Tips on how to keep my sanity :)

[Michelle Rodriguez]

So our little furbaby is expected to come home in about three weeks! :) I am SUPER excited but extremely nervous about what's ahead too. I work from home and have two small kids (a 3 and a half year old and a 19 month old). Husband is out to sea at the moment so for the first few months I will be handling EVERYTHING on my own. We all know the puppy stages is A LOT to handle, so I'm searching for any tips, tricks and advance that will help me in making things run a little smoother and how the four of us can adjust to this coming new lifestyle. Thanks so much in advance!! :) 

[holly b]

I have 2 young kids also. Get a crate if you haven't already. Talk to the kids ahead of time about using soft hands, soft voices, etc. Show them videos or read books about puppies so they can see how puppies play and behave. I tell mine that Lucky thinks they are puppies, too, and that when he mouths and nips and jumps, it's because that's how puppies play, and we have to teach him how to play with people.

If both your kids nap at the same time, put puppy in crate at that time also so YOU can nap, if you need it. If you don't need naps yourself, you could use that time for working with puppy on obedience one-on-one.

My 6 year old is quite energetic, talkative, and hyper and doesn't always follow directions the first time (imagine that!), so I have not taken her with me to the vet when I take Lucky. I've gotten sitters for the kids to make it easier on me, less stressful, and then I'm able to converse more easily with the vet.

Your kids might adapt to the dog quite easily and fall in love, but we had a few "jealous" spells at first, from both kids. The younger one would forcefully climb onto my lap for attention while I was petting/brushing/etc. the dog. The oldest one said a few times, "You're paying more attention to Lucky than me!" So there were lots of patient explanations of puppy needing love and teaching, but I still loved them and would do something with just them in 5 minutes, etc. Things like that.

If you start to feel overwhelmed and pulled in too many directions, get a sitter (for either the kids or the dog!) so you can focus on either JUST the kids or JUST the dog for a bit. Or if you have neighbors or family that are willing to help, enlist them. :)

[Michelle Rodriguez]

Thanks so much for all the tips!! :) Unfortunately we don't really know many people around here since we recently moved and family is about 10 hrs away, the joys of military life :) But I will defiantly be taking advantage of those nap times!  

[holly b]

Also, involve them as much as you can, which is hard with them being young. But mine like to help brush Lucky and give him treats. When he first came home, I had the oldest give Lucky a treat every time he looked at her when she said "Lucky!", for example.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I think if you can get the puppy on schedule or as close to a schedule as you can that will help a lot! I got my first doodle when he was a little older (12ish weeks) and I had set times when he would go in the crate- so he could get used to it but also to give me a mental break! I'm picking up doodle number two at the end of the month and plan on doing the same thing. I think schedules really help for potty training too! Less accidents= less stress! Good luck!

[Michelle Rodriguez]

Aside from a crate, I was also thinking of getting her a play pen so that I can have her in the livingroom with enough room to play around and the kids can play freely in the same room while I work. Do you think the play pen would be helpful? I was also thinking of taking the first week she'll be home off from work so that we can all work on getting into the grove of things.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Oh! And have tons of chew toys if you don't already! Mine would and still does, always have to have something in his mouth to play with and when he was younger if there wasn't a toy around it was the furniture or baseboards or paint on the wall (that was only once thank god!) literally anything that looked new and cool.

[holly b]

Yes, lots of toys for the dog, and try to keep the kids toys separate from the dog's toys. For example, my kids have some toys in our living room, which is where Lucky's crate is, and if they don't put their toys away he will try to grab them when he comes out of the crate. As you can imagine, that results in upset kids. I need a better plan for toys and toy storage myself! :)

[SoSa]

Wow! I am not going to sugar coat it, it is really going to be tough for you. If I could offer any advice, it would be that when you are at your wits end, remember that it does get better. I had/have help with my husband and two teenagers and we all still get frustrated at times.

Definitely set a routine with your puppy and set your crate times. If your puppy cries while in the crate let him work it out on his own. If you go to him when he cries, you'll never be able to leave him in there.