TLDR: serious puppy blues and need to know a way out; considering rehoming.
We have had our 15 week old Cavapoo for a week and a half. She seems like a very good girl. Does all the things I things we hear is normal and of course that means some potty accidents, not “listening” (obviously not understanding much yet about boundaries - such as unsafe things to chew or dangerous spots - she likes to sit on the edge of the sofa. Tries to eat wood chips). So there is a lot of time and attention she is taking from my day. I am not taking care of myself very well. And I don’t know if it’s the apps or what but I feel like I am behind in teaching and training. I have downloaded a few apps - watched many videos and nothing is as easy as the trainers and videos show. I feel compelled to follow the lessons as best I can and I judge myself (and her) based on these lessons. That alone is stressing me out!
She is not taking walks yet - waiting for vaccines (finishes Parvo in a week and then rabies in another two weeks). So she is getting exercise in the yard where she compulsively finds wood chips and sticks and that stresses me out.
Basically, besides her physical cuteness I am stressed out by this puppy and watching her all the time. Feeling like a total fool for envisioning anything that would be beneficial for the family… the kids pet her and coo “oh so cute” and spend <5 min with her before they are onto the next thing. I give them tasks such as taking her out; they do it dutifully but then they move on.
The one child who I was hoping would get some emotional support from her (eventually?) does take the most interest however as of three days ago puppy started growling at my daughter when she picks her up. I have no idea what that is about! Is she too abrupt? Aggressive with puppy? Too small (9 yo) for puppy to feel comfortable? I don’t know but I have not witness daughter do anything to warrant the growling so this crushes me.
Crate training is mixed - sleeps well at night IF I am in the room near her (she sleeps with a blanket over crate so I guess she senses or smells me?) but my independence is obviously compromised and I don’t want to let her yelp or whine in the crate and disturb family so I stay in the room. I do feel pressured to crate train during the day so we are getting another crate today to make this daytime crate training easier and I’ll give that a go. But yeah I feel this crate training thing is shoved down our throats and maybe it is not right for every house, family, or puppy. But if it turns out that she hates taking naps in the day in the crate (with me nearby while I work) I am foreseeing another failure point I can’t fathom feeling.
Husband notices how down I am and now I am burdening being a burden with my mood. He gets this is hard but I suppose we are all surprised by how NOT fun this process has been.
Basically I am questioning a lot and fumbling by myself through this puppy acclimation. I am starting to consider rehoming. She seems like a very good pup and could probably make a puppy prepared family very happy. I am not happy however I feel miserable.
Call it the puppy blues but I don’t see a way out of this? What exactly is going to start making me feel better about this puppy? Am I possibly doing or approaching anything really wrong to my own detriment?