Puppy Owners Overwhelmed by New Responsibilities

“Hi just want to start off by saying I did tons of research and I’ve been ready for a dog my entire life. I think I underestimated how much this would change my life. I love my dog so much but I feel like I can’t get anything right. When I’m around him he is super pleasant and barely barks. However in his playpen at night when I’m not in the room he keeps me up all night and will bark for hours. I’m loosing sleep, underperforming at work, unable to exercise and I just am overthinking the training”

“Hey everyone. Been reading through this subreddit a lot these past 4 days. This past Sunday picked up our new pupper from his foster family. He’s 6 months old in a week. Currently not neutered but will be this month. The rescue put him as a terrier mix, but all signs (even the vet) say he’s definitely part border collie. He’s extremely smart and very quick learner and so adorable. I didn’t expect the puppy blues to happen so quick. A lot of anxiety to make sure me and my wife do everything right”

“I just got a Doberman puppy a week ago and I am questioning everything. I’ve thought about this for months and have been wanting this dog for years, and somehow I still underestimated how difficult it would be. I think the part that is most jarring to me is how it feels mentally. He is a pretty good puppy for the most part and we’ve only had a few accidents in my apartment. However, mentally I just feel like my life is over and I’m mourning my old life and I find myself wishing I could go back t”

“Hi all, we have 3 dogs. A 7 year husky mix, a literal angel. We got a cattle mix puppy roughly a year ago, he just turned 1 in Aug. In June of this year, the dog distribution system dropped another cattle puppy off in our lives. She's roughly 9 months. She and the 1 year puppy are inseparable, the 1 year old fell in love with the 9 month old immediately and has been obsessed with her ever since. She went in for spay surgery on Monday and seems to be recovering well enough, but all they want”

“got an 11 week old labrador mix last month. first dog i’ve ever owned so everything feels new. she’s sweet and learns quick but already pulling hard on the leash and jumping all over guests. the biting during play is still pretty sharp too. how early did you start more structured sessions with your puppy? did the jumping and mouthing calm down mostly with age or did training make the bigger difference? submitted by /u/Salty_1984 [link] [comments]”

“Hello all! In April of this year we adopted a 2 month old "great dane" or so we thought. However after viewing a litter mate's DNA test we determined that we actually have a German shorthaired pointer/pitbull mix and the dane is ~8%. She also has boxer and supermutt based on her sibling's results. Now it's been difficult from the start, with potty training, the many sicknesses/worms she came with, and training on my own because I trained the last 3 dogs we had. This experie”

“Hi all, I want to share my experience with my puppy and get some input on what I should do. I adopted her at 8 weeks and she's a dalmadoodle (please no comments on the breed, I know people have opinions on this mix, but she wasn't from a breeder, she was adopted). She's 13 weeks now. We had our ups and downs but this week something just flipped and she became really aggressive. In the morning when I take her out of her crate she's calm and listens for maybe 5 minutes, that's”

“Hi all, we (M/F 30) just adopted a new puppy from the shelter. He's just under 6 months old and right at 20lbs. We're on day 6. He has a great temperment, does well with people and other dogs, and is overall a sweet, energetic boy. We don't know what breed he is, but physically he looks like a mini dutch shepherd, so we think he may be some sort of shepherd mixed with a smaller breed like a terrier. This first week has had ups and downs with behavior and training, specifically with p”

“Hello all, I am on a waitlist for my own puppy (should be in april next year), and I'm just reading a lot about the process to be prepared. This will be our first dog, though both my partner and I have had family dogs in the past. I understand raising a puppy is a lot of work, and given this is a place to receive support, I understand that most posts will tend to highlight issues and difficulties with raising a puppy. However, is there anyone here that actually had a good experience with it?”

