I’ve read through so many posts in this Reddit to help me understand what it takes and what possibilities lie ahead when it comes to having a puppy. I got my first ever puppy April 17th (so a little less than 2 weeks ago), he’s an Aussie x Lab mix that we rescued from a shelter (may have some other breeds in him but he looks full blown Aussie). I was prepared for the worst, prepared to deal with being up all night, to hearing him cry 24/7, to having to clean up so many accidents. But that was not the case with my pup. I feel so beyond lucky and I just wanted to come here and say that it’s not always the case that puppies will be extremely difficult. We got him at 10/11 weeks old and of course he has some puppy behaviors such as being a shark, or not fully listening but by golly has he been amazing otherwise. Not a single accident, sleeps in his crate without tantrum overnight and during day time naps, doesn’t cry when we leave the house at all for a couple hours (we have a camera with audio on him), and has picked up training extremely quickly.
His schedule in case anyone is interested:
This is just a rough schedule sometimes it fluctuates especially if we end up going out to dinner or going out with friends. I know this may look like a crazy schedule but I am lucky my partner and I work opposite shifts!
– 5:00-5:30am wake up / go outside to potty (he only goes in our backyard since we are still waiting on a couple shots)
– 5:30-6:30am breakfast and free time in his playpen (where he can choose to play or nap)
– 6:40am potty before I go to work
– 6:50-8:30am back in crate for a nap
– 8:45am potty and play with dad
– 8:50-10:00am free time in playpen or nap
– 10:30-11:00am potty and play outside with me on my lunch break
– 11:00am-12:00pm nap
-12:00pm potty then lunch
-12:40-1:30pm nap + another potty
– 2:00pm last potty opportunity before dad goes to work
-2:00pm-3:30pm crate nap until I get home
– 3:30-4:00pm potty, 15 minutes of training, outside playtime
– 4:00-5:00pm nap
– 5:00pm dinner + nap/free time
– 5:40pm potty and a little training
– 6:00 – 6:40/7:00pm nap
– 7:00pm potty and play time
– 7:30-8:00pm supervised free time around the house
– 8:00-9:50pm crate nap
– 10:00-10:30pm last potty and play
– 10:30pm bedtime!
I know alot of people have a difficult time with puppies and I am aware that my life with probably become way harder once he becomes a teenager but this is what works for us right now! I just wanted to post to give some people some hope that’s it not always puppy blues that people feel. Our puppy has a lot of energy and we are lucky to be able to help him get it out by playing in our yard or through working on training.
submitted by /u/Any-Spinach2040
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