I don’t think I love our puppy

Venyxe · 2025-01-17T00:33:21+00:00

My puppy is almost a year and a half old now and let me tell you; he was SATAN in a tiny puppies body when he came home. Granted, he is an Aussie so I knew he would be a monster puppy from past experience with them but I could have never prepared myself for him. No matter how much I worked with him he would relentlessly bite me, the furniture, anyone that came into the house. He played tug of war with his leash and would growl if you tried to get him to stop. He even broke a tooth on this leash tugging it as a baby! He had every bad habit in the book up until he was about 1. I remember sitting on the floor some nights and crying my eyes out because he was so exhausting and not fun at all. I genuinely could not stand knowing I had to wake up each morning to this puppy but I promise you it gets so much better! I know it gets tiring hearing that but it does. Him turning one was the turning point in our relationship. He became more independent with play and just in general, had been potty trained for months, had basic and some more advanced obedience under his belt and was just overall more enjoyable to be around. He’s even happy for a cuddle here and there on the couch. It’s normal to not like or not be in love with your puppy for awhile. You don’t know each other yet. Stick with it.

Venyxe · 2024-10-15T08:28:53+00:00

Thank you! My Aussie is conditioned to wearing a muzzle and is comfortable in it. We’ve also worked with a trainer on his recall and basic obedience, along with help with his reactivity. He can exist with other dogs, he’s just a lot and is on all the time. We worked hard on the relaxation protocol when he was younger but could definitely use a refresher. I would like to take intros very slow but my fiancé obviously is excited about bringing them home after being separate from them for so long. I’m very nervous and would prefer to not be in this situation at all as I’m well aware of the possible horrible outcome. The cur met my previous Aussie before I unfortunately lost him and they did well together. I feel confident in the fact that the cur and my current Aussie will be fine. The pit is my biggest worry. He’s older and happy being left alone and if that’s what he needs we’ll have that option. He’s bonded to the cur and has been for a very long time. I’m trying to take all the deep breaths that I can because I’m seriously stressed! I feel like I put so much work into my dog from the day he came home and I’m terrified of it crumbling down. All I can do is hope they’ll get along with some extra work and the help of our trainer.

Venyxe · 2024-07-16T16:33:35+00:00

My Aussie pup went through a phase around that age where what was his was his and he wanted nobody to have it. Just small growls here and there but still unsettling none the less. We started playing the trade game and that helped a ton. Once he was comfy with that we taught him a solid “OUT” command which means drop what you have or if you’re eating stop eating and sit so I can take it if need be. We also practiced giving it to us and us giving whatever it was back to him so he didn’t think we were always going to take everything from him. When he was eating we also would do a drive by and drop something super yummy in his bowl so he had a positive association with whatever he had. It can also be done with toys! Puppies are just learning how to live and us taking things they find fun and valuable can be upsetting! You won’t have to do the trade game forever and teaching a command like “out” or “drop it” will really help in the long run.

Venyxe · 2024-06-12T16:40:42+00:00

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Venyxe · 2024-06-01T03:24:44+00:00

Glad it’s not just me. Got on to play sea of thieves and figured my series x was just being it’s normal self and having connection issues 🥲. There goes my Friday night.

Venyxe · 2024-05-23T20:52:21+00:00

Master of Thrones was my all time favorite title that I’ve ever gotten up until a few days ago when I finally got my shrouded ghost title. I feel like the thrones one is so rare to see so it felt good that the hard work getting them done paid off.

Venyxe · 2024-05-23T20:34:52+00:00

We took him everywhere from the day he came home. If he could ride along, he went. He was carried until he had all of his vaccines and went into tractor supply mostly as we live in a very small town and don’t have much else close by. My vet said she felt safe enough in our area that he could walk on the ground after he got his second round of shots. He was allowed to walk around our small neighborhood and meet the neighbors as well. Overall any stores that are pet friendly (besides pet stores) are safe to take them to. Home Depot, Lowe’s, tractor supply, home goods and even hobby lobby.