“Before bringing our pup home, browsing puppy forums made it feel like the first few weeks are guaranteed to be pure stress, sleep deprivation, and regret. Those challenges are completely real and valid, but I wanted to offer a counter-perspective for anyone currently waiting on a puppy and feeling dread. We brought home our female Havanese at 8 weeks old, and two weeks in, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive. I do believe that the impact of the breeder on early development has had a”

“Hello everybody, This is my first post here, mostly just to introduce myself and Lily and to vent a little. To be honest, I don't know where to start... the past three weeks have been a mess. It's been incredibly stressful for me, my wife, and Lily. I had two dogs in the past; they were sweet and a bit reactive, but it was no big deal. Four years after they passed away, my wife and I decided we were ready for a new dog. We contacted a shelter about a couple of dogs they had available, bu”

“a while back last year I asked for help on Reddit with my puppy. I was just lost and felt really incompetent as a dog handler in sport with her first ever dog. safe to say we’re both much closer with one another and we both really enjoy sport together as a team. shes absolutely crazy and has insane energy which i love about her! and she looooves to do retrievals! she’s won a few OB and rallyO comps and loves to swim! Shes also gotten over her fear of other dogs staring at her or barking at her.”

“I’ve had my Scottie puppy for 2 weeks now (almost 14 weeks old now) but I’m realizing I’m in no place to be caring for a puppy. I’ve recently gone through some major life changes including a move back to my home state as well as a breakup. I’ve been depressed since moving a few months ago and thought getting a puppy would help. Something to get me out of bed and outside, a little companion to bring me joy, and I just got a promotion so thought now was the perfect time. But having her has made my”

“I’ve had my Scottie puppy for 2 weeks now (almost 14 weeks old now) but I’m realizing I’m in no place to be caring for a puppy. I’ve recently gone through some major life changes including a move back to my home state as well as a breakup. I’ve been depressed since moving a few months ago and thought getting a puppy would help. Something to get me out of bed and outside, a little companion to bring me joy, and I just got a promotion so thought now was the perfect time. But having her has made my”

“I adopted a little Maltipoo boy on August 22, 2026, and rehomed him with another family just one week later, on August 29, 2026. Now I am absolutely DEVASTATED by guilt and regret. Everything has hit me all at once. The family I gave him to lives in a three-story house with the SCARIEST, STEEPEST STAIRS I have ever seen. I cannot stop thinking about them. They have children, and my mind keeps going to: what if he runs after the kids down those stairs, falls, and DIES? They also have a HUGE ADULT”

“I will be getting a lab puppy (8 weeks) at the beginning of October. I was wondering if I could get some opinions on a tentative schedule. I plan to take a week off with him when I first get him so that we can both adjust, but then I plan to take him to work with me. My hopes are: - 5:00 or 5:30 wake up and get him fed and we’ll play until 6:30 - 7:00 get to work and get him set up in his space in my office and hope he’ll nap - 12:00-1:00 take him to the local park down the road to eat and play”

“We adopted our 10 week old puppy almost a week ago now and still can’t pick a name. This whole week we have been calling her puppy girl. I’ve made a list of all the names I like which is now nearly 20. Husband only likes one name that was an idea for a totally different dog we didn’t end up adopting, and I’m not sure about it for her. I polled friends/family/the internet and nothing is really standing out as the one name that just feels right. We have had two other dogs and naming them was easy.”

“hi to all!! i have a 2yo dachshund boy. best dog ever, seriously!!! i don’t have much family and live alone, so it’s always been just us (with the exception of living with a boyfriend for a short period). i got him at like 10 weeks old, and he has always been so pampered. no incidents that i know of to scare him. he is my best friend and comes everywhere with me. we do go to the dog park frequently (which he loves), but he did not grow up around many other dogs. i don’t know if it’s how he has a”

“Hi all, I have decided to foster 2 puppies that were abandoned in town and brought to our Humane Society, with the plan of adopting one as my dog passed away in February and I’m ready for another dog in my life. These puppies had a rough go - when they came in, they were estimated at 6-7 weeks. I was supposed to take them home the day after, but they tested positive for Giardia. Because of this, they had to stay in quarantine for 2 weeks, which means minimal human interaction as the shelter has”

“I am pretty sure I have the Puppy Blues. My husband and I lost our Senior two months ago, she was 13. We recently adopted a puppy of the same breed. We got her from a rescue. She was dumped by her previous owner. So she is scared of men. So far she is doing really good. She listens to the best of her puppy brain ability. But I am habing so many doubts. Like what if she doesn't get over he fears of men, and he shyness. What if we don't give her enough stimulation and she starts destroying”

