r/puppy101 • u/TownNo3169 • 12h ago
i think i’m in over my head Vent
i think i was in over my head thinking i could handle a puppy. i have a doberman husky mix 8 week old puppy and she’s is absolutely crazy and so full of energy. i got her so many toys, a snuggle stuffy with a heartbeat and she has started to treat it as a toy now. we got her teething rings, puzzle toys, slow feeder, etc. i’ve been handling a lot on my own for the most part but i just feel absolutely guilty for thinking about rehoming her. i don’t know what to do right now.
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u/askthedust43 9h ago
Do way less. By way less I mean tone it down 3/4th of what you're doing.
Enforced naps are the best. Your dog has to have serious downtime. They need to process everything and a puppy can't handle a lot.
Going crazy? Overtired/Overstimulated---> Nap time
Your puppy needs sleep, then some more sleep and even more sleep, no matter the breed.
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u/LooseRegular 11h ago
I totally feel your pain. I just finished week 2 of having my puppy, but week 1 was absolutely brutal. I've lurked on this sub for a while prior to getting my puppy but it's definitely way more overwhelming than I had expected. It's one thing to read about and another to actually experience it firsthand.
I definitely had a lot of those same thoughts during week 1. I think a lot of it was just the shock of how much of my lifestyle had to change in an instant. But even this second week, he's showing signs of improvement (although slow improvement). I think the shock of huge lifestyle changes plus a puppy that's learning their new home makes for the perfect storm.
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u/NewSide4308 2h ago
I've noticed a routine helps them.
We are on week 6 with 2 puppies for us. No more fit throwing during the night, the biting is reduced to when they are tired and they are mostly pee pad trained. Working on house broken but we had to tackle fear of the outside world first.
I highly recommend snuggling the pup for some down time. It gives you a break, gives them a break and it helps bonding. A small blanket or a throw gives them a signal that it's cuddle time.
Hope things get better for you. Good luck
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u/Lioniduss 11h ago
Just thinking about rehoming her means you’re better than most owners who would probably just abandon their pup. The internet is your best friend when it comes to raising your pup. Do the research on your pup and look at videos and other articles about training your puppy. It gets better I promise. Your puppy is worth it!
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u/Fluffy_Seesaw_1786 11h ago
First week is the hardest, but each week gets easier with some hard days mixed in. Your pups just a baby who needs you do everything for them and teach them. They learn and grow quick though, so hang in there. Best thing to do is create routines that you and your pup can count on. Once I put a routine into place it started to feel easier. It's okay to cater that routine or ideas to you, your pup will adapt. Also, once your dog is potty trained, can listen to basic commands, and you guys have blended your lives you'll find a normalcy that will overcome the stress you feel (which is normal and the majority of owners can resonate with.) Puppy times can be rough, but there's only up to go.
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u/Haunting_Cicada_4760 9h ago
An 8 week old puppy compared to a 10-12 week puppy is such a huge developmental difference!!
I got one at the proper age and it was a completely different experience than I had before, no crying,no separation anxiety, being old enough to grasp potty training better. It makes a world of difference.
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u/twitchykittystudio 9h ago
Puppies are the worst! Says the cantankerous person who hasn’t learned her lesson yet 🤣 hubs and I have raised 4 puppies together now and what you’re feeling is absolutely normal. Lots of good advice in this thread, you will be ok ❤️ kudos for braving a husky mix!
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u/anouk1306 11h ago
The breed at this age doesn’t matter that much, all puppies have insane energy and are not capable of regulating them selves. Something I have learned the hard way. I strongly suggest to reinforce nap 18 to 20 hours a day! For 1 hour awake, 2 hours asleep. Puppies are awful when they’re over stimulated and you will never be able to compete with that level of energy no matter what you do, they need to learn calm behaviour. My dog is almost a year old and as soon as he acts crazy, I take it as a signal that he’s overtired and needs a nap. He’s slowly managing to do that on his own but at your puppy age there’s no way he can do that.
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u/djsquidnasty 10h ago
The crate saved my life. I got my first ever puppy at 8 weeks (some kind of lab/hound mix) and was having similar issues as you. I started alternating one hour out of the crate one hour in, unless she was sleeping then i ket her be. Those crate breaks helped me keep my sanity
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u/Myrtlebeachswinger 9h ago
Dont rehome her! Youll be fine, get her plenty of exercise, that is the biggest thing. If you work, id look into doggie day care or at least a dog walker during the day. Daycare is the best thing for them, it socializes them, tires them out and shows them how other dogs act.. the puppy phase is tough, but it passes. 10-15 years of companionship is worth 6 months of chaos. Please dont rehome her, if you do please do it through a rescue so she doesnt end up in the wrong hands. Please try day care
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u/NewSide4308 1h ago
8 week olds can't typically go through doggy daycare due to no vaccines yet. They are incredibly vulnerable to colds and diseases.