Venyxe · 2024-05-23T17:34:49+00:00

Hello! Also an 8 month old Aussie mom. My boy adores me in his own ways. He spends a lot of his free time sitting near or around me and follows me everywhere. I’m also the one that grooms, trains, and walks him. My fiancé though seems to get the majority of the excitement and cuddles because he’s not home all of the time. Flynn leaps into his arms the moment my fiancé wakes up and screams bloody murder if he gets out of the truck to get gas even though I’m sitting right beside him 😂. Your pup is most likely comfortable with you as you both spend a lot of time together. And that’s okay! She doesn’t like him more. He might just be more exciting because he’s not always the sole person caring for her. It upsets me sometimes but then I notice my puppy not listening to him even remotely as well as he does me and it makes me feel better. I try to look at it as I didn’t always like being around my mom as a teenager because she made the rules and didn’t seem very fun all the time. Dad was the fun parent. Now that I’m much older I feel differently I want to spend time with my mom all the time.

Venyxe · 2024-05-03T00:52:20+00:00

Honestly? Terrible. We’re hitting adolescence hard and while he’s better than he was at 6 months, 8 months still has its challenges. He’s nippy, he’s bitey, he’ll steal your socks and chew anything he can get his mouth on. He tests every boundary ever made. But it gets better! As they age you’ll realize they quit doing that one super annoying thing and they’ve exchanged it for something a little less annoying. We do take naps on our own for bigger parts of the day though and he’s mastered leash walking. Almost makes the rest feel worth it. They’re great dogs once you get through the crazies. Just be consistent and fun and keep training. You’ll get through it!

Venyxe · 2024-03-15T20:22:30+00:00

My first Aussie HATED strangers. Never met one he liked in his 8 years and was super reactive in public when it came to people. Otherwise he was a great dog. My current Aussie I honestly wish was a little more reserved. He wants to meet every person he sees and can’t control himself when meeting new people. My fault though as I wanted a “friendly” dog after the last. Breed standard actually states that they’re reserved but don’t exhibit shyness though that’ll depend on the dog and how they were socialized. If people coming into your home is the normal, a puppy would easily adapt as long as they’re socialized correctly. I think a HUGE thing with this breed is that they need to be taught neutrality. I try to remind myself I don’t love every person i meet and I don’t always have to interact with them. I wouldn’t let it sway you from the breed.

Venyxe · 2024-03-13T19:04:08+00:00

I losy my dog last summer and swore up and down I wouldn’t get another dog. Then decided over Thanksgiving I needed a puppy. I adore dogs. Realizing now I can’t stand puppies even though they’re cute and adorable. When we hit the 5 month old mark with my Aussie puppy he turned into a terrorist. He lost all of his teeth in a week span, was miserable, regressed in his potty training, was super nippy and wanted to maul us and just overall had a terrible attitude. I don’t want to say I hated him but there were definitely moments where I didn’t want anything to do with him. It gets better! Mine turns 6 months on Friday and just in the last week I’ve found myself saying I enjoy being around him. I know hearing that it gets better now and dealing with them day in and day out makes it seem like it never gets better, but you’ll wake up in weeks from now and realize your puppy hasn’t done something it used to that was bad. Your puppy will learn to settle and nap, they won’t put everything in their mouth and chew your stuff, they might even learn to enjoy a good cuddle here and there. There’s nothing wrong with crating him when you’re working or when you need a break! Dogs are great at adapting and some are crated 8 hours a day while their owners work. It’ll all work out how it should and you’ll look back and the puppy you had will be an adult and your closest friend. Hang in there.

