New Puppy Fear/What Would You Have Done Differently?

[Binny P]

Hi all,

This may be an odd question, but did any of you experience a lot of fear and anxiety before bringing your doodle home?  We have been researching, looking, etc etc for months, but now that we are just a few weeks away from our little guy coming home, I feel incredibly worried. Given, a part of that is likely due to all the research -- when you spend hours reading through problems people are having or terrible things that others are experiencing, it is easy to lose perspective and forget that people who are just having a lovely ordinary day with their dog aren't sharing it on a message board. 

Because my last dog was an adult, I haven't gone through the puppy phase in years. I've been reading up on training books, researching local doggy daycares/dog sitters for when he is a bit older (my partner and I both work during the day, so plan on doing some combo of taking him with us to the office/doggy daycare), checking out the various puppy kindergarten programs, and stocking up on toys etc that have been recommended. Is there something else we should be doing? Something I am missing? Is there something you would do differently now, knowing what you know, when you were preparing to bring your puppy home? 

[EJ & Dante]

Sounds like me!  I did the same.  and was incredibly anxious.  I was flying across the country to pick up my puppy, and had some fear I was going to ruin my families life or something would go incredibly awry.    And combined with flying with a new puppy......

Dante exceeded all my expectations (still does) and all is well.  I was glad I was and continue to be, incredibly well read/researched on training, health issues, etc, because I feel well prepared as we are going through his puppyhood (he's 4+ months old now).  BTW, we have had incredible success with using Doggy Dan's training methods, which we implemented from day one.  Something you might want to check out - there is a 3 day free online trial.

Good luck!

Edie and Dante

[Amy and Annabelle]

I didn't have time to be anxious and I got her within a week of deciding on her. I did spend several months on research as to the type of dog I wanted and whether I would adopt from the shelter or go with a breeder. While I love Annabelle and wouldn't trade her for anything. There are things I would do differently, like selecting a reputable breeder. I feel the first few months would have gone better for all of us if I had found DK before I took the plunge and been more informed about breeders. It took a lot of training to get her behavior issues under control. She is a great dog now, but she sure didn't come that way. I think she will always be a work in progress. At 2 1/2 years old we still work on training. She did get several compliments at the vet the other day on her behavior and that is something I never thought I would hear during her first year. Unfortunately I couldn't use Doggy Dan because I have metered internet and couldn't do the videos. So I took her to several training classes and work with her at home. Good luck on your new puppy.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Any big decision is marked with questions of whether it is the right thing to do and there is always some 'buyers remorse' going on.  At least this is what happens with me. I don't know how old you are - I am in my late 60's and don't think I want another puppy, however....  I look so longingly at others getting the fun of training a dog from scratch rather than trying to change the bad habits/fears instilled by others that you get with an adult dog, that perhaps I would want another puppy.  I think, at first, it is never worth it - sleepless nights, ruined clothing, furniture, floors, glasses etc.  The amount of time - you don't have your own schedule any longer, you have to be home - to potty, train, visit with, etc.  Then....  suddenly, you realize the hard part is in the past and you have a wonderful companion who fits perfectly into your life, and it is all worth it. Totally worth it.  Enjoy your new puppy! :-}

[DonMarie and Picco]

There is a such thing of "too much research"!!!  There are so many training guides/methods and some of the stuff you read on this site might scare you too!  I've raised a couple puppies before without all these guidelines and they came out okay.

One thing I would suggest is to check into CRATE TRAINING. It will really help with leaving a puppy alone and at night.

When it comes to training methods, I'd suggest peruse through different methods and then you and your pup will figure out what works for you as you go. No one method works for all, you may have to pull different things from different methods!

Relax, have fun and have patience!

[Ginny Nightingale]

They are little for a very short time, so try to go with the flow and enjoy the time with a puppy---some people really stress over it but before you know it, you have an adult dog! It is good to be informed but you will find there are many different opinions in the dog world. Once you get your pup into training class, you can get a lot of information that way.

I have one piece of advice--if there is something you do not want your dog to do (sleeping on the bed or couch, getting food from the table, etc) do not do it ever--not once. Doodles are smart and will remember that time you felt bad for him and let him up on the bed, or whatever....my three dogs are very spoiled but I like it that way and don't mind when the smallest one is at my feet on the bed--but the other two are big and have never been allowed up on the bed at night--they don't even try. Everyone knows what is allowed and what is not--from Day 1. 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

With our first puppy, Sedona, we gave her a treat each time she went potty outside. Unfortunately, we never figured out when/how to extinguish the treat, so even as an adult dog she'd expect a potty treat. Some evenings, she'd "play us" by going out, squeeze out a few drops of pee, just to get the treat.

With our current two, we gave plenty of praise at potty time - but NO treats. Life is much simpler!

Good luck with your new puppy. Before you know it all the puppy troubles will be in the rear view mirror!

[Stacy]

I talk about Katie being a bad puppy, but she was really a good puppy most of the time. There were frustrated moments when I just needed to talk to people who would understand how she turned from a sweet, sleepy, cuddly puppy one minute into a shark who drug me down the hallway by my pants the next. I think if I read all of my posts I would have a skewed idea of what her puppyhood was really like. 

What I would have done differently is more socialization during the time before she could really go anywhere. I would go back and have people come over and knock at my door. I would have vacuumed every single day. Those are the things she's reactive to. And I know it's because I didn't do those things when she was really little. I should have ordered takeout every day so someone would come knock at the door. 

I think growing up a puppy is hard and any reasonable person would have a few nervous moments. But it's pretty much the greatest thing ever.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Sounds like me too.  I had raised six puppies before we got Roo over nine years ago and I was an anxious wreck!  I am sure it is pretty normal to be anxious when you take on a new puppy.  It's the unknown.  Trust your instincts and find a good trainer.  Try to stay out of daycare if you possibly can.  I am hoping you have a friend who will come every couple of hours when you are gone.  Even paying a well respected puppy sitter is not that expensive and avoids the complications of too much daycare.  I am seventy and would raise another puppy again in a minute.  It is so much fun that it more than compensates for the anxiety and mistakes you will make.

[Binny P]

Thank you all! So helpful to hear everyone else's experiences!! Despite the new puppy jitters, we are incredibly excited!