Frustrations after Puppy comes home...

[Joann Valerio]

I am contemplating getting a MiniDoodle in the Spring and am wondering if anyone would please share what the first couple months were like...the good, the bad and the ugly. I have read DK members admitting how they were in tears and wondering if they made a big mistake.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Quite honestly, the first couple of months after we got Winnie were pretty awful. I've raised pups before, but never one that was as "mouthy" as she was. She was constantly nipping at my shoes, pant legs, skirts, nightgowns, hands, arms, etc. I'm a fairly patient person, but at times the frustration of dealing with her was nearly unbearable for me. I couldn't even sit down on the floor to play with her without being "attacked." She was super smart and potty trained easily, but the mouthing was horrible. That finally started to get better when she was 4 months old and old enough to go to doggy daycare. It was there that she learned it's OK to bite/nip other dogs when playing, but it's not OK to do to humans. 

By 6 months the nipping had pretty much stopped, she had full run of the house while we were gone, and she was finally turning into a very nice dog. :-)

[Missy]

Puppyville is hard, but there are many joys also!! I was not a spring chicken either...but I found it very helpful to just clear up the life schedules to eliminate frustration.  That way, it was all about puppy training!  

The joys of discovering the personality of your puppy are numerous.  You will be cheering this little pup on each task and find yourself bragging to people that don't care how wonderful your star is! lol 

Have a camera out all the time.  They really grow every day!!  

You got this!! Get some rest now, and let the joys being!!