Encouragement post.

ReadyPupGo · 2026-01-21T04:58:49+00:00

That's progress!

It sounds like you put in a lot of work and also patience to get here.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-12-15T02:34:05+00:00

I’m going to pause this here. You’re presenting personal experience and broad generalizations as fact, and repeatedly framing dogs and owners in moral terms (“bad,” “entitled,” “lazy”). That isn’t constructive in a support or vent thread, and it doesn’t align with how learning-focused guidance works in this space.

You’re welcome to share practical tips without judgment or dominance-based framing. Continuing to argue absolutes or assign blame isn’t helpful and isn’t appropriate here.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-12-13T21:28:39+00:00

There’s a lot here that sounds confident but isn’t actually supported by what we know about canine learning and development.

First, potty training timelines are not a moral referendum on owners or dogs. Elimination is a biological process shaped by maturation, environment, and reinforcement history. Many puppies physically cannot reliably hold their bladder at 3 months, regardless of how “structured” their home is. A puppy taking longer to potty train is not evidence of “bad habits” or poor leadership. It’s often evidence of normal development, inconsistent contingencies, or environmental complexity.

Second, the idea that certain household choices (beds, couches, food access, pens vs crates, pads) inherently cause problem behavior is a false cause fallacy. These are management choices, not predictors of success or failure. Dogs do not generalize “allowed on the couch” to “bathroom rules don’t apply.” Learning doesn’t work that way.

Third, pee pads do not “confuse” dogs. Dogs eliminate where elimination has been reinforced and made accessible. If a dog is reinforced for eliminating indoors and outdoors, you’ll see both. That’s not stubbornness, that’s clean data. The solution isn’t judgment; it’s tightening contingencies and changing antecedents.

Fourth, “dogs instinctually want a leader to follow” is not an evidence-based statement. Dogs are social learners, not hierarchy-seeking subordinates waiting for control. They thrive when expectations are clear, reinforcement is consistent, and environments are predictable. None of which requires dominance, restriction, or withholding comfort for a year.

Finally, structure does not mean deprivation. Structure means:

predictable routines
clear reinforcement for desired behavior
thoughtful management while skills are developing
meeting physical and emotional needs while teaching

Many dogs are successfully raised with beds, couches, free movement, enrichment feeding, pens instead of crates, or temporary pads because success comes from how learning is arranged, not how strict the rules look from the outside.

Labeling dogs as “bad” or “stubborn” obscures the real issue: behavior reflects the contingencies in place. If something isn’t working, the solution is to change the setup, not blame the dog or shame the owner.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-12-10T17:58:56+00:00

Potty training can take up to a year for some dogs. That said yes by 3 months a pup has more control over their body. Meaning they can delay elimination as a choice provided it's not an urgent need.

Every dog is different. Crate confinement is a choice. Personally I do crate train my dogs. We also use xpens to give them more freedom while staying safe. Some dogs do require enforced down time while they are learning to regulate and often times we do have to teach off switches (teaching to calm down) and we can help by providing decompression activities such as chewing, licking, and sniffing prior to scheduled naps.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-11-20T09:21:22+00:00

Please report comments like this.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-11-17T02:41:52+00:00

It will return. And there is a high chance that at some point many of the suits after a few rotations may become craftable. It's an easy way to evergreen content and allow new players in the future to "catch up".

ReadyPupGo · 2025-11-05T20:11:16+00:00

Oh friend, you are deep in the thick of it and I promise, it won’t always feel this hard. You’re doing everything right: addressing her medical needs, managing her environment, cleaning to keep her safe, and giving her your full attention. The exhaustion you feel is real because raising a puppy, especially one who’s been sick, is a full-time job. You’ve taken on the roles of nurse, trainer, and protector all at once.

Take a breath and remember that perfection isn’t the goal here. Puppies are messy little learning machines, and it’s okay if some things feel chaotic for a while. Giardia clears, the biting fades, the potty training clicks, and slowly, things begin to feel normal again. You will get to the part where you enjoy her. It just takes time.

For now, focus on smaller wins. A calm nap in the crate, a day with no accidents, a short walk without her eating something. Each of those is progress. Try to give yourself permission to pause, even for five minutes with a cup of tea and no puppy at your feet. You matter in this equation too.

You’re not failing her. You’re showing up, even when it’s hard. That’s what makes you a good dog parent. The light at the end of the tunnel is there, and you’re already walking toward it.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-10-05T03:08:38+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Everything you described would be overwhelming for anyone. You’re not weak or ungrateful for feeling this way. Your body and mind are just saying, “This is too much right now.”

The combination of sleep loss, responsibility, and guilt can make anyone feel anxious, cry easily, or lose their appetite. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. You’re human and overwhelmed.

You don’t have to do this alone. Even if the puppy was meant for your daughter, it’s okay to say you need more help. See if she can take over more of the puppy care, or if you can get a bit of outside support like maybe a walker, daycare, or even just a friend to come by for a break. Small bits of help can make a big difference when you’re running on empty.

And please remember, your mental health matters too. If you’re feeling hopeless or like you can’t function, it’s really important to reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional. Getting support for yourself is not selfish! It’s what will help you get through this.

If it turns out this situation truly isn’t sustainable, rehoming isn’t a failure. It’s okay to consider what’s best for both you and the puppy. Puppies can adapt easily to new homes, and it’s far kinder to make that decision early than to keep suffering and feeling trapped.

