Ramblings of a very tired puppy owner

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

It has been two weeks since we brought Auggie home and I feel like I have not slept for two full years.  I should have probably sent this as a private message to my DK friends in order not to incriminate myself, but who cares. I’m exhausted.

A while back we had a discussion about a TV show portraying dog owners willing to spend big bucks cloning their bellowed dogs. http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/did-anyone-watch-i-cloned-...   Silly, huh?

Well, if there was any truth in cloning, I wish I had the money to clone Monty. He was my first dog, and he will forever remain the best dog ever. Is he perfect? No. There was a lot of work put into his training, just like it is with any other dog. He was like an alligator snapping at everything around him when he was little. And since he was my first puppy ever, I did not know what to expect and thought I was going through hell. But I love him to pieces.

Then Auggie came aboard. One of the two mellow puppies in the litter. He did not jump up when we came to look at the puppies and was just sitting there sizing us up from afar. He would come wagging his tail after a while. The rest of his brothers were jumping up and down for attention. Easy decision, correct?  Well, let me tell you that the minute Auggie walked into our house, his mellowness disappeared. Maybe we got the wrong puppy, I don’t know what happened. If this is mellow, I’m worried about the people who got the other puppies. There was peeing every 15 minutes, jumping up and down, biting everything in reach, waking up every 2 hours at night for the first week.

All I was thinking about: what’s wrong with this little guy? It’s been a week and he still is not able to ring the bells to let us know he needs to go outside. Monty did that on day 3. I taught Monty to go potty only in the designated area in the backyard. This little guy just does not get it and pees and poops all over the backyard.  The examples go on and on. How come Auggie is not the same as Monty? My DH keeps telling me Auggie IS the normal puppy. Again, I’ve got nothing to compare it to, other than Monty. And I want to clone Monty so bad.

Many of you said raising a second dog is much easier. I don’t feel it that way yet. I’m exhausted. I’m tired. I feel like all I’m saying is NO the whole day long. NO peeing in the house, NO biting your brother’s ears, NO shredding the bush in the backyard, NO pulling on the drapes, NO trying to reach the kitchen counter. NO, NO, NO!

Yes, the pictures and videos I post are cute. Who would not love a puppy? And the fact that Auggie and Monty are getting along so well is fabulous.  There is just some strange feeling that I can’t get rid of and I feel bad about it. Monty sure spoiled me and I’m having a hard time now. I can’t relate to the little guy.  I feel really bad since Auggie has to “measure up” to Monty in my eyes. He should not have to do that, he is just a little puppy. He depends on me. But all I see is his mischief and the fact that he looks nothing like Monty. I suck as double doodle mom. I’m really exhausted and I want to cry. I want to cry a lot.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Thanks Jen. Love you!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Okay, I will focus on the positive things: Auggie loves his crate, which Monty never did. And I'm thankful that the two boys are getting along so well.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I am the mom to one doodle so I have nothing to say except - looking at that photo of Auggie and that sweet doodle face I know you will get through this. You are just tired and need a break. Good Luck Jarka, you have it in you, the rewards far outweigh the troubles.

Kiss Kiss Augie and Monty and Hugs to you Jarka!

[Jennifer and Jack]

My Sweet Friend.. Two weeks in is really right in the middle of it all. We had Molly live with us, My Mom, Jack, Molly and I for the first eight weeks when Molly came home because my mom's house was still being built, My mom very much wanted a dog just like Jack.... She really, really, idolizes Jack. She thinks he is the perfect dog... He was our first dog we ever had.. He did some normal puppy things.. but you know he was our baby, all our energy was able to be focused on him and not split.

My mom struggled very much with Molly when she first came home, so much so, that I did the primary care of her because my mom just didn't seem into it.. Molly and Jack played well together but Molly and Jack could not be more polar opposites. They are entirely different, different personalities, different everything....

My mom wanted a clone of Jack too. It took me totally backing out of the scene and pulling Jack out to.. Having my mom spend alone time with just Molly.. so she could form her own relationship with her.

My mom still honestly favors Jack.. He is very sweet, he loves to cuddle,and he is beyond the puppy stages so of course my mom loves that he is more gentle.

Now a year into it.. My mom has a true love for Molly.. She honestly loves her........ I love Molly to death...

I think the key is, sleep... get more sleep... and then try to keep things in perspective.  You will find your groove. You will fall in love.. You will realize Auggie is so worthy of so much love, you will find his little quirks and his uniqueness. It will happen.

Don't beat yourself up, I know first hand what an amazing dog mom you are... My Sweet Monty is amazing, you were amazing with him...

Puppy stages are hard, especially when you are tired.. One thing I realize that I think we did with Jack is since he was through the puppy stages and we had him for two years before Molly came, we over exaggerated how good it was when he was a puppy. I mean it was amazing, but we had rough spots.... I guess they say it is like when a women is in labor, I don't know obviously, but they say when you are in it, it is hell, then afterwards you say, It wasn't that bad.

You are going to come out of this with two amazing, well adjusted dogs.

Much love to you all.

[Joni & Parker]

Everything you said I can relate to.  I forgot how much work puppies can be.  Parker bites everyone, takes your sock off and runs with them, and pees every ten minutes.  Although, he does poop by the front door which tells me he is learning.  When we put him in his crate he cries for hours.  It is hard to ignore him which means no one gets any sleep.  Does anyone have any tips on what to do for biting.  We have a dog sitter coming over tomorrow to watch him and I'm afraid what will happen.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

Auggie is gorgeous!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That nose alone is a license to get away with murder, lol!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh Jarka, He's just beautiful... a handful of beauty. ;o)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Thank you, everyone, for the encouraging words. I so appreciate all of you, you cannot even imagine. And thanks for the laughs in your stories. Yes, we are all in this one together at some time or another. There is a lot of Damiens out there but we would not have it any other way. I'm sure things will get better, especially after we start some formal training. I can't wait. In the meantime, I will take it one day at a time. Seeing this face makes everything better. It's also a sign for me to run upstairs and take a nap. Thanks again.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Oh sister, you and I are in this together, kiddo.  I have an 8 year old mutt that never pottied in the house, learned all of his commands the first time around, can do really fun and neat tricks, sleeps most of the day, and knows when mom needs extra hugs and kisses.  (Yea, right)

 

Then there's Stanlee.

 

Stanlee thinks the world is his playground and he wants EVERYONE to play with him RIGHT NOW.  He makes terrible messes, can't get the grasp of ringing the bell to go out to go peepee, has deemed the foyer as his personal "potty-place", can't keep his mouth off of my arms or clothing, runs like a bat out of hell through the house....because he can, dribbles water everywhere, all the time, and wants to be the center of everyone attention.  He isn't "the dog", he's "you're dog".  But, he’s funny, cute, kissable, and mine. Wouldn't change him for anything in the world and quite frankly I don't think I'm going to share him with the rest of the family when he starts catching on.  My dad used to tell me at times that I needed to learn to laugh things off....because Honey, this s*** ain't funny. 

 

Lots of luck and doodle love!