Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: New Puppy - help!
Hi - I am getting my first puppy on friday and I am feeling quite nervous about it. We are getting a dog because my partner grew up with dogs and has wanted us to get one ever since we got our house. I have never had a dog before and I am really worried we wont bond, especially as it will be my partner at home with him the most.
Can anyone give me any tips or advice to help me bond with my new pup, Smudger? I wont to feel that he is part of my life as well, not just my partners dog!
We've had Morris just 3 weeks now, I think their love is just unconditional and as long as you love him, he will love you back no probs.
Our Morris responds to both myself and OH, and I've also got 3 boys, so in a house full of males, Morris is always looking for me and I'm sure I get more loves than anyone! (perhaps because I always feed him!)
Hi Kim, how exciting for you both, i really would not worry about bonding with your new puppy, as im sure you will find him irresistable and you will bond automatically with him. Be sure to let us see some pics of him. Best of luck although im sure you wont need it.
Awww I was really nervous too and when the breeder put Ruby in my arms and we got in the car - I remember thinking 'omg I dont know how to do this' but by the time we had driven the hour home I was fine. Have you been to see the pup at all while waiting to bring him/her home? Why do you think there will be a problem bonding?
I have been to see Smudger and ejoyed giving him cuddles. The reason I feel I wont bond is because when I have been around dogs I havn't really been excited by them and been wanting to be around them all the time like my OH.
Having said that, I have never known a dog from puppy, so I'm sure it will be different with my own. - I will definately be getting the camera out when he gets home, so will post a pic soon xx
Hi, we have only just picked up our puppy and he is spending more time with OH than me as well - we are getting into quite a nice routine for during the week - I get up with him in the morning, go into the garden for toilet, we have a play and then I feed him, when I go to work he spends the day with OH and when I get home I make the biggest fuss and we play and again I feed him - he is settling really well and it works for us - hope that helps, but as everyone has said I'm sure you will be fine!
Once you have that pup in your arms you'll be smitten!!! Don't worry just enjoy Labs love everyone and i mean everyone Enjoy and don't forget to post pics and updates
As everyone has said before. All you need to do is get involved with him during the early days and I don't think you will have a problem. Good luck with Smudger (great name) and I look forward to seeing lots of photographs of him.
ps. Beware the puppy teeth. They're like needles so be prepared for that.
We had a similar situation when we got Ozzie... I didn't think my hubby would bond well with him, and he had never had a dog before either, wheras I grew up with a whole pack of them.
I got hubby to do ALL the feeds whenever he was home at mealtimes, and I asked hubby to walk Ozzie as much as possible. Also, when we were both home together I would get all 3 of us to play on the floor with him, instead of just me playing.
Also, when we went to puppy school, I was able to make it every week but hubby could only go every second week... so the weeks that hubby could go, we went together. I found that he kept on asking me to handle Oz during training though, as he thought he "wasn't going to do it right"... so on the weeks that hubby could make it to class, I found reasons to be unable to go along myself, and made him take him solo.
I found that this especially helped them bond more, and now it is Charlie who does the majority of the walking and playing with Oz, and me who gets lumped with the not-so-fun things of vet trips and grooming and poo-picking But I don't mind, because every day Charlie calls me with stories of the adventures they got up to on their walks, and that makes me soooooo happy, because it took a lot of convincing for me to talk him into a dog and I honestly thought Oz would be "my" dog and he wouldn't show any interest... I am absolutely delighted to be proven wrong!!
You might like to try some of those tactics yourself, but even if you don't then I'm sure that you won't have any problems bonding with your gorgeous bundle of fur!!! We all get nerves before acquiring a new family member, and it sounds like you have a small attack of the pre-puppy-jitters
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
(perhaps because I always feed him!)
but by the time we had driven the hour home I was fine. Have you been to see the pup at all while waiting to bring him/her home? Why do you think there will be a problem bonding?
Labs love everyone and i mean everyone 
Enjoy and don't forget to post pics and updates 
But I don't mind, because every day Charlie calls me with stories of the adventures they got up to on their walks, and that makes me soooooo happy, because it took a lot of convincing for me to talk him into a dog and I honestly thought Oz would be "my" dog and he wouldn't show any interest... I am absolutely delighted to be proven wrong!!
