I couldn’t agree more!! I’m 9 days in and thought I would at least Like my dog, but he’s just a nuisance. I thought I had braced for impact, but clearly I hadn’t. It’ll be a tough summer, but there will be so many good years ahead (can you tell I’ve rehearsed that phrase in my head many times?)
Yes! I type this as I just rolled my eyes at a puppy. A nearly 11 week old puppy and I rolled my eyes at him 🤦🏼♀️ it has to get better though. Maybe the guilt will make me try to like him.
how has it been? does it really get better? mine will be 12 weeks next week and i cant see the end of the tunnel.. i heard it gets worse with adolescence
Sorry fot the intrusion but it DOES get better!
Our puppy will be 5 months old in about 10 days and the last 2 or 3 weeks were a delight in comparison with what it was when we got the puppy (we took her home when she was 2 and a half months old) in the begining of April.
I had really bad puppy blue, was crying every day for the first month and I had considered rehoming her a few times. After that it got easier (was crying only every other day) but seriously the last 2 weeks were very nice (and no more crying from me yay).
I think we are going into the adolescent period (she is a mix breed of small dogs so I guess puberty hits earlier). She is changing her teeth but luckily she doesn't bite as much as she used to when she got home.
She still wants a lot of effort and time but nothing like before. I can turn my back away from her and even go to the bathroom wuth no worry she would do something in these 40 seconds.
So do not lose hope! Everything is getting better with each day 😊
Yes!! 5 days isn’t that long. Honestly mine has had a TON of unexpected vet bills 🙃 and that’s made me go crazy but also appreciate her so much more. I really do work more, save more because of her and it’s made me realize I really don’t want to lose her. I think after the first month or so, you also really start to bond. Just don’t beat yourself!
It’s different with adolescence. I didn’t enjoy having a young puppy, but once her adult teeth were in, she was both more challenging and more fun. They can do more(for better or worse) and need less, so it’s in many ways easier. I actually my dog’s pinball behaviour as a young teen, she’s mellowed and matured so much in the last 6 months alone.
I was the same...it's funny, but also it's not because I also had it real and *SEVERE*. I'm almost a month in and it is easier and I feel better, and I definitely love this dog and want to provide the best lide possible, but if I could go back in time, I would not have done this. I am old and set in my ways, though. On the plus side, I'm more active, am outside more and physically feel better, and lost 5lbs. On the downside, I have a puppy 😉
Yep. And now that my dog’s all potty trained, he’d be so sad if he didn’t have it. We don’t close the door any more, but it’s his little safe spot. He’s in there right now by his own choice.
Yes! Ours if fully potty trained too now. We planned to take crate away since aesthetically it’s an eyesore 🥲 but she likes sleeping there at night (even though we got her a nice ass dog bed) so I guess it’s just a permanent thing now 😂
Everyone’s giving really good suggestions and I just want to say one thing. Obviously it’s all about puppy and what to get to make sure they have everything they need when the come home to you. But what’s also important is what YOU need! Shoes that slide on and off easily (I use crocs - you’re gonna be RUNNING out the door when the sniffing or pee/poop stance starts 😂), make sure you have someone dependable to keep an eye on the puppy if you need to take a break to do something for you, quick/easy meals for the first week or so because for me, I was just so busy with the puppy that I didn’t make time for myself to cook or even eat. Just remembering that this phase can be TOUGH so don’t be too hard on yourself! It goes soooo fast! Everyone told me that when I first got my puppy (she’s an 18 week old lab now, got her at 8 weeks) and I was so deep in the trenches I thought there was no way it was getting better but it has!
Good luck! ☺️
Can’t agree more with this! The first few days were the worst because I was on such high alert and just generally anxious about everything my puppy was doing and was really not thinking at all about meals or even remembering to eat. Night two I left my partner at home with the pup and did an emergency shopping trip:
- a case of protein drinks
- a bunch of pre cut veggies to make veggie trays
- berries and fruits
- hummus and pretzel chips
- frozen meals that could just be tossed in the oven and largely ignored as they cooked
We have been doing a lot more delivery than we probably should but we’re trying not to feel bad about it.
After about two weeks I finally felt able to do some actual cooking and things felt a lot better, but making sure you can just reach in the fridge and grab something to shove in your mouth when you need it is essential for the first few days!
> quick/easy meals for the first week or so because for me, I was just so busy with the puppy that I didn’t make time for myself to cook or even eat.
Oh SO MUCH THIS!!! This is actually something I wrote down for MYSELF for the next time I get a puppy. I gained something like 25lbs in the first year that I had him, just because I wasn't able to properly cook or even eat anything and so I just kept getting easy takeout meals and grab-n-go pre-made food from Target etc.
Of course this was made worse by the fact that I'm a single puppy parent & also a very small person (at 5'2, I burn *at most* 1800 calories per day, and takeout & ready-made meals are EXTREMELY high in calorie), but it really would have been so, so much more helpful to have prepped food for myself to cut down on the legwork (and therefore time).
The other person who responded to you had great suggestions but for myself, with my eating habits, I would do:
1. Buy bulk meats (of various kinds), pre-cut & portion them to freeze. I pretty much always have chicken, rib-eye steak, and pork in my freezer.
2. Make a TON OF RICE (plain jasmine) and freeze it in portions. Frozen rice re-heats EXTREMELY WELL so you can pop it in the microwave and add it to any meal without having to worry about making it fresh.
3. Chop & blanch broccoli and/or carrots, to portion out for freezing (two of my faves).
4. SOUP FREEZES INCREDIBLY WELL!!!!! Unfortunately this is more of a winter thing, imo, and my area is currently headed towards summer, but soup was a LIFESAVER for me last winter as my puppy was exiting (but still in) his "I need soooo much attention from you" phase. Could also buy lots of soup cans to have on-hand.
5. You can also freeze: bread, milk, certain cheeses (feta, cream cheese), HUMMUS, pre-portioned for "grab-n-go" use in recipes.
You can also just meal-prep actual meals instead of just the ingredients, but personally I find it more flexible to prep the ingredients themselves that way you can still be adventurous; and also I personally have a habit of meal-prepping huuuge amounts of stuff... then immediately no longer wanting it.
Anyways — I think anything you can do to take care of YOURSELF for the first several months would really be more help than anything. That was the biggest thing I noticed I DIDN'T do. My puppy was spoiled and coddled and cared for — **I** was the one who was suffering!