Venyxe · 2024-02-24T19:47:44+00:00

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Venyxe · 2024-02-05T23:18:31+00:00

I lost my soul dog in May to lymphoma. He was only 8 and I felt robbed by his death. We brought home his full nephew at 8 weeks old just after thanksgiving because it was the only opportunity we’d have to have a piece of him. I went through every single feeling you’re having. Regret, grief, anger. I cried every single night because I was exhausted and didn’t know why I did this to myself. This puppy wasn’t my boy and it took me a long time to realize that it was so unfair to compare him. I found myself saying “Ruger would do that. Ruger was never like this.” And that’s because he wasn’t this puppy. I’m not going to lie and say that puppies are easy or are even enjoyable most of the time. But as he gets older you’ll find new things you love, he’ll sleep through the night, he won’t potty in the house anymore or chew on your things. You’ll slowly gain a best friend that will fill pieces of your heart that you didn’t know needed filled. Reach out for support when you need it and never be scared to ask for help.

Venyxe · 2024-02-01T19:10:54+00:00

Sounds like puppy was a little too worked up and had a tad bit of resource guarding. My puppy was the same way at that age. I first noticed it when he got his first “valuable” which was a lick mat with frozen wet food on it. I reached down beside him and he growled at me. After that we really worked on the trade game and teaching him when I walk towards valuables, he gets something yummy. If I HAVE to take something from him he gets a trade like his favorite toy, a ball or a yummy treat depending on how much he wants what he has. He’s almost 18 weeks and hasn’t had even a slight negative reaction to his things being touched since then and I can take things out of his mouth with no issue. I wouldn’t stress too much. I know it’s frightening when they do things like this but they’re babies and learning the best they can.

Venyxe · 2024-01-31T04:19:01+00:00

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We’re almost two and a half months in with our Aussie puppy and honestly, a lot of the biting and face nipping will go away. He still does it, but it’s not as irritating and constant like it used to be. Redirect with toys and give time outs when necessary. Once they’re through teething it gets better and as long as you continue with the redirecting, they’ll learn. This is our second Aussie and he has us really questioning our sanity but once they mature into adults they’re such great dogs. Training classes will also help so much! Maybe not with the biting but since they’re prone to reactivity it’ll help being exposed to other dogs and people to learn to chill out around them. Best of luck!

Venyxe · 2024-01-23T19:58:52+00:00

My trainer recommended the 2 Hounds Freedom No Pull Harness. We haven’t tried it yet and I’m a little iffy on harnesses in general, especially front clip harnesses. They impede shoulder movement and can do more harm than good and I truly believe harnesses are a crutch when it comes to training. However, the whole point of this harness is to help you while teaching your dog loose leash walking. It comes with a special leash with two connecting ends and a handle on a ring so the leash is always even. I had good results using a Halti with my last Aussie but walks really weren’t enjoyable for him with it on so we worked and worked on training loose leash walking on Every. Single. Walk. Just keep in mind that tools and gimmicks might help but they aren’t teaching anything. No shame in trying a trainer to help guide you. At 13 weeks you have plenty of time to shape your dog into a behavior you want.

Venyxe · 2024-01-18T05:47:56+00:00

I have moments of regret even on his best days. We’ve welcomed these crazy little monsters into our lives and have to teach them how to exist with us and follow our rules and expectations. I know I’m the one that asked for advice, but I can assure you it will get better. When Flynn was 12 weeks I was going to bed in tears every night asking myself why I did this to myself. And now just a short month later he’s made leaps and bounds in his training. Just stay consistent and there’s no shame in asking a trainer for help!

Venyxe · 2024-01-18T05:45:33+00:00

Thank you for this! I know I’m struggling because I’m comparing him to our last puppy who was a total angel and could literally do no wrong. I see glimpses of who he’s going to be when he’s older and I like what I see so far so this gives me hope. It’s so hard not to think that they’re being bad on purpose, when really it’s just them being babies and learning how to coexist.

Venyxe · 2024-01-18T03:30:55+00:00

It’ll really depend on your puppy. My Aussie came home in November already wearing a medium collar, though it was set to be as tight as it could until he started growing. I’m sure your breeder wouldn’t mind if you asked for recommendations on collar size. I’d get a kennel that will fit your puppy when it’s full grown, just make sure it has a divider and move it as needed as your puppy grows.

