#the dogblr sweep of new puppies leads to the inevitable crash of puppy blues

[blueboyluca]

Puppies are so hard. This one is the hardest so far, probably because of the added complications of being the third dog in the house, and being half a herding breed. I find myself struggling to feel like I meet Topaz's needs. And when I try to meet them, I feel like I am actively failing and potentially setting her backward.

A walk to try to get her energy out and make her feel physically satisfied ends up becoming a stressful opportunity to practice bad habits. A training session that goes well is immediately followed by an overaroused reaction to waiting her turn. A good play romp and some food precedes a crazed half hour of biting, barking and bothering the other dogs. I can't seem to get anything right.

I want to work through this and end up with an awesome dog, but it's so hard to set her up for success before even getting to the stuff I care about. It's so hard when so much of the experience of puppy raising is demotivating and aversive for me.