“My wife and I have a 3 month old goldendoodle puppy (14 or 15 weeks now...I'm a math teacher, but I'm not counting), and we got her at 7 weeks. Her name is Laika, and we love her so much! She has been a dream - learning and growing so quickly. I've heard about the puppy blues, and honestly, I don't feel it at all...yet. She tries to bite and chew on stuff she shouldn't, but she's also very easy to redirect. Walks have become fun/easier, and she isn't lunging into the”

“I'm 29F UK and have been looking at puppies. Having contacted someone about one and asked to see them, I am now psyching myself out of it. A bit of background, I live alone, work from home, own my home and earn enough after bills that realistically unless some brain surgery was required that wasn't covered, money wouldn't be a problem. My family had an ESS who passed away in January 2025. I had such a bond with him but he was a difficult dog, he was very resource aggressive and you c”

“This is hard. Today has been hard. I have a 5 months old border collie. I've wanted one for years. I've known several BCs and they always were the most calm, cuddly, well behaved dogs. I have time and money to spend on training. I've been to classes and private lessons. She's from ethical breeders, from show parents so not the crazy work drive the working line has. I'm trusting the breeder 100%, I don't believe the issue is genetic. She's been really good between 2 an”

“About a week ago I adopted a 6 month old mixed breed, not sure what breeds, but he is definitely a large breed at 60 lbs already. He was found alone in someone’s garage at about 3 months and fostered for the following three months. He was (from what I read unfortunately) neutered at 3 months old. He lived with a lot of other dogs at his foster home and had a doggy door. He is really being a very good dog and adapting incredibly well. The only issue we’re having is that he holds his pee and poop—”

“My puppy is 12 weeks old , we got her 1 week ago. Our vacation was preplanned with our 6 years daughter so we couldnt get her at 8th week Its been just 1 week with her and my daughter both at home , my husband working , and i already feel exhausted We did not wanted to force crate on her , but she was biting everything in the house (including all the electric wires) So from the first night we decided to keep her in the crate First night we both slept near her , she was barking but still could se”

“Hi everyone I’m looking for advice. I have a puppy, almost 6 months old. My brother has a puppy from the same litter. He is struggling with a good deal of stuff right now including significant mental health issues and had to move back in with our parents for a bit when his lease ended. He plans to get moved out and into a new apartment by March. He is really struggling with taking care of his puppy and felt he isn’t able to care enough for her so he reached out to the rescue he got her from and”

“For the last year, I’ve gone back-and-forth on getting a dog. I have a really stressful job and I thought getting a dog would bring joy and add some happiness, especially when I’m stressed at work. I finally found a slightly older mini goldendoodle from a breeder and he is six months so he wasn’t truly in the puppy phase so I thought it would be a little easier. However, it’s been a challenge in every single way that you can think of but nothing out of the ordinary. he is definitely still a pupp”

“I rescued a puppy that they said was a lab mix. At the time she was 8 weeks old. I brought her home and she was so easy to potty train, crate train and learned how to sit. I have 2 cats and 1 is pretty old. At first the puppy paid no attention to them, but then she started chasing them. I keep them separated all the time now or have her on a leash. I have had trainers come in and she still would go crazy just at the smell of the cats. I had a DNA test done on her and she is not lab but terrier m”

“Hey! Unsure if this is the correct flair usage but if not let me know and I can adjust! We just adopted our foster fail, Pickles! Such a cute and happy little man. Supposedly he’s full grown, probably around 6 months based on teeth, teething behaviors and everything else the vet said. Nobody knows his breed, I googled his face and just found various dogs that look like him, but also came from shelters so were marked as mixed or unknown. I’ll include photo links for him at the bottom. He’s maybe”

“Hello everyone, I am writing this down and hoping for some advice since I am really lost tbh. I/my Family are first time dog owners. We found this puppy on the graveyard in serbia and decided to take him with us since we knew he wouldn’t survive for long. Took him to the vet and got everything sorted out. He is now 2-3 months old (the vet could not tell us an exact age) In serbia everything seemed to be fine (we have a big garden there) Since we travelled back to our home (flat) he is getting mo”

