[Cheri]

I have had my baby, Maggie, for 2 weeks. She is 10 weeks old. I have had many dogs (larger breed dogs) in my 49 years but never can I remember feeling so much frustration with a new puppy. But, in the past when I got puppies I did not have to work and was home with them. You may all think I am a terrible mommy but I have thoughts that maybe I made a huge mistake for several reasons. I work all day and when I get home some days I am very tired. I go home to poop all over the laundry room floor (no, it is not diarrhea, she just poops a lot), and now the kitchen floor because I felt the laundry room was too confining and made her a larger area. When I ran home at lunch today she had already pooped several times on the kitchen floor (not the laundry room where the newspaper is). She has been on antibiotic for several days for Coccadia and seems to be feeling better. I feel so guilty leaving her for hours during the day and wonder if she needs to be in a home with someone who can spend more time with her. I got her from a girl at work 2 weeks ago because her little boy did not seem to understand he should be gentle with her. I am divorced and thought it would be great to have a baby to keep me company at night and weekends. I guess I just need someone to tell me if this breed needs to be with their owner for longer periods than my schedule allows me. I don't feel like I will ever accomplish potty training her. I work with her when at home but just doesn't seem to get it. I know she is very young. Are my expectations too high for this age? I feel like I am having post partum depression or something.