+10000 |
| OP update - pup is 8 months and a lot of things have gotten better. I added in three or four 15 minute sessions of catch to get some of the energy out. Still working on skill training but I do find that the least interesting. Generally giving more attention. We also have a better gating system to keep him out of the kids play area. Still we have some bad behaviors we are working on- paws in counter or table, only when I am turned away, generally milling about the house for anything to chew that is not one of his toys. The biggest change is how much more affectionate he is with everyone in the family. We will try daycare next month to help with the transition to to work (fall?). I will only need 2-3 days of daycare per week then anyway. |
| We also got a young puppy recently. I am very afraid of almost all mammals, birds, bugs, even fish, since I was a child. I like a clean house with no mess or odor. I enjoy a pet-free life. Nobody knows me would believe I would ever get a pet. However, COVID changed everything. I now end up having a puppy, giving so much attention and time to its diet, sleep schedule, potty training, behavioral training, buying all kinds of toys, treats, supplies, fences, cleaning all the stuff it touched, the list goes on. It’s a new and overwhelming journey for me. I do this not out of love to the puppy (I am afraid to touch it or look into its eyes) but mainly for the emotional benefits to my kids, who are severely stressed by the quarantine, and for the responsibility to taking care of the puppy as for any job I would take. Hopefully one day I will conquer my fear, develop a bond with the dog and get something positive out of this experience. |
this is a whole new level of nuts for the pet forum |
I here you sister! I’m the clean house freak with no odors. Especially dog odors yuck. I have 3 cats but they are self cleaning and have zero odor. We got a puppy and it’s been a nightmare with the shedding and s****** and peeing all over the place . Our bedroom smells like Fritos now and I’m constantly mopping and washing her bedding . I can’t seem to bond with something that is causing me so much stress either. I can’t believe we didn’t adopt an adult trained dog so I wouldn’t have to go thru all this. Well the shedding still . I’m afraid all this resentment towards this animal will keep me from ever bonding with her. |
Uh no you’re probably one of those nut jobs that stroll your dog around in a stroller and feed it from the table with your own fork! |
Thank you for your kindness. Many years later i learned I might have something called zoophobia. It’s not fun, but I am coping with it. Best of luck to us all. |
Well I love my cats because they don’t cause me stress. They don’t stink . They use their toilet instead of my rugs . My cats particular breed has minimum shedding also. They don’t jump up and grab my steak from the table either!
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Not to get off topic but if your children are “severely stressed out” and why have they been in “quarantine” this long? It’s generally safe for them to do outdoor activities. This info added with your fear of animals makes me think you have anxiety or other mental illness beyond Covid. |
+1. And avoiding eye contact with a puppy has got to be a sign of some diagnosable mental illness. Setting aside the sad and pathetic life of this living and sensitive creature that is thrust into this situation. |
Sorry for the confusion. I meant they were stressed by the pandemic. They have outdoor activities like everyone, but lack of group activities for months made them feel depressed. The dog bring their smiles back! Thank you for your asking. |
| We have a year-old cavapoo (poodle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) who is the sweetest dog and super smart. We got her at three months old. It was definitely a little harder during her puppy stage but we discovered that she loves tricks and games. She learns easily. We walk her and play fetch. In the evening she enjoys lounging on our laps and is pretty chill. The only issue we face is she has guard dog tendencies and will bark when the doorbell rings but she's not at all aggressive and she muffles the bark if we tell her a firm "No." |