“Lab puppy, 8 weeks old. Hi there - another « I thought I did l the research » new puppy parent. Our 8 weeks old lab puppy came home at 7 weeks bc that is our state law - if I knew then what I know now, I would have paid to keep him at the breeder another week or two. Before we decided to get him, I lined up full time puppy daycare with a neighbor. No sooner did we bring the little guy home and the neighbor had a medical catastrophe and won’t be able to take him at all. I’ve been scrambling since”

“I'm not sure I really want help with anything. I think I mostly want to write out a bit of what happened in the first two weeks and share it with people that care. She is a 15 week old English Cocker Spaniel. She's field line bred from active hunting dogs, which is something I specifically wanted in a dog. I got her at 13 weeks. The biggest thing to learn was enforced naps. The dog needs me to tell her to sleep. Frequently. Sometimes she'll be cute and pass out on the couch, but most”

“We got another puppy on Friday; and 8 week old corgi boy. Things have been going not-too-bad. There have of course been the expected accidents and such, but overall good. I think I am his Human, as I am the one who has fed him all his meals, do his training sessions and keep downstairs by his playpen & crate and take him out in the middle of the night (I also took these two weeks off to bond and try to get some sort of routine going). Hebhas started climbing up into my lap when I am sitting”

“A friend of mine had a litter and she gave most of the puppies away after they weaned off their mom. How do I handle and move forward with his care? Im only now aware that this isn't a done thing and stuff, but I still need to care for him. Ive got all the food and other stuff, and we tried to put him in the crate, but he hates it. As soon as we pull him out, he goes and sleeps. submitted by /u/Zeon_Tempestborn [link] [comments]”

“I picked up my puppy on 6 days ago, she’s currently 9.5 weeks old. I’ve recently had some issues with work and realised the day before puppy collection that I’m suffering with severe burnout. I picked her up on Friday and the first few days went okay but Monday - Wednesday I feel anxious whenever she is awake. I’m terrified of her waking up and needing me and I’ve been feeling nauseous/being sick and crying nonstop for three days now just at the thought of her. I have been reading other people’s”

“Last weekend we picked up our 6 week old mini dachshund. So we are on day 5 with him. I am struggling so bad it’s not even funny. I am crying every single night. I can barely eat because I’m such a mess, which in turn is making me so so nauseous that I throw up every morning. My heart rate is extremely high 24/7. I’m shaky non stop. I’m currently trying to eat toast as I’m writing this but I’m gagging everytime I start chewing. We can’t rehome him or give him back to the breeder because we are c”

“I knew having a puppy would be a lot of work, but I honestly didn’t realize just how exhausting the puppy stage could be. It feels like you have to watch them constantly — potty training, biting everything, making sure they’re not eating something they shouldn’t, waking up early, training… and somehow they still have unlimited energy when you’re completely drained 😂 I love the little guy, but some days it really does feel like a full-time job. For those who’ve made it through the puppy stage, w”

“Adopted a 14 week german shepherd mix from the shelter on Sunday. It has only been just over 48 hours. I also have never raised a puppy before so I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if we're on the right track. At the shelter, she was noted with "behavioral issues - anxiety, needs socializing". However, of course she stole our hearts. When we did a meet and greet, she was a little timid but then exhibit usual puppy energies after a while. I watched a lot of youtube”

“I understand it is still very early yet, but we brought home a 6 month old puppy on Saturday. She is adorable and is surprisingly great, but I feel bad that I can't provide her with a ton of enrichment because I haven't found what she likes yet. At this time, I have not found a toy that she seems to want to play with yet. She seems to be a little on the finicky side when it comes to food, so it doesn't seem to be much of a motivator. If I throw a treat she *is* interested in, she eit”

“Hi, everyone. My husband and I just started a 3 week foster to adopt trial. I’m really struggling with my anxiety. I’m going through all of the what ifs. We’ve had her for about a week and I have this constant anxiety. She’s been perfect in every way and I don’t know why I feel this way. I’ve always had a dog, and wanted a dog so badly. Now we have her and I feel like I’ve made a huge mistake. Is this normal? Will it go away? submitted by /u/miki_love [link] [comments]”