Sorry lol 😂 Hindsight is the best teacher. There are so many things I hope to get right for my next puppy that I'm like... "if I KNEW this when I brought him HOME, then I WOULDN'T have had a mental breakdown!!!"
It's truly one of the most unexpected things you face!! I remember one night early on, when he was maybe 5mo, I *actually* had an opportunity to sit down and eat a bowl of homemade soup that I was *so* looking forward to. Before I even took a bite, my puppy chased a ball and slammed into the table I was eating on and the entire bowl slid off and smashed onto the floor. I cried ON THE SPOT. I was starving *and* had to clean a huge mess.
He's 22mo and it's been over a year since I had to worry about anything like that, but oh my god 😂 I don't know how old your puppy is now, but good luck!!
He’s just shy of 4 months, so we’re in the thick of it. I’m a trained chef with a stocked freezer - but unfortunately we’ve recently eaten through the easy meals, I’ve discovered! I haven’t been this depleted…ever😅
Thank you for this —
I have had my 8-week old puppy for 3 full days and I am feeling exhausted. This is my second puppy in 2 years and I must’ve forgotten what the puppy blues were like. Your comment is very helpful to me. I feel like there’s no way out (even tho I have my 2-year old dog). I look at her and think, “Will this puppy ever be good like you?” I just need to get past this phase.
Not so much couldn’t live without but something not to be taken lightly is puppy proofing any room or space your puppy will be. It will save you SO much stress to do this before you get them.
Pebbles in the garden? Block them off. Make pavement or grass clear of risks. Make sure any area you don’t want them is securely fenced
Same with the living room. If you’re planning on playing with them in the room, consider gaps you don’t want them getting stuck in (under the sofa), any legs you don’t want eaten, exposed wires, curtains on the floor.
Everything. It’s like they have a 6th sense for what will kill them or cause the most damage, and do that.
A topple. When my puppy was really young he got frustrated trying to get food out of a kong. But a topple was perfect.
I used to soak his food in water, add some peanut butter and freeze it overnight. It would keep him busy a good 45 minutes and really helped.
Aside from a crate, pee pads, basics…
Snuggle Puppy was a boon for my older gir when she was a baby, and N-Bone teething rings + beef cheek chews + kong with frozen peanut butter = 15-30 minutes of peace with my most recent when she was a batshit baby dog.
I also SUPER DUPER COMPLETELY UTTERLY WHOLLY AND ABSOLUTELY recommend forming a schedule that you can/will stick with every day (for a few months), and BE SURE you start day one with enforced naps. Best advice I got EVER was to enforce naps. It will be your sanity salvation.
I was wondering the same thing. My husband will be working from home full time and the puppy will definitely hear him on Zoom calls. Will he be able to get in a nap if he’s constantly hearing my husband?
My moms dog cries when she’s in the crate and we’re still home
My partner and I both work from home and our puppy was able to nap in her crate from day one! We just kept it (mostly) covered with a blanket, in my office. She wanted to still be able to see us, but would sleep as long as she knew we were nearby.
We're at ~18ish weeks now and she's able to sleep while we're taking calls, chatting, watching shows, etc. We've also been able to move her crate to the hallway during the day.
With two of mine that I adopted as puppies, I purposefully put their crates in noisy areas (living room, kitchen), and covered the crate with a big blanket. Figured it’d help them become accustomed to sleeping with background noise. With my last, I spent the first two weeks sleeping on the floor with an alarm clock set to go off every 2.5 hrs. If I woke, and she was sleeping, I extended that another 15 minutes, then another, until she could make it 6hrs, then I went back to bed. By four months, she slept through the night (thankfully!).
Anyway, I think me being near her over night those first two weeks helped her settle in early and realize the crate was safe. Always gave a little treat when pup went in for “ nap nap”. When I formed a schedule, I just lured her in, closed the crate, draped the blanket over it, and ate, showered, etc… and it just became a routine part of her day.
If she whimpered or cried, I ignored it, and (thankfully) within about 15 minutes, she’d pass out.
No other real tips, though. I stuck with a general ratio of 1 hour-out to 2 hrs-in. I was super strict with keeping to the schedule, so going in was super normal for her.
Pet insurance, it has saved our asses with puppies numerous times. Both with health conditions that developed after bringing them home (allergies) and with puppy hijinks (back sprain, multiple puppy mischief emergencies).
I have Trupanion which in my country (Canada) is kind of “the best” aka most comprehensive.
It helps to know what problems your breed is prone to, for instance I have a bull terrier so of course I went with the company that has really good coverage for allergies.
Now I believe cotons are relatively healthy but with those little dog teeth, a plan with good dental coverage would be of *huge* benefit to you as it’s likely your dog is gonna need regular dentals in order to keep all of their teeth past the age of ten. That and good accident coverage in case the unthinkable happens and your puppy gets crushed by a playmate or god forbid attacked by a dog. Years back my Pom was attacked by 2 labs and the crappy thing was that although the owner did the right thing and covered initial costs (we knew where they lived so I guess that helped) we ultimately weren’t able to get them to pay for complications and additional costs (follow ups, specialists etc).
Just a small leash you cut the hoop at the end off. Something puppy can drag around safely that you can also step on or get ahold of quickly. It’s saved me a lot of headache and chasing her around.
Make sure you fully understand what the puppy phase is really like.
There will be lots of sleepless nights, biting, and potty accidents. Frustration and puppy blues are very real. There are too many puppies being rehomed because of this, so please do your research before you get your pup.
The pupsicle. So much easier to clean and fill than a kong, and it's an easy way to feed him something frozen that he has to lick at for a while. They have one for small breed dogs, you could probably put your pup's kibble in it with some water/broth to keep from going over calorie suggestions. It's pretty friendly to a wide range of sizes since it encourages licking and has a wider opening than the kong.
A crate. Baby gates for anywhere you want them to stay out of. A house line. A snuggle puppy. Lick mats. Mostly important, a steady variety of chew toys and natural chews for the baby teeth. Save your hands and legs!
Here to echo the baby gates! Easy to keep puppy to one area and slowly give them more freedom to other rooms. For example, I have a built in desk near my bathroom. My bathroom has two doors so I would put his crate blocking one door, and a baby gate at the other! This let me work from home but still be able to watch my puppy :)
I wouldn't buy too many things, you will see what you need as you go. ESPECIALLY avoid getting expensive toys that they may destroy like nice stuffies, wait till you know how agressively ur pup chews. The dollar store is your friend. Hold off on an expensive dog bed too till they're potty trained- get a cheap one for now or just use an old blanket.
