I have always owned a dog,my last one had to be put to sleep in june.i am 63 working 3 days a week and have now had for 4 days an 11 week old am spaniel puppy. I live on my own now my son left for new home the day puppy arrived. I feel that i have made a big mistake...whining at night feeling shattered worrying about going back to work cos allthough i have organised some care he will still be left in crate fior several houirs in the day.feeli want to phone breeder to arrange to take him back but its 300 miles away.my sons say i am stupid and that he is amazin and he is but i feel i have made a bad decision?

It's natural for the pup to cry a little at night til he settles into his new home and his new routine, and it's only natural that you worry that you have done the right thing. Please don't worry too much. The pup will settle down soon and you'll begin to wonder how you managed without him. Hang in there.

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I'm not mad, my psychiatrist said so

I agree totally - give it a little time and then see how you feel, it's always hard at first but you will be delighted with your little companion as time goes by I'm sure.
It's all very daunting now but live it a little first and then see how you feel

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"Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own”

My spaniel is 11 weeks old, have had her since she was 8 weeks old and now I have no idea where I would be without her. She drives me crazy and it was hard work for a while and still is sometimes as she's not quite getting the hang of toilet training but we'll get there.

Honestly, persevere, did you do much research on the breed or is it a breed you've had before? I've never had a spaniel and had to do some quick research to find the best way to train her and what her personality traits may be, they love being with people and Mabel always always always whines when she gets put in her 'home', a sectioned of piece of the hallway and has to be put in her crate at night as she won't go in on her own but you just have to stay strong with it. Do you have a blanket or something over the crate to make it all cosy? they like it as a little den, maybe your puppy just needs to feel a little more secure in it?

Hope things work out soon and that you and your puppy settle well together.

MM
x

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I collected mine on Sunday afternoon. A 7 week old German Shepherd. She is not overly keen on her crate. She has to go in it if she is going to be left as I have a 13 month old British bulldog that is over 4 stone so can't be left out. I found last night though putting her just in the kitchen with some mats on the floor her bed and toys in there stood for a couple of minutes just to reassure her. Once she was asleep I came out and didn't hear a sound till I got up at 7 this morning. She had done a wee on her mat but just settled again.
I had the same feeling on Monday night when she was howling and not settling but feel better this morning for some sleep.

Thanks kirk i hope you are right i think that being here alone isn't helping!.i didnt worry about my last dog 15 years ago but my son was here so that helped.he was left in kitchen with baby gate cant do that as got a new kitchen hence the crate..will he b ok left in crate with people popping in to feed him or is that a bad idea dont know what else i can do really?

Having a new pup is very daunting but very fullfilling

It may not seem it at the moment because you are overwelmed by it all

In his crate an idea is a hot water bottle, maybe something like a t shirt that smells of you, we also cover lolas crate with a blanket

Dont give up on him yet, its not easy but it will deffo all pay of

Good luck with him

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As i dont mind him sleeping in my room when he is trained should i get a smaller crate and have him in my room or willoe still whine? please someone tell me if he will be ok left when I am in work? Can't remember how long Rolo my last dog needed someone to come in during the day I have allways had american cockers this is my fifth one.I feel such an idiot!!

Come on - you'll be fine. I'm around your age and have had dogs all my life as well but I think we forget just how much hard work a new puppy is and its always such a culture shock.

I know exactly how you feel as I felt the same 3 years ago when I had my last one - mine was a collie and you've got a spaniel, both extremely lively pups that never seem to need any sleep...!!

I know most people love little puppies but I never have (I only like them when they get to about 6 months old, are becoming housetrained and you don't need eyes in the back of your head most of the time).

How long will the pup be left while you're at work and at what times and for how ong will someone be visiting?

This is what I did when mine were tiny.

At night I put the crate next to my bed - the crate was only big enough to lie down in and stretch out - if they woke I would take them out to the toilet no fuss no talking mo eye contact and then straight back to their crate. If they fussed I'd stick my fingers through the bars for comfort.
As soon as they could hold all night I moved the crate to the end of the bed. And a few days later moved the crate to the lounge where they sleep now.

When I was at work and the kids were at school I set up a doggie play pen and attached it to the edge of their crate. This way they could sleep in thier crate but have restricted access to a space where I had a puppy pad, a bowl of watwe and a puppy kong.
(I don't really advocate the use of puppy pads - but it was best for us in these circumstances.)
After taking some time off workk to settle pup in getting him used to being left I left for work at 8am and came back at 12.30 for 30 minutes then the kids were in at 3.30.
Leave a t-shirt you've slept in in his bed for comfort.

When home I would put pup in the playpen ar crate whenever I couldn't watch them or they fell asleep.
I would take them out every hour PLUS everytime they woke, finished play, finished eating and looked like they were circling/sniffing.

Having a pup is like having a new born baby/toddler at first it does get easier - the more you time and effort you can put in the quicker it'll get easier.
I hope you can bond and turn your feelings around.
Set yourself a regime stick to it for a week - if you don't feel any different get in touch with the breeder, the sooner pup goes back the easier it will be for the Breder to re-home (don't want to sound harsh just being practical)
I really hope it all works out - you sound like you'll be a great owner for this little pup and the pup will give you many years of happiness.

(and sorry for the long post)

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.