“I got an 8 week old puppy on Saturday and he’s everything I thought I wanted (I’ve never had a dog but have 3 cats) I’ve talked about wanting a husky since I was a kid and finally have one. I have an autoimmune disorder along with severe depression and anxiety and everyone expressed their concern about my ability to handle this prior to getting him but I’m stubborn and told them and myself “I will be able to handle it!”….. yesterday I struck a mild fever from the physical and mental stress along”

“We adopted an 11 week old rescue puppy from a foster almost 2 weeks ago. He’s a husky x lab. He’s a bit anxious and unsure. Especially of other people and dogs. This wasn’t in his description but we did a meet and greet and I guess we are trialling him in our home. He’s great with our family, he loves the kids. I took him to a puppy socialising class and he did really well, I was actually surprised. He was pretty crazy but listened and was somewhat able to relax. We have been crate training as w”

“So my long-time partner and I talked about adopting for a long time, and finally we reached an ideal situation to do the thing. We decided to adopt a 1 year old Ibizan Hound-Border Collie mix, directly from her previous owner. I think this is crucial, since I do believe her coming from a home makes it somewhat easier? To my knowledge, she doesn't have any trauma, and she was raised from 1 month old. When her owner gave her to me I could tell she really loved her dog and gave her away to make”

“I just got a beautiful Husky/Aussie Shepherd mix and I’m excited! I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life, but this is my first time taking care of a puppy by myself. Her name is Bella and she is 9 1/2 weeks old!! She just had her first round of shots and is going back in about a week for her second round. Looking for tips for this mix!! I love her so much and I want to to the best job I can to take care of her. submitted by /u/Crazy-Acadia9675 [link] [comments]”

“I’m going to explain the entire story from start to finish. I adopted a puppy on a whim because i didn’t want him to go to a shelter. The shelter is question has a bad reputation which is why I agreed to take him last minute. Now the puppy is a white and gray pitbull/lab mix about 3 months almost 4 as of this post. When I finally got him the people who I got him from said he doesn’t have worms or anything and first puppy vet visit was done and the were taking him X shelter which wasn’t a good sh”

“got a 5 month old australian cattle dog mix a few weeks ago. first dog i’ve ever had and i really want to do this right. she’s smart and full of energy but already showing some rough stuff. pulls like crazy on leash, jumps all over people, and gets way too excited when she sees other dogs. i try to work with her every day but it feels like i’m not making real progress. some days she’s good, other days it’s pure chaos and i end up frustrated. how early did you start more structured training with”

“We just got a 3 yr old coonhound. She was in the shelter for 10 months (!) and I have no story on her before that. She was in the rescue's foster and was amazing, and she has been SO SWEET and, in general, has been adapting beautifully. She and our older "here first" dog have worked things out with just a few of the mildest interactions (she is able to "read the room"), she is playing some, using the yard, drinking, ate this morning, gone for a walk, etc. She's been q”

“I’m moving in with my fiancé and he’s fine with me getting a puppy. He lives in a small town. I’m looking into a Husky as they are my soul breed. I’ve never owned one but my friend has two and I helped train both of them. What kinds of things can I do to help socialize the puppy? What things can I get other than a collar and leash and bowl before the puppy comes home? How important is create training? I’ve never create trained any of my dogs. I’ve had dogs my whole life (I’m 27 now) but it’s bee”

“Long time lurker, first post here. Bear with me, i think im getting prematurely overwhelmed. So we're about a week away from picking up an 8 week old Malinois puppy. Just want to be upfront, I didn't pick the breed, I sort of don't have a say in that. Honestly if it was up to me I'd probably go with something way chiller, like a greyhound. But hes coming from a reputable breeder who matches puppies to families instead of letting people pick from a litter, so I trust the process.”

