[Kirstychilds]

I got a 10 week old chihuahua puppy, he's absolutely adorable but I get really stressed out with his crying and having to take care of him. He's really well looked after but I've spent literally every waking moment with him for the past 4 days. I feel like I don't have a life anymore, and it's really upsetting me.

I hate the idea of having to give him up, it makes me so upset but I feel like feeling this way is ruining my health. I feel like I can't relax.

Has anyone else felt like this in the beginning?

 

[button50]

Absolutely, Try not to worry the first few weeks are a real struggle and there will be times when you feel like you have made a mistake. Trust me though my Bubba is 11 months now and all the hard work really does pay off i promise. Id be lost without hime now. With the crying im not going to be much help im affraid as Bubba only cried for the first 2 nights we just ignored him as horrible as that sounds it did work. We got him a cuddly toy about his size which to this day he still cuddles up to.
I really hope things work out for you and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[LouLatch]

It is really hard to start with, all ive ever wanted is a puppy and then a couple weeks after i got my cocker i wished he was grown up.
Like button50 said its so worth it!
As for the crying try giving him a toys to cuddle up to so he thinks hes with his mum and litter mates, you could also try a warm hot water bottle wraped in a few blankets this will also make him think hes with with his litter mates as it will represent their body heat. Make sure it is wraped up in blankets so not to burn him.

Please stick with him, he will love you for it!

 

[Guest]

Hang in there. The first few weeks are hard. My boy is 3 months old, had him 3 weeks and the worst thin was accidents indoors but getting good at going outside. The first 2 wek it was hard but it got better, stick with it and you'll start finding it easier with your pup.

 

[BabyBlu]

Tell me about it! Im in the same boat! Im not thinking about giving her up but, boy, it is a challenge.
I've got an 11.5 week staffie and she has been with me 9 days. Her sense of humour already is hilarious which totally makes up for everything.
Like you though, I imagined that a puppy would take up a lot of time but I didn't realise she would take up ALL my time. It is like having a baby... and i've never had one!
I think the crying when I am even just a little bit away is the worst.
Today was a good day, she only wee'd outside and she was so happy and playful. Even when I went out for 4 hours to get my computer fixed she was so happy and up for a game, instead of being so so over worried about my absence and stressed looking.
don't cave in at night. She is sleeping in the kitchen and each night is getting better. We are not letting her in the bedroom and I am glad as I do need a bit of private time and space and I am hoping she will be the better for it too.
Feel free to pm me if you need support
x

 

[BabyBlu]

Oh and I got one of those cuddly toys that you can heat up in the microwave, lavender scented, she loves lavender, I put that in her bed at night

 

[Achoo]

You didn't think about this before you got the dog?

Crate train him, at least that way you will get a solid few hours rest.
Pandering to his incessant needs at this age will give you the perfect case for a severely neurotic dog. So please grin and bare it until he can crate trained or...do it now.

 

[Achoo]

Oh and I got one of those cuddly toys that you can heat up in the microwave, lavender scented, she loves lavender, I put that in her bed at night

Wow. Whoever invented that is laughing all the way to the bank. Did it work? Of course not. Dogs don't cuddle down with a hot water bottle. Especially not 10 week old dogs. They need far, far more than that. They are not little babies.

 

[PennyGC]

ok you've brought a baby into your home (your choice) and you're surprised the baby is taking up your time? sorry, but what did you expect?

puppy days don't last forever, you can train your pup now to be more independent and soon you'll be wanting a pup again.... have a read of Gwen Bailey's 'The Perfect Puppy' to see what you can do and how your pup should be developing...

 

[Sled dog hotel]

I got a 10 week old chihuahua puppy, he's absolutely adorable but I get really stressed out with his crying and having to take care of him. He's really well looked after but I've spent literally every waking moment with him for the past 4 days. I feel like I don't have a life anymore, and it's really upsetting me.

I hate the idea of having to give him up, it makes me so upset but I feel like feeling this way is ruining my health. I feel like I can't relax.

Has anyone else felt like this in the beginning?

Its still early days yet, they do get stressed when leaving mum and litter mates and relocating. Having him have constant access although may quieten him isnt the answer though as they can become over dependant and then cant cope at all on their own.

Old tricks that often work, is leaving them with an old t-shirt or jumper you have worn as having your smell can re-assure them, also leaving an large stuffed toy with them too can help, as in the litter they sleep touching and often atop of each other so it gives them something to cuddle up too. Leaving them with a radio on turned down low on a talking station can help too. Dog appeasing pheromone diffusers can also help puppies settle, I still use them for fireworks and times of stress and find that they help a lot.
Adaptil helps dogs and puppys learn settle travel and in kennels

You need to start leaving him for short sessions while you are in and gradually build the time up. Baby or dog control gates on the room where he is left can help rather then closing a solid wood door on them, as they tend to panic and feel more isolated. After a play session when he is likely to have gotten rid of excess energy, and be tired and more easy to settle, just pop him in his bed in a separate room, and just leave him. Leaving with a kong or a treat toy with food from his allowance or something to chew often helps too. You need to walk away with no fuss. At first return before he gets stressed and vocal, just let him out ignore him for a minute or two, then call him to you and lots of praise and fuss. You then need to as he copes build the time up. If you establish a routine several times aday and then keep that routine when you do go out he should settle eventually.

