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.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I also wanted to add that I am sure all of us double dog owners have had moments of saying, "I wish this one was more like that one," but then "this one" will do something wonderful and give us a different perspective. It is normal to compare, but also stops us from appreciating each dog for their own personality.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jarka, I was worried about you for these reasons, because you started with such a good dog. I think this is a great post because so many people think all doodles are alike and those of us with two can attest to the fact that not even two doodles are alike. When you are tired, so many things feel overwhelming and insurmountable. You need to get some sleep and I am prescribing one good long nap or one full night of sleep and if I were you, I would ask your husband to take over puppy duty while you do one of these, so you can re-group.  Sometimes, those little ornery pups can grow up to be comical, full of fun, and something you didn't know you were missing in your life until he showed up. Give it some time. Get some sleep. Try to look at Auggie as Auggie and not Monty. It is going to get better!! I wish I was closer and could babysit and help in some way. My heart goes out to you!! Keep venting.  We are here to listen.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I just said in your post yesterday that you better post of bad stories because Auggie was causing puppy fever by sounding so cute all the time.  Did you do this just for me?  If so, it worked.  I remember these days so well, times two!  While most people dread the spay/neuter apt, I remember looking forward to the day that the girls were going to go be spayed (around 5 months), because they were staying overnight and I was going to get to sleep an whole entire night without having to get up 3-4 times.  they were probably 10 months before they slept through the night.  We had an x-pen that we sat up in the kitchen on top of rubber backed rugs that gave them a little more room than their crate, but made it easier to keep track of them and kept them out of things.  It was some exhausting times, but even though, I still miss their little puppy selves when I could just snatch them up and hug them. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I was looking at those videos and thinking "this is one energetic puppy" and very different to Monty.  I  think tiredness makes rational thought impossible.  What you are feeling seems entirely normal so thank you for sharing it with us here.   I wish I could help in some way but I am very far away otherwise I would come over and give you a rest. : (

I'm sure lots of those here who have two Doodles will chip in and give you some great words of wisdom.

[Camilla and Darwin]

You don't suck as a doodle mom! It's totally normal to be overwhelmed with a new puppy or dog. Maybe he's not "worse" than Monty was, just different. You are used to Monty and his habits so it will be an adjustment to get used to Auggie's. Darwin was a SUPER easy puppy, potty trained quick, no mouthing or barking, etc. But I still freaked out when I got him, and questioned every single day why I did choose to get a dog. It was just SO hard to adjust my set in stone schedule and life. I think it happens no matter what the age or personality of the dog is.

I think it's good that you are venting a bit, I can't imagine how overwhelming it must be to not only deal with a new puppy, but having him adjust into life as a second dog as well. Lots of routines being rearranged I'm sure! I don't have a second dog, but I bet that it will be rough for the first few weeks - or months. That is the nature of a puppy right? Then you are going to all adjust and settle in and you won't be able to figure out how you lived without him!