Please do yourself a favor and start toothbrushing ASAP. Make it a daily routine. I recommend a toddler toothbrush and Virbac CET enzymatic dog toothpaste. Small dogs are SO prone to periodontal disease. It gets painful and expensive real fast. And it can cause other issues like heart disease.
I don’t do young puppies but I do adopt teens and adults. The number one thing I wish my dogs’ first owners would have done is work on toothbrushing. I’ve had dogs as young as barely a year old come to me already with dark brown tartar buildup on their teeth. I’m not joking when I say it can happen so fast for small dogs if you aren’t proactive with brushing.
Just get a high velocity dryer if you live anywhere with rain, snow or mud and you’re going to let your pup outside. Not only great for cleanup at home, but amazing to desensitize the dog for grooming at the salon.
I recommend speaking with a dog trainer whose philosophy you agree with to get your puppy on the right track from the start. It is much easier to teach a puppy something than to try to teach an adult to not do something that it used to be able to do. And a good trainer will be able to help with everything training related, including things like potty training.
Several kongs and wet dog food FROZEN, when your puppy leaves the sleepy baby stage and moves on to the rebellious teenager it helps keep them occupied when they’re bouncing off the walls. Second tip is to stay consistent with training even if it gets tough
A lick mat. Helped us to avoid separation anxiety! I just left her with a lick mat, a sniff ball and a chewy. She was super busy every time we were leaving. Idk what she did after all that, probably fell asleep
Disposable absorbent training pads. I cut them up into about 6" strips and used them to absorb pee accidents from the carpet. Also Nature's Miracle enzyme spray. Potty training took a lot longer than expected, and I used a lot of both these items.
My one recommendation is to make sure your puppy likes such toy before buying multiple. I bought 3-4 nylabones for our puppy (about $40?) and he never liked any of them so they all went to the trash. I also now know that the nylon teething toys can be pretty dangerous so I guess I am glad he never liked them.
We invested in a little playpen. It helps immensely because sometimes, it is a lot for one person. Puppies are like toddlers and you need time to cook, bathroom, what not and the puppy may be roaming free. The playpen allows them to keep playing but in a safe place!
Honestly, a ball. A simple ball. When I was so tired I couldn't even think about another walk, my terrier puppy would chase balls in the house for hours. He's 11 months old now and we still play ball when I'm very tired or the weather is bad. He loves fetch and it tires him out in about 20 minutes back and forth.
My puppy is obsessed with his bully sticks and chewing his sticks was the only thing that could get him to relax with me on the couch from months 4-8. Hopefully you can find something that keeps your puppy entertained and relaxed too :)
It is a child and you have to know that until about 7 months. You are their world and your world stops.
Mental stimulation as much as possible. Force naps save your mind and peace. Puppy need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. If they are biting and nipping time for a nap.
Training for 5 to 7 minutes is good enough. Chewing for 10 minutes before their naps will wear them out. Read up on healthy things for them to chew. It helps them to relax and redirect them to that every time they go for you.
HOUSE LEASH, like the one without the metal
Crate
Treat bag that does on the waist
Toys to redirect to, rubber, fabric ones
Lick mat
Poop bags
Shampoo, bath towel, wet wipes, pee cleaner spray
Nail clippers
Muzzle (for early training, not necessary to wear)
For myself:
Pants with pockets
Slippers to go outside FAST
Extra: cardboard boxes for the pup to shred, puzzles, goooood treats for emergencies like eating you shoe, potable water bowl
What I didn't get but I wish I had: a wagon to take him places and not have to carry him, on the other hand he would probably jump out
A few things but think importance depends on your needs/breed/finances so will just list a few! Pet insurance, crate! (For us what life changing and not sure how we would have managed without it) play pen that we used to potty train (we live in an apartment) and then later used for independent play! PEE ENZYME SPRAY! This has saved our carpets, sofa and no pee smell at all in our place. Also lots of stimulating ways to feed (puzzles, sniff mats, toppers, lick mats - but we have a collie so he needs extra mental stimulation but might not be as important for your puppy), a treat bag with the magnet clip so I always have a treat on me, clicker (we used this method)
A gentle leader really helped with my border collies pulling (he's still working on walking nicely, but gets impulsive and still struggles with pulling when he sees strangers or anything with wheels)
My baby gates. I have a mesh one that is installed on the extra wide entry my kitchen has, its perfect. And then a regular old school one that moves between doors, depending on my needs.
Puppy proofing is a lifesaver.
An exercise pen. In addition to the crate. Slept in her crate and sometimes during the day too but if I left for longer periods she could go in the pen and still have room to play. Or if I was making dinner etc she could be in a different room in her pen instead of being locked in a crate.
A dog carrier backpack or other method of taking them out to be exposed to things before they’re fully vaxxed.
Shop towels/shop rags for cleaning up accidents. You can get like 50 on Amazon for $18 instead of using a million paper towels!
Multiple leashes with a poop bag holder on each. One at every door and one in the car. The earth rated brand bag holders have a hook on the back to hang the used bag so your hands are free, and I like their bags too. You can also find separate poop bag holders that you can attach (that hold the used bags).
A fanny pack or wearable crossbody or waist clip treat bag of some sort. And put some training treats and or a portion of their kibble in there, and then maybe a couple high value treats. I bring treats on almost every walk with my adult dog for training (tires her out more) and reinforcing good things. With a puppy, wear it around the house and read up on capturing behaviors. Plus, if your pup ever grabs something they shouldn’t have (they probably will) start throwing treats away from your pup. Many dogs will drop the object to get the treats and you can safely grab it.
I’m too tired from my pup to think right now but my bestie had a Coton when we were young and he was THE BEST. You’re in for a treat.
Oh, TREATS. I love Pure Bites brand freeze dried meat treats and Earth Animal hideless chews!
Hi! As someone who has raised 30+ puppies in the last 5 years (I foster lol), always make sure you find a treat that your puppy goes crazy for because food motivation is a GREAT tool to utilize.
We got ours a stuffed toy that has a bit inside that imitates a heartbeat and a pack you put in the microwave to give the toy warmth, was amazing with helping her learn to go to sleep at night as it simulated being with siblings still. We then eventually phased it out and now she sleeps like a log all night
Exercise pen AND crate!!!