If you are going to consider crate training, then they need to be intoriduced and trained to it. Done wrongly they can get stressed and wont settle.

 

[Shadowrat]

You didn't think about this before you got the dog?

I researched, for about 10 years, I knew how to crate train, how to toilet train, I knew about the biting, the wreckage, and I knew a pup would be hard work, but even I wasn't prepared for how much work. Just because someone is shell shocked in those first few puppy days, it doesn't mean they didn't think about it. Its something you can't truly know until it happens. I think everyone is a bit shocked and exhausted at first, the phrase 'puppy blues' exists for a reason.
I certainly had it. I'd wanted a dog since I was 16 or so, and a dobe specifically from about 20, and didn't get Dres til I was 30, so thats 10 years I swotted up on everything puppy.
But it was still surprising just how much he took over my life.

I never, ever for a second considered giving him up, though, as once an animal comes here, it is family and we don't give up.
But I certainly had a few 'what have I done?' moments.
Even now, with dres at 10 months, I have periods of thinking I can't cope.
But I persevere, and he is slowly becoming easier, and obviously, I love him to death.
But even that took time. I'd say that while I had a fondness for him and cared a lot about him, I didn't truly LOVE him or have a strong bond until he was about 6 months. At times, I wondered if I'd ever actually feel a bond with him in the way I do with my rats.
It just took time, was all, but I felt ashamed at first for not instantly bonding strongly with him, as I always do with new rats.
But now.....I wouldn't be without him.

But yes, while I get your point that people shouldn't rush in and expect a puppy to be easy, I also understand that with all the research and readiness in the world they can sometimes be a shock to the system.

There is no shame in admitting you're stressed or depressed about a new pup, none at all. Most of us have been through that.

 

[Sarah1230]

Give it chance , I have had my newfie puppy 7 weeks now, and at first I was so stressed thought I had made the wrong choice, even broke down in tears haha and my parents were even going to ring the breeder to find him a new home, (so glad we didn't) but It gets easier, and when he is grown up it will be soo worth it! I also have ocd, it made things alot worse for me, I didn't think it would because I had a rescue dog and I was fine, but this time I guess he is a puppy, puppies have accidents inside ect.. but even with that Things have got better, so stick with it. It will get better, puppies are just hard work but they are not puppies forever so try and enjoy it, maybe someone could help you out a bit a couple of times a week or something so you can have a bit of time to yourself? My pup cried for the first week or so, but we gave him a massive teddy about his size and that really helped plus a shirt or something that has your scent on it! Alot of people struggle for the first couple of weeks or soo. You will be fine

 

[button50]

ok you've brought a baby into your home (your choice) and you're surprised the baby is taking up your time? sorry, but what did you expect?

I really dont think anyone expects or realises until they have one how tough it is having a puppy. But by people giving support and reasurance does make you feel like their is light at the end of the tunnel. Advice is better than criticism which i believe is what the member needs right now!!

 

[BabyBlu]

Wow. Whoever invented that is laughing all the way to the bank. Did it work? Of course not. Dogs don't cuddle down with a hot water bottle. Especially not 10 week old dogs. They need far, far more than that. They are not little babies.

don't be so rude! How dare you! I do not think my dog is a baby. I read in a dog book that pups like something warm in their bed as it replicates their mum and siblings. When I take her in the garden she goes crazy for the lavender hedge.
It is my lavender microwave thing for my neck. I put in in her bed and she likes it. Our vet actually sells something similar for dogs
ignoramus !!!!!

 

[BabyBlu]

and if you see my posts you will see i am doin g all I can as recommended by several books and my vet

 

[PennyGC]

a bit of 'realism' or 'shake up' is also needed... plenty of tea and sympathy from others... what's also needed is for someone to say 'get a grip' in a nice way....

