all i can say is.......puppys are hard work!!!!!!! lol

Not sure if this has been covered but the only thing that shocked me about having a puppy, is the sheer worry you have for them, if they do something unexpected, go lame, hurt themselves in anyway, it is worse than the worry i have for my kids because they can not tell you what the problem is!

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I can relate to that. Imagine how I felt when Joshua got heat stroke at only 10 weeks. I was frantic with worry, had no idea what it was. I couldn't get him to the vet fast enough.

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Will always miss you, my little Joshie Woshie xx

If you want real love, buy a dog

If you wouldn't use it on a child, don't use it on a dog

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Even now beyond puppy hood, because they cant tell you what is wrong it is such a worry, that is without factoring in that so much costs you so much with vets bills and so although you obviously go if you have to, you would have to be very wealthy to go for absolutely every questionable thing so you try to not go if it isnt needed as so much of the expense falls just under the amount of the insurance excess every time.

The worry of the do they dont they need the vet, can it wait a day or so etc!

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Even after you have got over the sleepless night/s and the house-training it isn't necessarily all plain sailing. You house-trained the pup so well that it now fervently desires to go toilet outside. Then when they go through a fear period and feel agitated at some noise outside they may do a wee on the way to the door and feel dreadful / guilty about having failed and beat themselves up about it so they feel more stressed. And because it's a fear period of irrational thought they may also expect you will be cross....even if you aren't going to be. You have befriended your new pup so it looks to you for everything, you have always been able to make them feel happy and comfortable and now you can't make these now suddenly frightening noises go away.

Following: even as an adult my GSD follows me everywhere, it's sometimes hard not to get annoyed, I'm cooking - she is sat next to my feet, I'm eating - she's under the table, watching TV - sat on my feet, in bed - sat right at the door, sometimes snoring or barging against to get in.

Hah.

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Agree these are all valid points......I do just love the way us dog owners tell all the nightmare stories and always end with "but they are worth it". I wouldnt be without my pup (still not quite housetrained) and one of the good points for me is she keeps me fit and healthy with all the walking.

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All a dog needs is time, patience and love.

Couldn't agree more my pup was in the vets 10 days after I got her really poorly and I could hardly cope.

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All a dog needs is time, patience and love.

Have just read though this with some trepidation as we get out first ever puppy next month... and now I'm eternaly grateful for already being a horse owner so partially used to the mess, early mornings and animals that take a priority over everything!

Hi! I'm thinking to get a dog ...I live in the country and have children..Could you recommend what a good friend could it be? a breed I mean?

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