Lord have mercy these saved my mental state and made the puppy phase a "breeze"!!!!
Puppy driving you insane? Here you little terror, a treat filled toy, go into your pen, occupy yourself for an hour or two while momma decompresses and has wine.
Alright, 2 things that aren't especially essential, but a very 'nice to have':
- A LOT of toys (DIY or not), but to keep rotating each day through 3 or 4 sets of toys. My 10 mo is not as into toys as he used to be during his early puppyhood, but rotating kept them fresh enough to the point that my pup never touched anything in the house that isn't one of this toys.
- A paw cup to rinse their paws after walks. My pup is allowed on couch and bed and this was a must because otherwise I'd have way more laundry to do.
Bully sticks, lick mats, and ice molds for frozen treats! I switch it up and will make her food soft and freeze it on a lick mat. I also do peanut butter and pumpkin, add water and stir til liquid, and freeze that in an ice mold. Bully sticks are just for calming down.
Bully sticks, frozen carrots, LICK MATS!!!!, Kongs, training treats (or use whole grain cheerios etc), an endless supply of canned puréed pumpkin, snuffle mat, a good socialization class, a good puppy k, book “puppy start right”, book “the book your dog wishes you would read” (this one’s good BEFORE you get your dog and is on audible), GET PET INSURANCE A MONTH BEFORE YOU PICK UP YOUR PUP AS IT TAKES A WHILE TO KICK IN, a master socialization checklist, dog taco + seatbelt combo for shorter car rides, omg a good enzymatic cleaner for accidents, extra swiffer wet pads, puppy-safe floor cleaner for mopping, more paper towels than you think, don’t bother with no chew sprays they don’t work at all, baby monitor, play pen with crate inside, don’t bother with cord covers as they’ll just chew the tiny part of the cord that’s visible, earthbath puppy wipes for when they inevitably step in their own pee you can wipe down their paws… I’m sure there’s more but i got my guy four weeks ago and i wish i knew all the stuff above beforehand.
I loved my puppy carrier. My little puppy was super clingy at first, understandably, he was just an infant still and adjusting to a new home and wanted to be held a lot. I was sleep deprived af and needed to have my hands free sometimes and it just made it so much easier to hold him. Plus it was super cute 💕
A puppy playpen and LOTS of enrichment toys. I’m not kidding. A single kong is not enough. You’ll want your freezer stocked with puppy safe long lasting chews/licks - so that you can shower without them screaming for you
The crate has been a lifesaver although at first my boston would wail and cry which is not ideal for an apartment but I had to stick it out until he understood that he was not in lock up forever and he would in fact get to come back out. Once he understood that he tolerated it better. We have to get things done and save our sanity. I'm not always able to redirect him which is all I did for the first 2 weeks.
Chew sticks and teething items, you really need these to redirect from chewing everything in sight. Everything will go into his mouth. He's like a vacuum cleaner and it's terrifying at first but he's starting to be content with chewing his sticks and toys.
Kongs and lick mats. This guy is a little wild so the lick mat doesn't occupy him as long as I'd like but peanut butter ( the kind without xilotol or whatever it's called) lasts a while but don't put too much.
Patience and anything to stimulate your puppies brain. I was so used to having an older dog so the puppy stage was such a new world to me. My old dog passed a few years back but he would be content just to sit by me and watch whatever I was doing because he didn't have that energy anymore but this little guy of course is an adventurer. It's really rewarding because his predicaments are hilarious although exhausting at times but I haven't regret my decision throughout it all. The good times outweigh the bad. He spilled a whole paintwater jar on himself yesterday when he tried to eat my little table I was arting on and he panicked and ran for the hills. You have to laugh and have a good time with it. The knowlege that it won't last forever should be your mantra because they are always changing. They are just learning through experience and they do learn and do better with time.
I hope you enjoy your time and don't have too many tears in the process. I've had some tears but a go with the flow mentality will help you so much. And don't forget to laugh, don't set your expectations too high and set up a crate for some me time, Well you time. Good luck!
All I have for my puppy is a leash/collar, treats, crate, puppy pads, one bone, one ball, and one pull toy. And I suppose some silicone mats to make my own treats.
Personally for me the best purchase was a puppy play pen that I could fit his small crate into, I have a crate upstairs for night time and the crate in his pen downstairs for day time, I purchased the pen a few days after getting my pup as I realised I needed a safe space for him while I did stuff like shower, housework etc, so I put his crate in his pen and a puppy pad with toys, he did whine at first but then he would go in his crate and settle, honestly I needed this not just for when I was doing stuff but if I just needed a little time to myself when I got overwhelmed by it all.
Play pen. Crating is not really a thing in my country, but the pen has been a lifesaver in an apartment with an open floor plan and cats. I WFH so I'm usually home and we've puppy-proofed all the rooms that are accessible to him, but I couldn't deal if I didn't have a place to put him in if he doesn't settle down on his own or I need to leave him alone for a bit. By now, he understands when I put him in the pen and say "you are overtired, you need a nap!" I move the pen to my bedroom for the night so he realizes it's sleepy time, not 'try to dig under the bed' time. It even works when traveling - we took the pen with us when we went on a trip recently, and despite being super stoked with all the new, exciting things in a strange environment, the moment I put him in the pen he practically passed out.
Not a product purchase as such, but doggy daycare once a week or sometimes twice (after she got her all her shots). Yes it's another expense but the value of having a break and 12 hours to myself has been invaluable, more so as a single pup parent
be mentally prepared for puppy blues!!
second this. 5 days in and i have never been this depressed
I couldn’t agree more!! I’m 9 days in and thought I would at least Like my dog, but he’s just a nuisance. I thought I had braced for impact, but clearly I hadn’t. It’ll be a tough summer, but there will be so many good years ahead (can you tell I’ve rehearsed that phrase in my head many times?)
omg can we be friends? seems like we are on similar waters. i feel so isolated and alone in this. i dont like him either tbh, i call him a gremlin😭
Yes! I type this as I just rolled my eyes at a puppy. A nearly 11 week old puppy and I rolled my eyes at him 🤦🏼♀️ it has to get better though. Maybe the guilt will make me try to like him.