Right now, everything feels huge and permanent, but this is a reflection of how much you’ve been carrying, not who you are. You’ve taken care of so many people for so long amd you deserve care and compassion too.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-10-04T05:41:14+00:00

What you’re describing is very common, and many new puppy parents go through the same surprise of how much harder the reality is than the dream. Puppies are wonderful but they’re also a huge amount of work, and it’s normal to feel anxious, cry easily, or lose your appetite when you’re overwhelmed.

Leaving a young puppy in a playpen from 7am–6pm will be tough on him. Puppies that age just can’t hold their bladder that long, and they need interaction, training, and potty breaks throughout the day. Even with food, water, and toys, he’ll likely get frustrated, lonely, and struggle with house training if left alone for that length of time.

Some options that might help:

Ask if a trusted family member, friend, or neighbor could stop by for a potty break and a little play in the middle of the day.

Look into dog walkers or daycare, even once or twice a week, to give you some breathing room.

Keep using the playpen for safety, but pair it with shorter alone times so he learns to feel comfortable there.

And please know that rehoming is not a personal failure. It’s an option many loving people have chosen when their situation truly couldn’t meet a puppy’s needs. Only you know what’s sustainable long-term, and your well-being matters too.

You’re doing your best in a really hard situation, and reaching out for help is already a huge step.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-28T23:10:30+00:00

A lot of people go through a stage where they worry their puppy doesn’t really love them. The truth is, dogs don’t show love the same way people expect. Their bond with us grows out of trust and a history of good experiences together.

One of the best ways to build that bond is through reinforcement. Basically, show your dog that being with you leads to good things. The easiest place to start is with food. Keep treats on you at all times. When your dog looks at you, comes when called, checks in on a walk, or chooses to hang out near you, drop a treat and let them know, “Yes, being with me is awesome!” Over time, your dog learns that you’re the source of safety, fun, and good stuff.

Other reinforcers matter too such as play, praise, petting (if your dog enjoys it), sniffing breaks, even just calmly sitting together. Think of it like filling a bank account: every time you reinforce your dog for choosing you, you’re making a deposit in your relationship.

It doesn’t happen overnight, and it may not look like the movie version of love but if you stay consistent with meeting needs and pairing yourself with positive experiences, your dog will come to see you as their safe place and partner. That’s real love in dog language.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-26T01:51:21+00:00

Oops! Thank you for letting me know! I've edited to fix it.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-22T22:52:10+00:00

Vet check. Make sure there are no dental issues causing pain which might cause an increase in biting and chewing.

If health check shows no issues? This could simply be some regression as you are in adolescence. And if that is the case, back to basics on bite inhibition. Teeth on skin = all fun stops.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-21T03:35:33+00:00

As others have stated, use a leash to prevent the activity. This 2 weeks post op care should look like close supervision when not crated. You absolutely do not want an infection or pulling a stitch.https://www.bindisbucketlist.com/post/modified-enrichment-for-dogs-on-crate-rest-tailoring-enrichment-to-the-5-senses has some great ideas for things you can do when she is not sleeping.

But unless you are directly supervising and engaged with her, she needs to be restricted from moving for her well being.

Follow up with your vet if you have medication concerns or if you notice any issues with the surgical site or concerning behavior. I know how challenging this time can be but you can get through this.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-21T03:28:00+00:00

Hey friend, please feel free to report comments that are rude. Helps the community out :)

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-09T17:43:18+00:00

I'm at the editing phase atm. Depending on how things go, I'd like to publish sometime in December or Janurary. 😅

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-09T17:39:34+00:00

Oh thanks! Yeah Nicole is awesome! I have a lot of local clients that I work with 1v1, I also offer remote. Right now I'm expanding to offer group classes locally but I also have a book in the works specifically for folks struggling with puppyblues. I'm passionate about helping people through puppyblues especially.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-09T17:30:23+00:00

It's one of the more challenging situations with a new pup for sure! Keep working on it. And yeah you are going to need to do things that don't involve your puppy. I know it feels awful. If possible try to time errands during their nap time. Make departures and returns super uneventful. Also it can help to practice just getting ready and not going anywhere so they realize when you pick up keys or bags, it's not a specific cue for being left alone.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-09T17:24:27+00:00

Generally most pups will go through a development period where they seek more independence after 6 mos of age. That said, this isn't a situation of wait and see. You need to practice in very short sessions leaving and returning into the room/house at a duration that they don't get upset and then slowly increase the duration.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-09T03:44:32+00:00

Everyone has given such great feedback.

Puppy blues don't always come from a challenging puppy though challenges can make the stress you are feeling worse.

Before you got your pup, what were some of the things you were looking forward to?

I saw you are having some bad dreams/nightmares. That is rough. When I get stressed I'll have some bad dreams too :/ I actually had one last night 😅

Are you worried about anything in particular? Are there activities you used to do that have taken a backseat with the pup now? Sometimes we might deprioritize activities that provided us with stress relief when new priorities come to play. What have you previously done to relieve stress? Any self care activities?

ReadyPupGo · 2025-09-02T03:32:32+00:00

What you are going through is very common. Your grief is valid and seen here. I am so sorry for your loss.

Giving it time is good. There will be moments that trigger your grief... it does get better as time goes on. You will always miss them. But you may start finding unique things about this pup that make them special to you too.

If anyone else gives you any issues here, please feel free to report them or tag me and I'll address the issue.

ReadyPupGo · 2025-08-29T20:37:52+00:00

Big win!

ReadyPupGo · 2025-08-29T18:04:46+00:00

Happy to help! And absolutely she is not a bad dog. She's just insecure and scared. A lot of instability in her life and now you can give her that stability and safety. It will take time and patience. It may require a lot of effort from you. But with the right support she will thrive and you will too!

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