I feel horrible...

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by jeanm1963

I never wanted to give Laci back , however I was overwhelmed and scared, expecially reading on here all the things that could and have gone wrong with peoples puppies, I was really scared and I started to focus on those things instead of my healthy precious puppy... I started thinking omg , what if she has liver shunt , she had kennel cough and I kept thinking OMG its collapsed trachea, I was really scared, then I snapped out of it, its no different when you bring home your first skin kid, your up all night, you have no social life, you change diapers and your overwhelmed, but once you get into a routine, your fine.... I just thought of all the fun , how much I loved her, how cute she was , and how we could have years and years together and to enjoy each day as it came... well here we are a year later and she is the light of our lives... But , if you dont change your mind and you feel overwhelmed , please give it back to the breeder.. puppies really are alot of work and if you dont feel like you have it in you then take him back to the breeder

great post. The first few nights can be overwhelming for some. I was in love from day one but I know not everyone is like that. They're alot of responsibility and work....All puppies are.

If you find yourself not bonding then def return him or find him a home before he settles in

[JeanieK]

I hope you come to love him and it all works out, but if you are not absolutely in love with him and want to be holding him all the time, then I think it best that you give him back so as not to disrupt his life once he gets attached to you.

I don't have one that I was not totally in love with from day one.

Another thought is maybe you would prefer an adult dog, some people do not want to go through the puppy phase.

[cthalhofer]

I think most of us have had some of the same feelings I mean my Kingston made me a nervous wrek trying to keep him happy and healthy and I thought maybe he's just too small what if he gets hurt ect. But time has passed and be has gained a pound and I really coulnt live life without my little man he has brought great joy to me during some real hard times in my life we grow learn and love togeather

[_Chrissy_]

Originally Posted by red98vett

great post. The first few nights can be overwhelming for some. I was in love from day one but I know not everyone is like that. They're alot of responsibility and work....All puppies are.

If you find yourself not bonding then def return him or find him a home before he settles in

I agree. This is how I felt with Max. Overwhelmed!
Mickey was much easier.
Guess it is like having children.
First baby everything must be perfect. With each child you get more relaxed.
Try no to put to much pressure on yourself.

[bjh]

I commend you for being honest and admitting you may have made a mistake. Some people, if they have never owned a pet, don't realized the responsibilities and life style changes that go with it. Please don't beat yourself up over this, just think long and hard about the commitment you have made and if you feel you cannot live up to it then just do what is right for your puppy.

[vwill]

Originally Posted by _Chrissy_

I agree. This is how I felt with Max. Overwhelmed!
Mickey was much easier.
Guess it is like having children.
First baby everything must be perfect. With each child you get more relaxed.
Try no to put to much pressure on yourself.

This is exactly how I felt when I got Oliver too. I looked forward to having him home for WEEKS and was so anxious and excited!!! When we went to pick him up from the breeder and she put him in my hands to take him home, I really started to panic. Even at 12 weeks, he was sooooo tiny! It was really scary! I think it can be overwhelming at first, but that feeling will soon subside and all the fun, anxious, excitment will come back. I hope everything goes well and wish you all the best!!

[RoxyLuv]

SpicyyLovee, you sound like you have 'new mommy blues'. I remember feeling exactly like that my first day alone with our first son (skinkid). I didn't want to give him back, but as I was undressing him for his bath, a sudden wave fell over me that just about did me in. All the 'what ifs' flashed through my mind just like you & I'd had lots of experience raising my 4 younger sisters all spread out in age. Roxy being my first toy dog, I was even more nervous & having many moments of being nauseous like morning sickness through out each day before getting her. Once I got her I was still nervous inspite of a lot of animal experience over the years. I loved her right away, but the nervousness gradually went away as time passed & we had a chance to get to know each other. I wouldn't trade her for the world. She's the most precious dog we've ever had.

Puppy's are a big responsibility. Maybe all you need is some time with him to let the nervousness subside since you felt you were really ready. Get him on a good diet, provide variety of chewing toys, start your training. Remember they need rules, boundries & limitations to become well adjusted adults. Keep reading & asking questions. The more you know the more tools you will have to work with as situations change. If you give him back right away, you'll never know if you made the right decision. BTW, our 2 sons grew up really fine & so is Roxy.

Try to give yourself time to adjust & enjoy him. Do whatever it is you do to relax yourself. If you are full of anxiety, it will rub off on your new little furbaby, & that's not what you want to do. I'm sorry you are going through this, but it can be a really normal thing. Lots of good thoughts coming your way!

[cawsumb]

Hang in there! When I first rehomed Kona last August I really had a hard time for about a week. I kept telling my husband thatI didn't think I could do it. She was the sweetest little thing but I cried more than I didn't cry. I was seriously considering putting an ad in the paper for her. I stuck with it and now there is no way I would give her up! I hope things work out for you the way they did for me.

