New dog

So we got a new dog last night from a dog rescue - he's a Treeing Walker Coonhound. He's really fantastic and soooo awesome with my almost 2 year old. But...I guess I was not prepared for a new dog - we had our last dog for 7 1/2 years - so it's been a very long time since we had a puppy. I'm so overwhelmed. He's 8 months old - so he's not quite as needy as a smaller puppy would be - but he's not housetrained - I'm having trouble with that. He's peed in the house 3 times and started to poop another - but I rushed him outside as soon as the first poop hit the floor! He slept in 2 hour increments last night and I was up each time he was up because I wanted to make sure he wasn't going to the bathroom. So perhaps it's my lack of sleep - but I was crying on and off today - I was second guessing the decision we made to take this dog in. We're in a 2 week trial until he's officially ours...so if it doesn't work out he can go back. But I can't imagine giving him back so he'll just be sitting in a kennel until someone else adopts him. I don't know what I'm looking for here - maybe just some hugs.

Re: New dog

aw first off thats such a great thing to do!!! we are looking to adopt a dog soon also!!! It will get easier! Puppies are definately hard at first, but you just have to keep on top of them..thats all. It took forever to train our dog..in some ways she's still not totally trained, but it takes a while. Keep your head up!

Re: New dog

You have to crate train.. I sware by it.. I got Lola at 5mos old and she has had one accident in my house and it was MY fault.. I am telling you this is the answer..

Re: New dog

Try to relax, it feels so overwhelming when you get a new dog, I am the biggest dog lover in the world and when we got our dog as a puppy, even though she was really well behaved, I just got this feeling like "what did we do". But that feeling passed after a couple of weeks and I can't imagine my life without her! After the dog is housebroken and acclimated to your home it will become SO much easier and it's so rewarding!! Hang in there and think of what a wonderful thing you're doing for this dog And congrats!!

** Also - I crate trained my dog and it's the best thing in the world. They enjoy the security of it and won't mess where they sleep if they're in an enclosed area. Try that!

ETA Hugs!!

Message edited 5/6/2009 1:10:38 AM.

Re: New dog

Re: New dog

Get a crate! Also at that age dogs are more like teenagers! Katie was very naughty at 8 months. She wasn't housebroken until she was one year. Hang in there!

Re: New dog

Totally normal! I rescued my dog at 3 and while he was housebroken, he was also sick so there were SO many times when he did something (and still does!) that we said the same thing.

I have to agree about crate training. We still crate him after having him a year and it just makes a difference. He runs into his crate in the morning to get a few extra hours of sleep ... so I know its the right thing for him too!