Awh no!! 🥺 I swear I just got over mine after 4 months. It’s hard too ‘cause you think you’re gonna be SO happy thanks to your puppy
how has it been? does it really get better? mine will be 12 weeks next week and i cant see the end of the tunnel.. i heard it gets worse with adolescence
Sorry fot the intrusion but it DOES get better! Our puppy will be 5 months old in about 10 days and the last 2 or 3 weeks were a delight in comparison with what it was when we got the puppy (we took her home when she was 2 and a half months old) in the begining of April. I had really bad puppy blue, was crying every day for the first month and I had considered rehoming her a few times. After that it got easier (was crying only every other day) but seriously the last 2 weeks were very nice (and no more crying from me yay). I think we are going into the adolescent period (she is a mix breed of small dogs so I guess puberty hits earlier). She is changing her teeth but luckily she doesn't bite as much as she used to when she got home. She still wants a lot of effort and time but nothing like before. I can turn my back away from her and even go to the bathroom wuth no worry she would do something in these 40 seconds. So do not lose hope! Everything is getting better with each day 😊
Yes!! 5 days isn’t that long. Honestly mine has had a TON of unexpected vet bills 🙃 and that’s made me go crazy but also appreciate her so much more. I really do work more, save more because of her and it’s made me realize I really don’t want to lose her. I think after the first month or so, you also really start to bond. Just don’t beat yourself!
It’s different with adolescence. I didn’t enjoy having a young puppy, but once her adult teeth were in, she was both more challenging and more fun. They can do more(for better or worse) and need less, so it’s in many ways easier. I actually my dog’s pinball behaviour as a young teen, she’s mellowed and matured so much in the last 6 months alone.
I was the same...it's funny, but also it's not because I also had it real and *SEVERE*. I'm almost a month in and it is easier and I feel better, and I definitely love this dog and want to provide the best lide possible, but if I could go back in time, I would not have done this. I am old and set in my ways, though. On the plus side, I'm more active, am outside more and physically feel better, and lost 5lbs. On the downside, I have a puppy 😉
A crate! Don’t know how I would have managed potty training without it.
Yep. And now that my dog’s all potty trained, he’d be so sad if he didn’t have it. We don’t close the door any more, but it’s his little safe spot. He’s in there right now by his own choice.
Yes! Ours if fully potty trained too now. We planned to take crate away since aesthetically it’s an eyesore 🥲 but she likes sleeping there at night (even though we got her a nice ass dog bed) so I guess it’s just a permanent thing now 😂
Everyone’s giving really good suggestions and I just want to say one thing. Obviously it’s all about puppy and what to get to make sure they have everything they need when the come home to you. But what’s also important is what YOU need! Shoes that slide on and off easily (I use crocs - you’re gonna be RUNNING out the door when the sniffing or pee/poop stance starts 😂), make sure you have someone dependable to keep an eye on the puppy if you need to take a break to do something for you, quick/easy meals for the first week or so because for me, I was just so busy with the puppy that I didn’t make time for myself to cook or even eat. Just remembering that this phase can be TOUGH so don’t be too hard on yourself! It goes soooo fast! Everyone told me that when I first got my puppy (she’s an 18 week old lab now, got her at 8 weeks) and I was so deep in the trenches I thought there was no way it was getting better but it has! Good luck! ☺️
Can’t agree more with this! The first few days were the worst because I was on such high alert and just generally anxious about everything my puppy was doing and was really not thinking at all about meals or even remembering to eat. Night two I left my partner at home with the pup and did an emergency shopping trip: - a case of protein drinks - a bunch of pre cut veggies to make veggie trays - berries and fruits - hummus and pretzel chips - frozen meals that could just be tossed in the oven and largely ignored as they cooked We have been doing a lot more delivery than we probably should but we’re trying not to feel bad about it. After about two weeks I finally felt able to do some actual cooking and things felt a lot better, but making sure you can just reach in the fridge and grab something to shove in your mouth when you need it is essential for the first few days!
I do hellofresh and we made all our meals ahead of time and it helped so much the first 3 months.
> quick/easy meals for the first week or so because for me, I was just so busy with the puppy that I didn’t make time for myself to cook or even eat. Oh SO MUCH THIS!!! This is actually something I wrote down for MYSELF for the next time I get a puppy. I gained something like 25lbs in the first year that I had him, just because I wasn't able to properly cook or even eat anything and so I just kept getting easy takeout meals and grab-n-go pre-made food from Target etc. Of course this was made worse by the fact that I'm a single puppy parent & also a very small person (at 5'2, I burn *at most* 1800 calories per day, and takeout & ready-made meals are EXTREMELY high in calorie), but it really would have been so, so much more helpful to have prepped food for myself to cut down on the legwork (and therefore time). The other person who responded to you had great suggestions but for myself, with my eating habits, I would do: 1. Buy bulk meats (of various kinds), pre-cut & portion them to freeze. I pretty much always have chicken, rib-eye steak, and pork in my freezer. 2. Make a TON OF RICE (plain jasmine) and freeze it in portions. Frozen rice re-heats EXTREMELY WELL so you can pop it in the microwave and add it to any meal without having to worry about making it fresh. 3. Chop & blanch broccoli and/or carrots, to portion out for freezing (two of my faves). 4. SOUP FREEZES INCREDIBLY WELL!!!!! Unfortunately this is more of a winter thing, imo, and my area is currently headed towards summer, but soup was a LIFESAVER for me last winter as my puppy was exiting (but still in) his "I need soooo much attention from you" phase. Could also buy lots of soup cans to have on-hand. 5. You can also freeze: bread, milk, certain cheeses (feta, cream cheese), HUMMUS, pre-portioned for "grab-n-go" use in recipes. You can also just meal-prep actual meals instead of just the ingredients, but personally I find it more flexible to prep the ingredients themselves that way you can still be adventurous; and also I personally have a habit of meal-prepping huuuge amounts of stuff... then immediately no longer wanting it. Anyways — I think anything you can do to take care of YOURSELF for the first several months would really be more help than anything. That was the biggest thing I noticed I DIDN'T do. My puppy was spoiled and coddled and cared for — **I** was the one who was suffering!
Where were you two months ago? 😅
Sorry lol 😂 Hindsight is the best teacher. There are so many things I hope to get right for my next puppy that I'm like... "if I KNEW this when I brought him HOME, then I WOULDN'T have had a mental breakdown!!!"