[LilMissy]

Originally Posted by bjh

I commend you for being honest and admitting you may have made a mistake. Some people, if they have never owned a pet, don't realized the responsibilities and life style changes that go with it. Please don't beat yourself up over this, just think long and hard about the commitment you have made and if you feel you cannot live up to it then just do what is right for your puppy.

↑

Just give it a few days, you will know in your heart whether this is "the one" for you or not. I have fallen in love with every one of my pets since the moment that I saw them, all except ONE. He was a Golden Retriever and just didn't mesh with our family at all. He annoyed me actually, and I returned him to the breeder after keeping him for 2 weeks. You have to be fair to both yourself and the puppy.

Don't beat yourself up over it. You can't help the way you feel.

[Miss Behavin]

When I first brought Pippi home, I was staying w/my parents for a period of ~ 1 months time, while my condo in Bal Harbour was being re-modeled. I had already 1 dog, Casey, who was ~ 13 y/o. Pippi was liberated (as I call it, so as not to feel so guilty for 'supporting' a puppy mill) from a pet store near their home. She was 3-4 months old and ageing out at the place. My mother was furious. I mean, flipped out beyond all reason. It was like she was having a nervous breakdown. One morning, I was trying to crate-train Pips, my mum got up b/f I did. She took Pip out of her bed and the poor, sweet girl was covered in her own filth . She knew nothing different other to just eliminate wherever she happened to be.
Fast-forward 1-2 months: my mum simply adores her. She is so-oo happy when we come visit & terribly sad when we go (back home). I am w/my parents this weekend and last night, my mum was holding Pip on her back, putting a clean sweater on her. My dad has always adored her.

In some ways, though, it's a catch-22. Your pup must live w/you, and you alone. And, if a few more days pass and you're still feeling lukewarm, maybe it would be best to surrender him back to the breeder. It's hard, b/c you don't know how you will feel down the line... if you'll feel guilt or regret, etc..
If it were me, I'd wait a day or two, see how you feel (don't wait too long, for his sake ). Maybe he isn't the right match? And, the next puppy you get, be sure you're able to spend time w/. En vivo, so you know for certain.

Best wishes. I do not envy your situation, but you'll know what decision is right for you

[calligirl]

I was overwhelmed and second guessing myself when I first brought Calli home at 8 weeks old. It didn't last long. Once we had a routine it was great. Hang in there. Can anyone help out with the care of your puppy? Give it a little time and then decide. Good luck!!

[Lorrainelola]

It is still early days and you need to bond with your little one. I wouldn't worry about training for the moment. Just enjoy your time with him and give him lots of cuddles. They are a responsibility and I don't doubt that you hadn't thought about it beforehand.
I don't expect you to answer this, especially not on a public forum but ask yourself, is everything else in your life ok at the moment. Sometimes if something is troubling us then we can't always be excited about things.

It is tiring looking after a puppy, getting up and down every 5 mins to see if they need to do a pee.

If I were you I would snuggle up with your little boy and just get to know him just like he has to get to know you. I applaud your honesty about how you feel. f you give it time I am sure it will get better but if you really don't feel you love him them I suppose its only fair on him that you find him another home, perhaps the breeder will take him back.

I really feel for you and hope that when he shows you his love for you then you will see how rewarding they are.

[voodoochyl]

Do you not like him? If you don't like him, you should give him back. Thing is, he will start to grow on you. My wife and I had the ideal situation, though, so it was easier. She worked nights and I worked days (that is how our schedule always was/is) so there was someone home for the puppy 24 hours a day, practically. If I or she had to do it all alone, it would have been stressful. Potty training took a bit, and was a little frustrating. Hang in there. At some point you will not be able to imagine your life without him. Good luck.

[smallmans]

I totally feel your confusion and upset. We rehomed Bella and she was still a young puppy. I was totally overwhelmed with the care, potty training, etc. But as she grew bigger and stronger and seemed less fragile and started being sucessful with all areas of her puppiness, I found myself falling in love with her. Now, I couldn't imagine my life without her. She is a true blessings in our lives. She is my VERY FIRST dog so I had no idea what to expect. It is overwhelming, just as much responsibility as a child. But it you can hang in there for awhile you may find you are A-okay. We are now and can't imagine our home without Bella. We have become "dog people" much to our surprise!
Keep posting and we'll get you through this.

[gfoster]

I completely agree, puppies are a LOT of work. I have always had bigger dogs, so at 8 weeks our previous puppies were already Dukes size full grown...LOL

I started outside potty training right away so I was taking Duke to work with me daily to make sure he went outside every 1/2 hour.

It was very overwhelming at first, I was was afraid to go anywhere and leave him alone to long so it seemed like I was stuck at home. I was questioning my decision daily.

I got easier as the days went by, and now at 7 months its not bad at all. I love him to death and couldn't imagine life without him.

Give it some time. However, puppies aren't for everyone.

Good luck,
Gina