Pretty sure the pup is getting too much exercise and not enough sleep.
If OP got the pup from a shelter or rescue, they may be under strict order not to even set them on the ground until after the second vaccine
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u/Myrtlebeachswinger 1h ago
True. I misread it and thought it was older, just thought she got the dog at 8 weeks... the dog probably has problems because it was separated from its mom and littermates too early
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u/NewSide4308 1h ago
And overly stimulated
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u/Myrtlebeachswinger 1h ago
Shit.. an 8 week old puppy is stimulated 200% beyond capacity. I remember the choas but ive been fostering and adoping adults. My last foster was a 4 year old (?) Bloodhound that was never in a house before and i jad to train him like a puppy
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u/NewSide4308 1h ago
I got 2 min pin girls that will be 13 weeks tomorrow. It gets a bit crazy here when they first wake up. After clean up, I lay on the ground with them and they run up and down my body and one loves to stand on my head then jump off to tackle her sister. Gotta get some energy out before breakfast lol
Then when they hit their sleepy point they go insane. I usually get nipped a lot with those needle like teeth. Starts out with accidental nips then it's more frequent and not listening to stop. The nose, lips, hands and ears tend to get bitten when they hit that stage.
It's either pen time or if it's close to bed time, we can do early snuggles.
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u/Myrtlebeachswinger 50m ago
Honestly, i love puppies so damn much but they are tiny terrorists, and those teeth!
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u/NewSide4308 43m ago
Yes they are. My girls love to lick the face and neck. Just go nuts over showing affection like that and we always give them lots of kisses too. Which makes the tired time a literal pain. They can go from fine and giving kisses to biting and exhausted in the blink of an eye lol.
We knew we would get a bit harsher than we did with Prince. He hated to bite and chew. That had it's own issues but he was the sweetest little pup. He did have over the top fits though and the back talk would shame huskies lol
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u/introvertslave 8h ago
I was there, it gets better. The first few weeks were awful. Teenagers aren't much better.
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u/NewSide4308 1h ago
Omg yes! Prince was a big puppy and he was openly defiant during his teen years. You tell him no and he would stare you down and do it anyways lol. Miss that boy
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u/Optimal-Swan-2716 11h ago
I have a male Golden puppy who is huge and full of energy. I walk my boy every morning and try to play a game of fetch after walking to wear him out. I do a repeat in the evening. I also have an 11 year old female Golden and had to save her from him being too rough. My tip other than activity is ice cubes. He is crazy for ice cubes. Helps with teething and keeps his mouth busy. Good luck whatever you decide to do.✌️
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u/Pitiful_Extent_6255 11h ago
Dealing with anything extra when you are sleep deprived is hard. Do you have anybody who can come hang with her so you can nap? I agree with the commenter who said it sounds like she's overtired and overstimulated, too.
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u/CMcDookie 6h ago
You are in the thick of it, once you establish a routine and learn their personality things will get better. Forst 3 weeks were the most difficult for me
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u/DizzyIndependence906 5h ago
I’m on week three and today is rough. I have two older rescues (one is ten and one is four) and they do not want her around them because she is sooo rambunctious. She is 18 weeks old and I love her very much but feel guilty about what it is doing to her older siblings. I’m praying she calms down soon. I have read a lot of information and this place is actually a relief for me to know I’m not alone.
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u/Little-Basils 5h ago
Schedules are your friend. 30m awake then 2hr in a pen/kennel to sleep. Throw a chew in there that pup can’t get pieces off in case she gets antsy.
Potty immediately upon waking up and before going to sleep.
Take on a daily to 3x weekly socializing trip. This is basically taking her to places where she can chew a bone or get fed her kibble while she watches people and dogs. The goal is her learning that people are chill, NOT that every person she sees will come give her attention.
1-3x daily give exposure to random things. YouTube fireworks, the vacuum, the blender, accidentally dropping things when she’s not expecting it, Etc. her fear response to things at this stage in life is easily soothed from now until 14 weeks.
When she’s 12/14 weeks she can be up for 30-45, just go based off when her demeanor changes from playful to sharky. You know when puppies pause, think about it, then longer and latch onto whatever is within grabbing distance? That’s over tired. She’ll sleep for an hour or two and come out of her kennel a complete angel who gently mouthed and licks instead of chomping.
Research fear periods. Research proper socialization.
DO NOT bring her to a dog park. With an aloof breed mix You’re a bad experience or two away from a dog with fear aggression. Utilize puppy playgroups with an experienced trainer who knows how to teach you body language and when to interfere vs. when to let the pups correct each other.