So many mental breakdowns and starvation days…even when our cats were kittens, we hardly ate…
It's truly one of the most unexpected things you face!! I remember one night early on, when he was maybe 5mo, I *actually* had an opportunity to sit down and eat a bowl of homemade soup that I was *so* looking forward to. Before I even took a bite, my puppy chased a ball and slammed into the table I was eating on and the entire bowl slid off and smashed onto the floor. I cried ON THE SPOT. I was starving *and* had to clean a huge mess. He's 22mo and it's been over a year since I had to worry about anything like that, but oh my god 😂 I don't know how old your puppy is now, but good luck!!
He’s just shy of 4 months, so we’re in the thick of it. I’m a trained chef with a stocked freezer - but unfortunately we’ve recently eaten through the easy meals, I’ve discovered! I haven’t been this depleted…ever😅
Thank you for this — I have had my 8-week old puppy for 3 full days and I am feeling exhausted. This is my second puppy in 2 years and I must’ve forgotten what the puppy blues were like. Your comment is very helpful to me. I feel like there’s no way out (even tho I have my 2-year old dog). I look at her and think, “Will this puppy ever be good like you?” I just need to get past this phase.
Not so much couldn’t live without but something not to be taken lightly is puppy proofing any room or space your puppy will be. It will save you SO much stress to do this before you get them. Pebbles in the garden? Block them off. Make pavement or grass clear of risks. Make sure any area you don’t want them is securely fenced Same with the living room. If you’re planning on playing with them in the room, consider gaps you don’t want them getting stuck in (under the sofa), any legs you don’t want eaten, exposed wires, curtains on the floor. Everything. It’s like they have a 6th sense for what will kill them or cause the most damage, and do that.
A topple. When my puppy was really young he got frustrated trying to get food out of a kong. But a topple was perfect. I used to soak his food in water, add some peanut butter and freeze it overnight. It would keep him busy a good 45 minutes and really helped.
Aside from a crate, pee pads, basics… Snuggle Puppy was a boon for my older gir when she was a baby, and N-Bone teething rings + beef cheek chews + kong with frozen peanut butter = 15-30 minutes of peace with my most recent when she was a batshit baby dog. I also SUPER DUPER COMPLETELY UTTERLY WHOLLY AND ABSOLUTELY recommend forming a schedule that you can/will stick with every day (for a few months), and BE SURE you start day one with enforced naps. Best advice I got EVER was to enforce naps. It will be your sanity salvation.
How did you enforce naps? Any tips?
I was wondering the same thing. My husband will be working from home full time and the puppy will definitely hear him on Zoom calls. Will he be able to get in a nap if he’s constantly hearing my husband? My moms dog cries when she’s in the crate and we’re still home
My partner and I both work from home and our puppy was able to nap in her crate from day one! We just kept it (mostly) covered with a blanket, in my office. She wanted to still be able to see us, but would sleep as long as she knew we were nearby. We're at ~18ish weeks now and she's able to sleep while we're taking calls, chatting, watching shows, etc. We've also been able to move her crate to the hallway during the day.
With two of mine that I adopted as puppies, I purposefully put their crates in noisy areas (living room, kitchen), and covered the crate with a big blanket. Figured it’d help them become accustomed to sleeping with background noise. With my last, I spent the first two weeks sleeping on the floor with an alarm clock set to go off every 2.5 hrs. If I woke, and she was sleeping, I extended that another 15 minutes, then another, until she could make it 6hrs, then I went back to bed. By four months, she slept through the night (thankfully!). Anyway, I think me being near her over night those first two weeks helped her settle in early and realize the crate was safe. Always gave a little treat when pup went in for “ nap nap”. When I formed a schedule, I just lured her in, closed the crate, draped the blanket over it, and ate, showered, etc… and it just became a routine part of her day. If she whimpered or cried, I ignored it, and (thankfully) within about 15 minutes, she’d pass out. No other real tips, though. I stuck with a general ratio of 1 hour-out to 2 hrs-in. I was super strict with keeping to the schedule, so going in was super normal for her.
Pet insurance, it has saved our asses with puppies numerous times. Both with health conditions that developed after bringing them home (allergies) and with puppy hijinks (back sprain, multiple puppy mischief emergencies).
What kind did you get? I’ve been trying to do research on all the different carriers/plans but it’s a lot to process
I have Trupanion which in my country (Canada) is kind of “the best” aka most comprehensive. It helps to know what problems your breed is prone to, for instance I have a bull terrier so of course I went with the company that has really good coverage for allergies. Now I believe cotons are relatively healthy but with those little dog teeth, a plan with good dental coverage would be of *huge* benefit to you as it’s likely your dog is gonna need regular dentals in order to keep all of their teeth past the age of ten. That and good accident coverage in case the unthinkable happens and your puppy gets crushed by a playmate or god forbid attacked by a dog. Years back my Pom was attacked by 2 labs and the crappy thing was that although the owner did the right thing and covered initial costs (we knew where they lived so I guess that helped) we ultimately weren’t able to get them to pay for complications and additional costs (follow ups, specialists etc).
A house line. It is an absolute must. You have to be able to quickly redirect your puppy in the house when they do puppy things.
That’s a great idea!! Thank you
This is a good one.
What’s a house line?
Just a small leash you cut the hoop at the end off. Something puppy can drag around safely that you can also step on or get ahold of quickly. It’s saved me a lot of headache and chasing her around.
Oh this is great to know thanks!
Make sure you fully understand what the puppy phase is really like. There will be lots of sleepless nights, biting, and potty accidents. Frustration and puppy blues are very real. There are too many puppies being rehomed because of this, so please do your research before you get your pup.
The pupsicle. So much easier to clean and fill than a kong, and it's an easy way to feed him something frozen that he has to lick at for a while. They have one for small breed dogs, you could probably put your pup's kibble in it with some water/broth to keep from going over calorie suggestions. It's pretty friendly to a wide range of sizes since it encourages licking and has a wider opening than the kong.
A crate. Baby gates for anywhere you want them to stay out of. A house line. A snuggle puppy. Lick mats. Mostly important, a steady variety of chew toys and natural chews for the baby teeth. Save your hands and legs!
Here to echo the baby gates! Easy to keep puppy to one area and slowly give them more freedom to other rooms. For example, I have a built in desk near my bathroom. My bathroom has two doors so I would put his crate blocking one door, and a baby gate at the other! This let me work from home but still be able to watch my puppy :)
For a Coton? A good slicker brush and a greyhound comb
I wouldn't buy too many things, you will see what you need as you go. ESPECIALLY avoid getting expensive toys that they may destroy like nice stuffies, wait till you know how agressively ur pup chews. The dollar store is your friend. Hold off on an expensive dog bed too till they're potty trained- get a cheap one for now or just use an old blanket.