“I got a lab puppy one week ago and it's been really hard on me. She's 9 weeks old and overall is a pretty good dog. She only gets up a few times at night and goes back to bed pretty quick. She's pretty good with chewing approved stuff and accidents have been limited to pee and have mostly been my fault. Even with all this I am absolutely exhausted. Ive had a hard time eating due to stress and persistent stomach ache. I live alone in an apartment but have had my parents come over a fe”

“So we got a beautiful lab 12 days ago, he is 12 weeks today and I am losing my mind. Everyone keeps saying it's puppy blues and it's normal and it'll get better but it just feels so heavy, I am really struggling. The puppy is quite a chill puppy TBF, pen/crate trained and will sleep in there all night, we can leave him for a couple of hours during the day. I am just so overwhelmed and overstimulated with everything that comes with being a dog owner. Knowing how to train him so he&#39”

“We have a 5 month old mixed breed puppy that we’ve had for the past two months. Have had the puppy blues. It’s getting a little bit better but he still has the witching hour and can become A LOT. The rescue asked us about taking his mother now. Thoughts? Are two dogs worse than one or better? We have our hands full with the puppy. We aren’t sure we can handle another at this point. I’m looking to see if others could weigh in. submitted by /u/Due-Section-7241 [link] [comments]”

“Hi everyone! I've had my aussie puppy for two weeks now, and things are really starting to get rough. He is 15 weeks and an amazing guy in so many ways. He is very much an aussie, meaning that he is very energetic, smart, positive and eager to please. We really only have one issue, but it is making me really hate puppyhood. He gets extremely overexcited. We have him mainly confined to the bedroom, and whenever i enter he gets so excited he starts jumping and biting me and my clothes. My arms”

“Hello all! My pup is 6-8 months old she’s a black lab and we’ve had her for about 3 days now Little backstory on her rescue is she has been isolated in a kennel outside by herself since she was born so I’m basically training a 6 month old like she’s 8 weeks old.. the first night was great she went to sleep in her pen but after the second day and she started getting really comfortable with us she didn’t want to leave our side.. we put her in her kennel for bedtime and she went NUTS! Flipped her p”

“I just got a puppy a week and a half ago. He is so sweet and so cute albeit a little yippy but hes only 12 weeks old. He is a bichon frise/biewer mix and will probably end up inbetween 11-15 lbs he is currently a little over 6 lbs. Here's the issue I am having. He. Will. Not. Go. Potty. Outside. I have tried it all. Leashed. Unleashed. Setting him in the same spot. Walking around with him on and off leash. Ive tried being silent and not saying anything, ive tried saying things like "go”

“Me and my husband recently got a 2 month old puppy and I'm not sure its going to work out which breaks my heart because I love her. She's a sweet girl but definitely a lot of training is needed. She cries a lot when she needs to be by herself in her playpen and/or crated which is to be expected but it is hard because I work night shift and I feel like I have barely any energy to properly interact, train or play with her. I take her out every 2 hours to potty but have to put her back so I”

“Hi everyone! About two weeks ago i adopted a (now 14 week old) australian shepherd puppy. He is an amazingly positive puppy who has quickly settled in with me and my partner. However, whenever he gets overly excited, overwhelmed or overly tired, he becomes a bit of a land shark who attacks our clothes, ripping them (and our skin) in the process. Since he's such a happy guy, his threshold for overexcitement seems to be very low. It makes it very difficult to satisfy his physical and play need”

“Hey all! I am fostering 6, 6 week old puppies. I’ve owned dogs all my life but never had puppies so young. I’ve obviously been doing my research to help these babies as much as possible but does anyone have any additional advice as to what we should be working on with them? They still use their pee pads a bit but go pee and poo as soon as they’re put on real grass. Side note, we think they might be part shar pei but waiting for the DNA test to confirm. Thanks in advance!! submitted by &#32”

“Hey Team, I think this is the right flair! This is a good effort at thinking out loud with my new pup. I got an Aussie Pup 2 weeks ago and this little dude has been great. He’s now 10 weeks old and has a pretty decent time settling in his pen when we leave and chills out when it’s nap time or being put in crate for the night. Lessons learned, my pup wont settle if he’s got toys, so we took them out and he’s typically out like a light. The good: doesn’t mind puppy pads. Not very vocal (yet) but s”