[s'peachykeen]

We have an 8 month old Cavalier x Toy Poodle. He's the cutest thing imaginable, like a walking, wuffing teddy bear. But he's driving me absolutely nuts.

It's all regular puppy stuff - stealing the baby's toys (and chewing them), getting into things he's not supposed to (and chewing them), jumping, biting, chewing things. Did I mention the chewing?

I know, I know - there are no bad dogs, only bored, badly trained ones. And I'm trying to work on it. But I have a 4 month old DD who, in the rock-paper-scissors of life, beats the dog for my limited attention most of the time. Hard core training is going to have to wait a while.

DH grew up with dogs and LOVES them. I...am not a pet person, really. But there's a good chance DD will be an only, and we figured some non-adult companionship would be a good idea. The result being, we have a dog. Who is driving me nuts .

So, dog lovers of EB - tell me what you loved about growing up with dogs, and why this short term pain is going to have a long term upside!

[jmaz86]

I was an only child and grew up with a beagle cross who was a year younger than me...I lived on properties most of my life and having the dog was like have a best friend who would go on adventures with me. She ended up living until 18 years of age and we had so many fun times and memories. I have also vowed that I will always have pets of some form with my children.

[amberlee]

Growing up with a dog is a wonderful thing!

But you are also living my nightmare- which I managed to avoid thankfully!!! I know it's too late for you now, but that's why we waited until my youngest was almost two before getting a dog, and then it was a 2 year old super-cute poodle x maltese rescue dog who is past the chewing, jumping, yapping stage.

A baby demands so much of your attention, and a puppy does too. I remember with the puppy I had when we were newly married being reduced to tears by her bad habits and my lack of puppy parenting skills.

Can you DH take a more active role in training the dog, especially since he is the one who is into them more? Perhaps regular obedience training? I'm sure others will have much better advice than me.

Good luck!!

[Rangeman]

Hi S'peachy,

I grew up with a dog but she was a puppy when I was 5ish so I don't remember but I now as an adult have 2 dogs of my own. The first one a toy poodle X shi tzu was a nightmare chewer and he had company all day so absolutely no excuse for him being bored. He chewed everything the worst being my Mum's lounge down to the wood (wasn't she impressed...LOL) lucky she loves him. Fast forward 8 eight years and he is the most well behaved dog (and has been for many years), will chew his toys (esp anything with plastic eyes) but will not touch anything that's not his and just loves squash balls. He does eveything I tell him to and gets very upset if I raise my voice to him, when I go angry on his 1 year old brother he comes up to me crying (doggy style of course) saying 'It wasn't me Mum, I'm a good boy".

The second one wasn't a chewer but a digger and stopped doing that at about 8 months - I guess you just have to get through that first 12months but it's worth it for sure.

Give him another few months and you'll be pleasantly surprised (I hope)....

Good luck!

[little lion]

I think getting a puppy while pregnant was a silly idea. I have a four month old baby too and my dogs are 4 and 5 so already settled into our family.

I grew up with dogs but can't imagine the demands of a puppy and baby at the same time. Sorry I'm not much help with the practicalities, but I can say I see myself owning dogs for the rest of my life.

[gabbigirl]

I actually didn't grow up with dogs, and really didn't like them. Then we got one as a wedding present, and I panicked. She wee'd all over our carpets, chewed up shoes, dug up our garden, and cried at night. I called my husband at work and told her to give her away. But then something switched in me. She stopped doing all those things ( with some training). And became lovable, and fun. Se forced me to get out every day of our lives. We have gone o to have two children and she is such a part of the family.

Training might be hard with such a little bub, but walking can't be. Tire her out with long walks, with the bub in the pram. Good for the dog, and good for you! Good luck!

[jibsi]

Hi OP,

I'd like to apply the commonly used phrase "don't worry it gets easier!" to your puppy. Just as babies/toddlers get easier and do less damage to your property as they get older (in theory), so do dogs. You really are in the thick of it and depending on the breed, the time taken for them to settle down varies.

We have a mini schnauzer and welcomed her to the family when I was 12 weeks pregnant with my first baby. She is turning 4 in April and is such a different dog these days to what she was 2 or 3 years ago. She and my son have grown up together and are great mates (actually they play and fight like a human brother and sister!). So funny to watch....

I also had a dog growing up and have such wonderful memories of him. In fact my mum has his ashes in a special box at her place!

Stick it out with your pooch, it will be worth it in the long run.

p.s. Have you read that book "Marley & Me"? You'll probably feel better after that because that dog was super destructive :-)

[Z-girls rock]

Always had dogs.

LOVE them to bits.

they are you little buddies. they love to do things with you. get into mischief with you. have cuddles etc with you.
dogs are the best.
It is about the unconditional love.

[countrychic29]

love love love dogs!
We have 4 dogs growing up, the one that sticks in my mind was a boxer we got when i was 9 and he died when i was 18. My brother and i trained him took him for walks before and after school from the start (without parents) as a teenager having a crappy day i spent many hours talking to him and crying into his fur. - i took 4 days off work when he died

After him we got a Lab (still around today) and he was a horror of a puppy, difficult to toilet train, chewed on everything!, ate socks and clothes the minute they dropped on floor and he hated going for walks and would lie down when he had had enough (im talking after 10minutes) he grew up eventually to be a lovely placid dog who still doesnt like doing much. However if every puppy was like him i would never get another dog.
I remember meeting DH (we were only 14 and 16) and i couldnt believe that he had grown up without a dog, to me i thought if you had the means and the time, the joy the whole family gets from a dog is priceless - DH has the same attitude now, we have since got our own 2 dogs who are our family
It will get better

[boatiebabe]

I am going to give you some advice because I was pretty much at the same point you are now a few years ago.

I got a puppy about five months before my DS was born, and I already had a two year old DD. I don't know what I was thinking. I was grieving my old dog who died a few months earlier and I thought a new puppy might fill the hole.

At the time I could not and did not give the pup enough of my time in training and it really was obvious.

He was a nightmare through no fault of his own. I could not take him for walks due to leash pulling etc and he generally was very unruly and unmanageable.

At approx 1 year of age I got someone in to train ME and then in turn I trained my dog. It really was quite simple and required a couple of intense sessions a day with my pup.

It took about two months of working on small things every day, and he turned into just the most wonderful dog who knew his place in the family and was much more secure and a real pleasure to be around.

People always compliment me on what a wonderful dog he is, and how obedient he is and what a good leash walker he is - if only they knew!

I highly recommend getting a professional in NOW to help you train him before his bad habits become more difficult to deal with.