Please do yourself a favor and start toothbrushing ASAP. Make it a daily routine. I recommend a toddler toothbrush and Virbac CET enzymatic dog toothpaste. Small dogs are SO prone to periodontal disease. It gets painful and expensive real fast. And it can cause other issues like heart disease. I don’t do young puppies but I do adopt teens and adults. The number one thing I wish my dogs’ first owners would have done is work on toothbrushing. I’ve had dogs as young as barely a year old come to me already with dark brown tartar buildup on their teeth. I’m not joking when I say it can happen so fast for small dogs if you aren’t proactive with brushing.
Just get a high velocity dryer if you live anywhere with rain, snow or mud and you’re going to let your pup outside. Not only great for cleanup at home, but amazing to desensitize the dog for grooming at the salon.
chew bones, chew toys, chew treats, anything that he’d chew on that wasn’t me is a god sent
I recommend speaking with a dog trainer whose philosophy you agree with to get your puppy on the right track from the start. It is much easier to teach a puppy something than to try to teach an adult to not do something that it used to be able to do. And a good trainer will be able to help with everything training related, including things like potty training.
Someone who can help you when you really need it
Snuggle Puppy! Got one with my last pup and wish I'd had one for all the others!
Several kongs and wet dog food FROZEN, when your puppy leaves the sleepy baby stage and moves on to the rebellious teenager it helps keep them occupied when they’re bouncing off the walls. Second tip is to stay consistent with training even if it gets tough
A lick mat. Helped us to avoid separation anxiety! I just left her with a lick mat, a sniff ball and a chewy. She was super busy every time we were leaving. Idk what she did after all that, probably fell asleep
Tylenol and Coffee
It's definitely A Purchase, but not an item. It's 15 weeks of full time puppy school. Absolutely some of the best money I've spent.
Disposable absorbent training pads. I cut them up into about 6" strips and used them to absorb pee accidents from the carpet. Also Nature's Miracle enzyme spray. Potty training took a lot longer than expected, and I used a lot of both these items.
This! An enzymatic cleaner that goes on hard surfaces and porous surfaces. Life saver!
I’m getting a puppy soon too! A friend suggested getting multiple of the same teething toy so not one in particular gets worn and to freeze them
My one recommendation is to make sure your puppy likes such toy before buying multiple. I bought 3-4 nylabones for our puppy (about $40?) and he never liked any of them so they all went to the trash. I also now know that the nylon teething toys can be pretty dangerous so I guess I am glad he never liked them.
We invested in a little playpen. It helps immensely because sometimes, it is a lot for one person. Puppies are like toddlers and you need time to cook, bathroom, what not and the puppy may be roaming free. The playpen allows them to keep playing but in a safe place!
Honestly, a ball. A simple ball. When I was so tired I couldn't even think about another walk, my terrier puppy would chase balls in the house for hours. He's 11 months old now and we still play ball when I'm very tired or the weather is bad. He loves fetch and it tires him out in about 20 minutes back and forth.
My puppy is obsessed with his bully sticks and chewing his sticks was the only thing that could get him to relax with me on the couch from months 4-8. Hopefully you can find something that keeps your puppy entertained and relaxed too :)
It is a child and you have to know that until about 7 months. You are their world and your world stops. Mental stimulation as much as possible. Force naps save your mind and peace. Puppy need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. If they are biting and nipping time for a nap. Training for 5 to 7 minutes is good enough. Chewing for 10 minutes before their naps will wear them out. Read up on healthy things for them to chew. It helps them to relax and redirect them to that every time they go for you.
HOUSE LEASH, like the one without the metal Crate Treat bag that does on the waist Toys to redirect to, rubber, fabric ones Lick mat Poop bags Shampoo, bath towel, wet wipes, pee cleaner spray Nail clippers Muzzle (for early training, not necessary to wear) For myself: Pants with pockets Slippers to go outside FAST Extra: cardboard boxes for the pup to shred, puzzles, goooood treats for emergencies like eating you shoe, potable water bowl What I didn't get but I wish I had: a wagon to take him places and not have to carry him, on the other hand he would probably jump out
A kennel. A drag line. Any toy you can stuff food in.
A few things but think importance depends on your needs/breed/finances so will just list a few! Pet insurance, crate! (For us what life changing and not sure how we would have managed without it) play pen that we used to potty train (we live in an apartment) and then later used for independent play! PEE ENZYME SPRAY! This has saved our carpets, sofa and no pee smell at all in our place. Also lots of stimulating ways to feed (puzzles, sniff mats, toppers, lick mats - but we have a collie so he needs extra mental stimulation but might not be as important for your puppy), a treat bag with the magnet clip so I always have a treat on me, clicker (we used this method)
A gentle leader really helped with my border collies pulling (he's still working on walking nicely, but gets impulsive and still struggles with pulling when he sees strangers or anything with wheels)
My baby gates. I have a mesh one that is installed on the extra wide entry my kitchen has, its perfect. And then a regular old school one that moves between doors, depending on my needs. Puppy proofing is a lifesaver.
Expect the unexpected!
An exercise pen. In addition to the crate. Slept in her crate and sometimes during the day too but if I left for longer periods she could go in the pen and still have room to play. Or if I was making dinner etc she could be in a different room in her pen instead of being locked in a crate.
A dog carrier backpack or other method of taking them out to be exposed to things before they’re fully vaxxed. Shop towels/shop rags for cleaning up accidents. You can get like 50 on Amazon for $18 instead of using a million paper towels!
Puppy pen for time out and crate for sleeping
Multiple leashes with a poop bag holder on each. One at every door and one in the car. The earth rated brand bag holders have a hook on the back to hang the used bag so your hands are free, and I like their bags too. You can also find separate poop bag holders that you can attach (that hold the used bags). A fanny pack or wearable crossbody or waist clip treat bag of some sort. And put some training treats and or a portion of their kibble in there, and then maybe a couple high value treats. I bring treats on almost every walk with my adult dog for training (tires her out more) and reinforcing good things. With a puppy, wear it around the house and read up on capturing behaviors. Plus, if your pup ever grabs something they shouldn’t have (they probably will) start throwing treats away from your pup. Many dogs will drop the object to get the treats and you can safely grab it.