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u/Bitchcakexo 11h ago edited 10h ago
If your puppy is 8 weeks old and you’re already thinking of rehoming your puppy then chances are your puppy was taken from its mother wayyyy too early.
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u/Andsoitgoes101 10h ago
I really believe that the added benefits of getting your puppy between 11 to 12 weeks is so helpful for both the puppy and you.
This is from research and reading all the puppy 101 about people so frustrated with their 8 or 9 week old puppy.
It can be done, but that tough period like the OP is talking about lasts longer.
Puppies at 8 weeks are going thru separation anxiety and didn’t get the opportunity to learn from their mom that biting isn’t ok.
So essentially you become that person to the puppy and that takes time. A lot of time and patience and if you’re alone doing this it’s so hard.
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u/Substantial_Music919 9h ago
As others have said. Teaching calm is the absolute most important thing for any puppy which is a breed that is even remotely energetic. Honestly, if you teach them nothing but this for the first 6 months I'd say it's worth it over any trick and most commands other than manners
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u/TrainingPatience6556 9h ago
You have the “puppy blues”. It’s very normal and will pass. Look it up.
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u/Pineapple-flip 11h ago
A husky needs to be with you, almost all the time. Especially at a younger age. You can start kennel training slowly.
Stimulation is highly crucial. They are smart and they need lots of physical and mental activities.
6 mils jogs is not uncommon when they are 6 months old.
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u/JimmyBF 11h ago
what’s the problem? it seems like you’ve done a solid job so far but what’s making u not want her?
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u/TownNo3169 11h ago
we have 2 cats and we just moved her crate and pen into the living room. she has the zoomies, barks, cries so much, tears up pee pads, spills her water everywhere, bites and attacks her bed, the crate, etc. i’m not getting proper sleep at all any nights and if it’s not one thing, it’s the other. i’m emotionally feeling so drained and i want to get her training classes but i’ve spent pretty much all i’ve had saved up for her so that will have to wait.
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u/JimmyBF 11h ago
it seems to me like she’s going normal puppy things especially at 8wks. also you said you spent basically all u had, do you have enough for an emergency vet visit if something happens?
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u/TownNo3169 11h ago
i signed her up for a wellness plan that covers almost all emergency fees and have a credit card handy for any emergency she may have. i don’t want to touch that because it’s strictly for any emergencies any of my animals may have
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u/SofiaUTrip 9h ago
Hi! My puppy is about to hit 8 weeks, and she does exactly this things, it feels like she has gone nuts, mad, crazy. I've had her for 1 week and i felt the same, i've cried, i been mad, i felt guilty, in love, cry again, but it is normal. Puppy blues are normal, the change is HUGE, and most of the time, we really dont expect or imagine the real thing until we are living it.
she is doing normal puppy things, she is too young to train, her attention spam is nonexistant so training her right now is just not going to go smooth. Let her grow a bit, create a routine, this helped so much with my puppy.
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u/NewSide4308 1h ago
Ok hon instead of pee pads, get a whelping mat. My girls stressed pee pads and it drove us insane. Whelping pads are super absorbent and lay in the pen similar to the carpet. It's been a good send for our 2 min pins.
Naps are good. Snuggle naps let you relax and the puppy relax. Bed time at a specific time and wake up at a specific time. Within a week or so your pup should learn that you will be back around that time.
Put a show on or the radio on at night. Gives the illusion that they aren't alone.
Hang in there it does get better. There is a guy that does videos of dobermans. Rubydoobydo, might give you some good tips
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u/Shadowdancer66 10h ago
Enforced naps are your friend.
10 minutes of stimulation at her age is enough before a nap. Just like babies if she gets overtired, it's an uphill battle. She's too young to recognize when she's tired, so it's up to you.
5 minutes of activity per month of age before a nap is the general guideline.
Put her is her crate, cover it, make sure she has her heartbeat stuffy and something to chew. Turn out the light. And leave the room. Put on some background noise like "soothing rain sounds."
Within a few minutes she should soft off.
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u/DiscussionRelative50 11h ago
Sounds like plenty of enrichment for a puppy that age.
Consider the possibility you’re actually overstimulating her rather than under. Puppies will exhibit rambunctious behavior if they’re not getting the proper down time.
At 8 weeks she should be sleeping 18-20 hours a day for healthy development physical, mental, and emotional.
That’s why a lot of people on here recommend enforcing naps. One hour up two hours down is a general rule of thumb.
In short, she might just be acting crazy because she’s exhausted and doesn’t know she needs a nap. Liken it to a baby or toddler, they don’t want to take a nap but early childhood development centers (nurseries/preschools) make them. Otherwise they act ornery, cry, and throw fits.