Oh my lord, a new dog takes all the time in the world. :) Especially if it's your first experience of dog ownership.

Of course everybody wants to offer their own piece of advice, so here's mine: time spent training is always worthwhile, even at the times when you want to despair because nothing seems to be working. The interaction will change things in the dog's psyche, even if the change isn't obvious at the time!

But a good trainer will probably tell you the same thing. And most importantly, I wish you and your dog good luck and a happy life together!

I must openly admit, as much as I love my little stinker, all of this is so much different than what I had imagined. I did try to prepare, but boy... Does he bring me to my limits and beyond...

I am looking for help, professional one as well, but my head and heart make this harder than it needs to be. And the learning curves don't make it easier... X_x

I hear you. Oh lordy, how I hear you. I had terrible problems training Maia because I used to sabotage myself horribly with negative emotions every time things didn't work out the way I wanted. I thought I knew about patience, humility and self-acceptance. I really didn't. I couldn't apply them to her until I also learned to apply them to myself.

Your struggles will be different from mine of course. But I have faith in you. :) I am certain that as you overcome the struggles you're having now, in a couple of years you'll look back and realise that your dog has made you a better person than you were, and that'll reflect in your dog's happiness too.

Yeah... I am honestly afraid I will "ruin" a wonderful dog because of my issues and that thought further intensifies my guilt. :/

I honestly hope you will be right. For the moment I am bound by doubt and fears and it's really hard to let go (despite knowing very well they make things only harder...)

Yeah... The good news is that, just as we humans overcome most of the errors of our parents, dogs overcome most of the errors of their owners. Somehow, despite our incompetence and fallibility, it usually works out okay ... :)

Single *mom*? All these years I've been following you, and I always thought you were a guy!

Eh, mom-shmom. I should have written "single parent". ^^. I don't mind either way. I hope it doesn't put you off. ;)

Of course not, I'm just surprised it took me this long to find out.

*snickers* Well, to be honest, I really don't mind and I am rarely making explicit statements about this. :)

"Most guys do." -Trinity

Pics are mandatory.

instagram.com/vivo_cum_ivo. I'm happy to oblige!

I've examined the evidence and he appears to be within at least the minimum proper levels of silliness. Be sure to inform him often that he's A Good Boy.

He's quite a number, this one. X3 Very energetic, but friendly and loving, smart and headstrong. His level of naughtiness is moderate, I'd say.

It's hard for me to tell sometimes, as I've never spent so much time closely with a pup before.

They're all individuals with their own opinions on stuff and ways of doing things. Teach them, guide them, influence them, but if you can accept that they'll be themselves rather than whatever ideal you might have in mind, you'll be one step closer to happiness for both of you.

You'll both make mistakes for as long as you have him. Just try to keep learning and do your best. And on those lines, try to set him up for success rather than failure (ie, make the right thing easier for him--if you leave him alone in a room with your food and he eats it, you've made the wrong thing easy).

And absolutely spend what time you can with him! He'll only be a pup for a little while, and all his years will go by too fast.

Oh, and don't get upset if he decides he's too cool for you at around 2 years old. It'll pass.

Yes, he's his own person and I don't want to change that. I just need to create rules and guidelines for both of us that will allow for a healthy life together.

Focussing on failure is something I sadly am struggling with in general, not only in matters of puppy education. I do however try to reduce the amount of "accidental traps" for him. I do not leave food lying around. I am trying to safely store or lock away things that I would be upset about if he got to them. Stuff like that.

Oh, I am spending all my time with him. X3 I work from home and am on my own otherwise. He's already grown so much! It's incredible, sad almost... Only a few weeks and he'll have his adult teeth.

Ugh. Yes... Puberty. I am dreading it. ;_;