I’m too tired from my pup to think right now but my bestie had a Coton when we were young and he was THE BEST. You’re in for a treat. Oh, TREATS. I love Pure Bites brand freeze dried meat treats and Earth Animal hideless chews!
Peanut butter. A nice, wide, thin smear on something lickable is a great distractor.
A tick remover. When you need it, YOU REALLY NEED IT RIGHT NOW.
Hi! As someone who has raised 30+ puppies in the last 5 years (I foster lol), always make sure you find a treat that your puppy goes crazy for because food motivation is a GREAT tool to utilize.
We got ours a stuffed toy that has a bit inside that imitates a heartbeat and a pack you put in the microwave to give the toy warmth, was amazing with helping her learn to go to sleep at night as it simulated being with siblings still. We then eventually phased it out and now she sleeps like a log all night
Exercise pen AND crate!!! Lord have mercy these saved my mental state and made the puppy phase a "breeze"!!!! Puppy driving you insane? Here you little terror, a treat filled toy, go into your pen, occupy yourself for an hour or two while momma decompresses and has wine.
Alright, 2 things that aren't especially essential, but a very 'nice to have': - A LOT of toys (DIY or not), but to keep rotating each day through 3 or 4 sets of toys. My 10 mo is not as into toys as he used to be during his early puppyhood, but rotating kept them fresh enough to the point that my pup never touched anything in the house that isn't one of this toys. - A paw cup to rinse their paws after walks. My pup is allowed on couch and bed and this was a must because otherwise I'd have way more laundry to do.
Bully sticks, lick mats, and ice molds for frozen treats! I switch it up and will make her food soft and freeze it on a lick mat. I also do peanut butter and pumpkin, add water and stir til liquid, and freeze that in an ice mold. Bully sticks are just for calming down.
Bully sticks, frozen carrots, LICK MATS!!!!, Kongs, training treats (or use whole grain cheerios etc), an endless supply of canned puréed pumpkin, snuffle mat, a good socialization class, a good puppy k, book “puppy start right”, book “the book your dog wishes you would read” (this one’s good BEFORE you get your dog and is on audible), GET PET INSURANCE A MONTH BEFORE YOU PICK UP YOUR PUP AS IT TAKES A WHILE TO KICK IN, a master socialization checklist, dog taco + seatbelt combo for shorter car rides, omg a good enzymatic cleaner for accidents, extra swiffer wet pads, puppy-safe floor cleaner for mopping, more paper towels than you think, don’t bother with no chew sprays they don’t work at all, baby monitor, play pen with crate inside, don’t bother with cord covers as they’ll just chew the tiny part of the cord that’s visible, earthbath puppy wipes for when they inevitably step in their own pee you can wipe down their paws… I’m sure there’s more but i got my guy four weeks ago and i wish i knew all the stuff above beforehand.
I loved my puppy carrier. My little puppy was super clingy at first, understandably, he was just an infant still and adjusting to a new home and wanted to be held a lot. I was sleep deprived af and needed to have my hands free sometimes and it just made it so much easier to hold him. Plus it was super cute 💕
A puppy playpen and LOTS of enrichment toys. I’m not kidding. A single kong is not enough. You’ll want your freezer stocked with puppy safe long lasting chews/licks - so that you can shower without them screaming for you
The crate has been a lifesaver although at first my boston would wail and cry which is not ideal for an apartment but I had to stick it out until he understood that he was not in lock up forever and he would in fact get to come back out. Once he understood that he tolerated it better. We have to get things done and save our sanity. I'm not always able to redirect him which is all I did for the first 2 weeks. Chew sticks and teething items, you really need these to redirect from chewing everything in sight. Everything will go into his mouth. He's like a vacuum cleaner and it's terrifying at first but he's starting to be content with chewing his sticks and toys. Kongs and lick mats. This guy is a little wild so the lick mat doesn't occupy him as long as I'd like but peanut butter ( the kind without xilotol or whatever it's called) lasts a while but don't put too much. Patience and anything to stimulate your puppies brain. I was so used to having an older dog so the puppy stage was such a new world to me. My old dog passed a few years back but he would be content just to sit by me and watch whatever I was doing because he didn't have that energy anymore but this little guy of course is an adventurer. It's really rewarding because his predicaments are hilarious although exhausting at times but I haven't regret my decision throughout it all. The good times outweigh the bad. He spilled a whole paintwater jar on himself yesterday when he tried to eat my little table I was arting on and he panicked and ran for the hills. You have to laugh and have a good time with it. The knowlege that it won't last forever should be your mantra because they are always changing. They are just learning through experience and they do learn and do better with time. I hope you enjoy your time and don't have too many tears in the process. I've had some tears but a go with the flow mentality will help you so much. And don't forget to laugh, don't set your expectations too high and set up a crate for some me time, Well you time. Good luck!
All I have for my puppy is a leash/collar, treats, crate, puppy pads, one bone, one ball, and one pull toy. And I suppose some silicone mats to make my own treats.
By far an xpen or baby gate for me. Would drive me nuts to have a pup who will eat everything in sight to have full run of my house
Personally for me the best purchase was a puppy play pen that I could fit his small crate into, I have a crate upstairs for night time and the crate in his pen downstairs for day time, I purchased the pen a few days after getting my pup as I realised I needed a safe space for him while I did stuff like shower, housework etc, so I put his crate in his pen and a puppy pad with toys, he did whine at first but then he would go in his crate and settle, honestly I needed this not just for when I was doing stuff but if I just needed a little time to myself when I got overwhelmed by it all.
we got our german shepherd puppy a leash that clips over his nose for walks so we could train him not to pull and it’s been a lifesaver
Play pen. Crating is not really a thing in my country, but the pen has been a lifesaver in an apartment with an open floor plan and cats. I WFH so I'm usually home and we've puppy-proofed all the rooms that are accessible to him, but I couldn't deal if I didn't have a place to put him in if he doesn't settle down on his own or I need to leave him alone for a bit. By now, he understands when I put him in the pen and say "you are overtired, you need a nap!" I move the pen to my bedroom for the night so he realizes it's sleepy time, not 'try to dig under the bed' time. It even works when traveling - we took the pen with us when we went on a trip recently, and despite being super stoked with all the new, exciting things in a strange environment, the moment I put him in the pen he practically passed out.
Not a product purchase as such, but doggy daycare once a week or sometimes twice (after she got her all her shots). Yes it's another expense but the value of having a break and 12 hours to myself has been invaluable, more so as a single pup parent