with her toys, has FINISHED TEETHING YAY, doesn't chew half as many things now.

Mm yeah! It's soooo worth it in the end, I keep thinking if mine's this good at 6mths old, she will be amazing at 2yrs +!

Well done! I have a 3yo long coat gsd (as pretty and spoilt as Shyla).In the last few days she has chewed up my torch recharger, the lead on my lamp and the knobs on my dresser.Obviously she was bored as we hadn't been able to get outside because of the wind.

[Belgianlover]

Roxie normally settles after 10-15 minutes of me getting home (I just walk outside and check on the veggie garden etc to let her do some zoomies and then settle. Last night though she was doing continuous Zoomies and atacking multiple toys and ice cream containers (or anything else in her way) for 2 and a half hours I couldn't get her to settle no matter what. I didn't want to take her for a walk at that point as I don't want to reward her for going crazy and atacking everything in sight. I have never seen her so hyperactive, then as though someone flicked the off switch she just walked slowly over to her bed laid down and watched everyone from there as she usually does and she was super calm. As stated in my previous post, The joys of a dog with drive (when it's not chanelled constructively).

[PuggaWuggles]

Ik now what you mean,we have a 12 week old puglett,what a handfull,so tiring,i am exhausted by 7pm everyday.He gets up at 4:50am on the dot for breakfast,even on weekends,but the good thing is that when we tire him out and go to bed,he cries for all of 2 minutes,realises we are not coming out to him and sleep until 4:50am,right through.

Good luck to you,i hope it gets better for us from here onwards.

[Danois]

Ik now what you mean,we have a 12 week old puglett,what a handfull,so tiring,i am exhausted by 7pm everyday.He gets up at 4:50am on the dot for breakfast,even on weekends,but the good thing is that when we tire him out and go to bed,he cries for all of 2 minutes,realises we are not coming out to him and sleep until 4:50am,right through.

Good luck to you,i hope it gets better for us from here onwards.

If you do not want to be getting up at 4.50am for the next 10 years then I would be ignoring him at that time and settling him into your routine or otherwise popping said puglett in its crate with a kong or something like that and going back to bed.

[PuggaWuggles]

Ik now what you mean,we have a 12 week old puglett,what a handfull,so tiring,i am exhausted by 7pm everyday.He gets up at 4:50am on the dot for breakfast,even on weekends,but the good thing is that when we tire him out and go to bed,he cries for all of 2 minutes,realises we are not coming out to him and sleep until 4:50am,right through.

Good luck to you,i hope it gets better for us from here onwards.

If you do not want to be getting up at 4.50am for the next 10 years then I would be ignoring him at that time and settling him into your routine or otherwise popping said puglett in its crate with a kong or something like that and going back to bed.

Thanks Danois,i have been waiting longer and longer to give him his breakfast,so hopefully he will get used to sleeping in a bit more as time goes on.

The kong is a good idea too,i may be a ble to catch another hours sleep.thanks.

[jr_inoz]

Just looking for a bit of support! Does anyone else find having a puppy exhausting? I've never had one before, and I can't believe how much work it is (I know, everyone told me it would be, but I didn't realise to what extent!)

It's making me wonder how my husband and I would cope with having a baby!

it's practice

[:ange:]

I don't remember feeling exhausted with our first puppy Wei. She seemed to be a real pleasure to train and was very easily toilet trained and seemed to sleep for looong loooong periods with the occasional puppy zoomies. She grew up to be a bit of a nutter but she is so laid back and calm in the house it's just lovely.

Our newest Wei who is 12 weeks tomorrow is an absolute ratbag. He chews everything and anything he can get his mouth on. He is a nightmare to toilet train - even with watching him like a hawk. He's good overnight where Ruby wasn't but he's such a little crazy grey ball of energy that rarely sleeps, it does leave me very exhausted.

[newfsie]

All I can do is smile and give you sympathy :):) But it will get better

[MissCav]

Princess you obviously dont have children!! LOL I have two boys under 3 and trust me the pup is sooo much easier.

THis one has toilet trained to a mat and he is just 9 weeks old. He plays a lot on his own through the day but gets a lot of attention also. At night i heat up the wheat bag, put his blankets around him and put the talk back radio on and barely get so much as a whimper now until 6 when he goes out.

The baby wakes three times a night because of teething!

[princesszelda]

Since there seems to have been so much interest in this topic, I thought I would give a quick update.

Bella is now 15 weeks old and so much better! She sleeps through the night (although she still gets up at 5.30!) and is actually content hanging out with us while we are relaxing. She still has her moments when she gets a "crazy dog" look in her eyes, but we just put her outside for a couple minutes or so, and she soon calms down.

Thanks everyone for all your replys - it really normalised the whole new puppy experience for me!

PZ

[luvsdogs]

I am not to exhausted as i was when i first got my now 12 week old border collie she can pretty much hold in her wees and poos at night now thank god i didn't like waking up in the middle of the night to take her downstairs to go toilet She now pretty much plays all days and sleeps all night, i am still having the chewing of everything in the house i just had to get a wireless keyboard and mouse today as i found out that she chewed through my other one yesterday :D ;) there have been moments that i have wanted to give her away but then i think what a joy she is to have around she always wants to be with you and she is a delight to train that is when she is not being naughty i wish she didn't have to grow up but i know when she does she is going to be a wonderful dog.

Here is a photo of her getting eaten by her brother.

She's absolutely gorgeous.

[luvsdogs]

Since there seems to have been so much interest in this topic, I thought I would give a quick update.

Bella is now 15 weeks old and so much better! She sleeps through the night (although she still gets up at 5.30!) and is actually content hanging out with us while we are relaxing. She still has her moments when she gets a "crazy dog" look in her eyes, but we just put her outside for a couple minutes or so, and she soon calms down.

Thanks everyone for all your replys - it really normalised the whole new puppy experience for me!

PZ

You will have lots of moments with her in the near future with teething & chewing. If you need some help a good place to start is

http://www.dogstardaily.com/

But no matter what she does you have a wonderful companion to enjoy for many years to come.

Edited October 15, 2009 by luvsdogs