 

[BabyBlu]

This is not my thread, and it is fine to say 'get a grip' in a nice way but it is insulting to say that I think my dog is a baby and that it takes a lot more than a hot water bottle to rear a pup.
Really??!!!
I thought you just bought one and left it to manage by itself!!
Seriously, it can be overwhelming. People have come to this forum for support and help BECAUSE they care about their pets and they need help and advice, not insults.
I am 48. I have wanted a dog since I was 20 but I was wise enough to know that it would be selfish of me as I did not have the right lifestyle. Last year I left my work to start my own business and for the first year I seriously contemplated buying a dog, or getting a rescue dog, but I held out incase for some reason my new business did not work out and I needed to go back to work. A year later and my own business still going well I started to think very seriously about it. I did a lot of research, looked at my lifestyle. At 48 I am no longer going out every night. I don't have children due to health issues in the past so I thought I had a lot to offer a dog and a lot of love to give. I went down the rescue dog path but I was concerned about getting a staffie who may not be very well socialised and be too much to handle in London parks around other dogs, especially for a first time owner so I bought one from a kennel club breeder with the view that I would be able to spend a lot of time socialising her.
I read up on the breed beforehand, considered other breeds, but I love staffies so that was the choice I made.
I bought a baby gate and a pen, baskets, everything really. I have been overwhelmed as it is upsetting when the pup cries all night - you feel you are doing something wrong despite following all the advice to the letter.
I have been at home solidly for 2 weeks now and there are moments when you feel for your own sanity! I need some socialisation myself!
My girl Edie IS settling in. She is happy, playful, exuberant and loving all day.
She has learnt 4 commands already with clicker training. Tonight we are going to a puppy socialisation class.
I was prepared for it to be hard at first. But to be honest all the books and websites in the world don't prepare you for how tough it will be.
I have no intention of giving up, she is a puppy and I treat her as one. She is not my baby, but she is my puppy that I love. I feel an enormous responsibility for her welfare.
I am walking the line every moment between giving her too much attention and not enough; letting her have her independence and keeping my eye on her; disciplining her without anger; loving her without mollycoddling her; letting her be a dog whilst realising she is still a puppy.

Mean replies are totally unneccessary

 

[LauraJane9]

This is not my thread, and it is fine to say 'get a grip' in a nice way but it is insulting to say that I think my dog is a baby and that it takes a lot more than a hot water bottle to rear a pup.
Really??!!!
I thought you just bought one and left it to manage by itself!!
Seriously, it can be overwhelming. People have come to this forum for support and help BECAUSE they care about their pets and they need help and advice, not insults.
I am 48. I have wanted a dog since I was 20 but I was wise enough to know that it would be selfish of me as I did not have the right lifestyle. Last year I left my work to start my own business and for the first year I seriously contemplated buying a dog, or getting a rescue dog, but I held out incase for some reason my new business did not work out and I needed to go back to work. A year later and my own business still going well I started to think very seriously about it. I did a lot of research, looked at my lifestyle. At 48 I am no longer going out every night. I don't have children due to health issues in the past so I thought I had a lot to offer a dog and a lot of love to give. I went down the rescue dog path but I was concerned about getting a staffie who may not be very well socialised and be too much to handle in London parks around other dogs, especially for a first time owner so I bought one from a kennel club breeder with the view that I would be able to spend a lot of time socialising her.
I read up on the breed beforehand, considered other breeds, but I love staffies so that was the choice I made.
I bought a baby gate and a pen, baskets, everything really. I have been overwhelmed as it is upsetting when the pup cries all night - you feel you are doing something wrong despite following all the advice to the letter.
I have been at home solidly for 2 weeks now and there are moments when you feel for your own sanity! I need some socialisation myself!
My girl Edie IS settling in. She is happy, playful, exuberant and loving all day.
She has learnt 4 commands already with clicker training. Tonight we are going to a puppy socialisation class.
I was prepared for it to be hard at first. But to be honest all the books and websites in the world don't prepare you for how tough it will be.
I have no intention of giving up, she is a puppy and I treat her as one. She is not my baby, but she is my puppy that I love. I feel an enormous responsibility for her welfare.
I am walking the line every moment between giving her too much attention and not enough; letting her have her independence and keeping my eye on her; disciplining her without anger; loving her without mollycoddling her; letting her be a dog whilst realising she is still a puppy.

Mean replies are totally unneccessary

It sounds to me as though you are doing great, I am in the same boat and I think the worst part is always wondering if your doing things right, I'm calmer with this puppy because it's my second but I still worry and second guess myself but that's ok because if I wasn't I'm sure that would mean I was doing it wrong!

To the OP, hang in there, there is great advice on this forum (just ignore the negative nellys), a crying puppy is horrible but just realise that by teaching them some independence now you are setting them up for a happier healthier life down the road.

 

[Skoust]

Ohh I can totally relate! There have been a couple of times where I've wondered whether I knew exactly what I was getting in to despite all of the research

As others have said, hang in there. It will get better! If you don't have one already, I would recommend a play pen of some sort so that you can leave your pup for short periods and not worry about them getting hurt or causing havoc.

 

[ClaireandDaisy]

It gets better. Then it gets worse when they hit teenage. Then it gets better again. Then they get old and break your heart.
Dogs are not disposable. This is your responsibility and you need to rise to the challenge.