I really regret getting a dog. I’ve always wanted one since I was a kid and my parents never allowed me to have one. I was finally in a financially stable position to get one 6 months ago and I’ve regretted this decision ever since. I thought I was prepared for the level of responsibility and care a dog requires but I was clearly not ready. Before you all jump at me, no, I will not abandon it but I’m wondering if it gets better with time? Any similar experiences?

Have you done puppy training yet? I highly suggest you find local classes for you both and take for a few months. You'll enjoy it and it will pay dividends long-term for you and dog.

Also, look into Rover. It's like Airbnb for dogs so you can have pup stay with someone at their home vs a kennel.

It gets a lot easier to the point you can’t imagine NOT having them around. But yea the initial puppy year or two can be very challenging.

Also crate training.

Thank you all! These comments are honestly very helpful and encouraging. I’ll enroll into puppy training/socialization classes, hopefully that will help 🙏

I was in the same boat as you. Adopted a young puppy that I thought I was ready for and quickly learned I was not. It was a ton of responsibility, so much destruction, and much more money on vet bills than I expected. I literally cried from being overwhelmed some days and torn over the fact that I loved her so much but she was so much responsibility then I had ever thought. I stuck it out though and it got A LOT better. She outgrew the puppy stage, stopped destroying all my things, got potty trained and could stay at home alone longer, and became much more of a routine part of my day. Long way of saying I feel you, and it does get better ( at least it did for me).

Ah, I was you about 4-5 years ago. It sounds like your puppy is going through the teen stage. It was horrible and I know it’s bad to say but I did not like my dog very much. Now I love him and everything’s great. I think it’s hard to figure out all the pieces. But I would start with training and or a behaviorlist. Then I would try to find a reliable sitter. Both of those things take the edge off. Separation anxiety will get better but you have to leave the house. I had the same feeling like I couldn’t leave, but you have to leave. It’ll only get better once they realize you always come back. It’s overwhelming having a puppy but it does get better. You’re still adjustingz

In addition to training, you should start to take the pup to daycare. He’s getting separation anxiety because he expects you to always be around. Daycare will give him socialization and he’ll develop his confidence.

I will echo every other comment , good advice

Also I wasn’t allowed a dog growing up .
Financially a life (make sure to get pet insurance)
Yes they will ruin at least one nice thing or something you have

I’ll tell you what a year later I’m grateful to have him.

I cried a lot the first couple of weeks. And the first 8 months were challenging. I also don’t live near family so had nobody to help out. What I found that made it easier was: (1) finding more dog friendly activities and incorporating her in on my fun days out; (2) finding a walker to help me out during the week when I had long work days or wanted to go out after work; (3) finding a great dog sitter that I trusted so I could go still travel regularly; (4) find friends with dogs similar ages for park dates/hikes/walks; and (5) back to point 4, also to swap watching each others dogs to cut back on boarding costs. Yes, it’s a good amount of responsibility. But eventually, once they’re trained and don’t have SO much energy, it becomes great. My dog is the absolute best and I cannot imagine my life without her. I know you’ll make it there!

1. Yes, it gets better. I got a 10-week-old puppy during the pandemic and even with the flexibility of working from home and everything else, I was sleep deprived and stressed and taking her out every 30 minutes because she had stomach issues. It was so tough. She was also FULL of energy and very stubborn and mischievous. Around 1.5 years she really started to grow up. It happened gradually, but that’s the point when I really realized the change.

2. I had her in daycare a couple days a week, even though I WFH for the first year. It taught her how to socialize with other dogs and it helped get her energy out.

3. I took her to training classes and structured activities (agility, rally, and swimming). This helped us develop a bond, which improved the way we interacted in the house. I also worked on her ability to be alone without me. So crate time/nap time throughout the day. It was tough and she pitched a fit, but she’s now 4 and doesn’t deal with separation anxiety and I can leave her uncrated when I leave the house.

4. I still take her to activities (agility or nose work) and she still goes to daycare and she has a core group of dog friends we schedule play dates with. Having a puppy/young dog and making friends with other pet parents of young dogs made so much of the difficult stuff easier. We could commiserate and swap ideas.

When she was a puppy I didn’t think I’d ever go out for a late night again, didn’t think I’d enjoy vacations without stressing about her, etc. The key for me was building a support system so I trusted where she was boarded when I was gone, so I could take her to daycare on days I needed to work late, and basically built in from her young age a system so that I had my own bases covered in the ways that I needed.

Think about what’s hardest for you right now and see how you can outsource or get support for those areas. I don’t recommend a board and train (I almost did one at one point out of sheer desperation) because I think there’s so much value that comes from building a bond with your dog through training. It taught me a lot of skills (patience, consistency) that I wouldn’t have had to face otherwise. And remember that you only have to practice training skills for 7 minutes at a time—the dog can’t really do more than that successfully at once anyway!

Ahhh the puppy stage. It gets better with time. I’d consider a spay/neuter. It helps calm them down a little.

Do training classes, exercise the dog well, highly recommend doggie daycare, and crate training. Get pet sitting for your travel time.

It does get better with time, it really does. But this is part of why I'll never get a puppy, only an adult dog. Puppies are SO much work. And adult rescue still has a painful settling in period, but it my experience SO much easier than puppies.

Hire a dog trainer now, while the dog is young, and while you are new to the dog

You can have a trainer come to your house to give personalized lessons

It works! And it’ll be the best thing you ever do

It’s literally like having a child. I’ve had 3 dogs. The last one passed away last year. I won’t have another one. So I totally understand. On the flip side. When you do get a good rhythm and find resources that make being a dog parent easier (mobile dog groomers, dog walkers etc) it’s a fulfilling life. My dogs were my best friends.

Why not abandon it..?

Is he still a puppy? What do you mean by responsibility?

Yes! I originally got my dog at 5 months old as an emotional support animal while I was grieving. It was very hard to manage everything on top of all of her needs, I had thoughts of giving her up, but I really wanted to stay committed and felt like we were perfect for each other. My advice is if you can’t train it don’t pressure yourself. Other dog owners will just have to deal with it. It does get better too, as they get out of the puppy stage, learn more about you/ your quirks, they will adapt, also having a routine helps. As they mature, it will be the best years of your life together.

It will get better. The puppy stage is hard. It will become easy. You are that dogs whole world, make him yours.

It does get better! The first year for me was so terrible but now I love him so much!!! He’s learning just like you!

It’s better to surrender the puppy to a no-kill shelter than to keep it. Dogs sense human emotions intensely, which only leads to behavioral issues in the future.