Anonymous wrote:The puppy blues are real. Caring for and training a puppy is exhausting.

I love my dog more than anything in the world but my husband, and she has literally saved me. But ... when she was a puppy, training and taking care of her had me so dead tired that one day I had just had it and I announced to my DH that I was getting a room at the Ritz for two nights and he was on his own with the puppy. I needed a break.

The puppy blues are real. Caring for and training a puppy is exhausting.

I love my dog more than anything in the world but my husband, and she has literally saved me. But ... when she was a puppy, training and taking care of her had me so dead tired that one day I had just had it and I announced to my DH that I was getting a room at the Ritz for two nights and he was on his own with the puppy. I needed a break.

I sort of wish I'd known my goldendoodle would go from loving every new dog he met to snarling at them when he turned 5. It was an unwelcome surprise and very difficult.

How destructive he would be. He chewed off a chunk of our front door, gnawed on my favorite console table and has ruined several rugs to the point that we’ve just rolled them all up and are put them away. He’s almost two and is only now slowing down with his chewing.

We have another dog who is the same breed and from the same breeder- he never destroyed a thing.

Puppies are babies and you have to get up to let them potty at night.

How freaking tired I would be with taking him out every two hours. I learned pretty quickly to just sleep in my sweatpants. I was surprised at how sharp those baby teeth are. No one is joking when they call them shark teeth.

They are so incredibly adorable as puppies that I have to confess we gave him more freedom than we should have and had to walk it way back or we were going to have a problem on our hands.

Take training seriously. Really seriously.

At 9 months our puppy only uses his crate for sleeping and when we're both out of the house, but the crate has been a lifesaver.

Anonymous wrote:Doodles are nightmares.

Loved mine so much I got two more.

You will blink and the puppy phase will be over. Take lots of photos and enjoy it even though it’s hard work. Your dog will never be that small again. And the puppy smell is wonderful!

1 month of age = 1 hour of holding their bladder

When you bring home an 8-10 week old puppy they cannot be crated over 2 hours during the day without a potty break. If you are working out of the home you need someone to come by every few hours for months.

Anonymous wrote:How mouthy they are as puppies.

My husband was freaking out about how nippy one of ours was, convinced he was vicious, but he was teething (we found baby teeth all over the house). You still need to redirect, but they outgrow it.

+1000 and this phase can last from 6 months old - 2 years old. My husband - not a dog person- had a similar reaction.


Exercise every single morning, rain or shine. Not just a walk around the block. They need to burn off energy. My doodles are now 8 and 9, and still if they have not had their morning exercise they behave badly - bark, chew etc. but a good 2 mile walk + some playtime in the yard and they are happy, well behaved pups.

Doodles are nightmares.

Anonymous wrote:How mouthy they are as puppies.

My husband was freaking out about how nippy one of ours was, convinced he was vicious, but he was teething (we found baby teeth all over the house). You still need to redirect, but they outgrow it.

This. Omg it was awful. Their teeth are so sharp. On that note, OP, provide them lots of safe stuff to chew and don’t leave them unattended with anything you don’t want them to chew (this includes walls and furniture).

Mental stimulation is as important to them as physical stimulation. Puzzle feeders are fantastic for this.

How mouthy they are as puppies.

My husband was freaking out about how nippy one of ours was, convinced he was vicious, but he was teething (we found baby teeth all over the house). You still need to redirect, but they outgrow it.

I knew this going into it but I’m amazed a lot of people don’t.
A dog is for life, it will bond with you. Plan on this dog for 12-15 years.
Dogs need exercise, your dog will need a lot, not just on nice days, on Rainey days, cold day and hot days.
Vet bills can be expensive. However you don’t need to do every shot the recommend. My current dog doesn’t have the flu vaccine, bordatella,or the Lyme vaccine.
Dogs do not want to be in crates 8-12 hours a day. Yes they like a safe space. As do humans. We like our beds but doesn’t mean we want to be in it all night and all day.
Socializing matters. Dogs and people.
Good luck and enjoy your dog.

We’re getting a Bernedoodle for Christmas. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a puppy, and we’ve never had one with kids in the house. Kids are 7 and 11.

Anyone survived puppyhood recently? What do you wish you knew?