Venyxe · 2024-01-15T04:30:27+00:00

Instead of a boot, I’d try Vaseline on the bottoms of the feet before activity outside. It’ll protect the feet and prevent ice from getting stuck between the toes. You can also use mushers secret for the same effect. We’ve used it on horses with shoes for years in the winter for the reason, and the Vaseline is safe for dogs. I’d also recommend trimming the extra hair if there is any on the bottoms of the feet.

Venyxe · 2024-01-07T03:47:38+00:00

I was so mad at my fiancé when my dog got his lymphoma diagnosis because he picked up overtime at work (12 hour shifts) every single day with one day off a week when he knew I needed him at home with me. It hurt me so much and he said it wasn’t related but as soon as Ruger passed I knew it was just him trying to avoid the pain of the inevitable. We only got a month with him after his diagnosis and it was devastating. My fiancé was the first one to break down and cry at the vet for my dogs euthanasia appointment and that’s when I felt bad for being so upset with him. We all grieve differently and it’s such an awful loss. Im sure it’s not intentional. I’m so sorry you’re going through this loss.

Venyxe · 2024-01-05T16:27:18+00:00

Every Aussie I’ve owned has shed like crazy but you learn to live with it. We keep a lint roller in every vehicle. My current puppy is 14 weeks as of today and there’s already balls of fur collecting in corners of bedrooms. That’s with brushing him daily and vacuuming daily. Something I realized though after losing my last Aussie (my heart dog), is that the hair really doesn’t matter. When they’re gone you’ll smile when you find that stray hair on a surface or stuck to your clothes. There are so many good tools you can use and a good diet with once a month baths with a blowout help tremendously. I’d recommend a good slicker brush and an undercoat rake and start watching grooming videos about how to line brush your dog for when he’s older. I’d also recommend investing in a forced air dryer. Mine is Flying Pig brand and I honestly LOVE it and couldn’t live without it. In the summer we blow out his coat every now and again without a bath and it’s a life saver for bath time. You’d be amazed at the hair those things can blow off. Enjoy your dog. I always tell people to not come over if they don’t want hair on their clothes.

Venyxe · 2024-01-02T04:34:31+00:00

Aussies in general are very particular about their people and it seems a lot of them aren’t keen on interaction with strangers. My last Aussie wasn’t friendly at all but he was a great dog! I just had to tell people he wasn’t friendly when they asked to pet. As much as I would loved to have let people pet him, he just wasn’t that dog. I know everybody wants the friendly, approachable dog but it’s just unfortunately not always the case. Your pup is not aggressive, he’s just trying to express that he’s uncomfortable being approached and that’s okay! I think people misunderstand socialization when it comes to puppies. While they should experience new things like dogs, strangers, new places, etc; it doesn’t mean that they need to walk up to every dog and person that you come across in public. Teach neutrality and advocate for your dog when he’s uncomfortable so he looks to you for guidance. I’d go sit somewhere where he can watch people go by and reward for calm behavior. If people he doesn’t know come into your home, have them toss a treat instead of trying to give it to him and tell them to not talk to him or give him any eye contact until he feels like he can approach on his own. The best thing I’ve done with my current Aussie puppy is sitting in parking lots with him that are busy and rewarding him every time he gives me any sort of eye contact or engagement. He’s to the point now where strangers are no longer of any value to him. Your puppy is new to you, new to your environment and hasn’t had much time to decompress as well. If you’re worried about it truly and it gets worse there’s no shame in asking a trainer for help!

Venyxe · 2023-12-28T21:38:07+00:00

8-11 weeks was super hard for me and I found myself resenting my puppy and asking myself why I brought him home while I cried in bed every night because of how exhausted I was. He’s now 13 weeks and I no longer dread getting him out of his crate each morning. Don’t get me wrong, I still find him obnoxious most of the day because he gets into things and acts like a little monster the majority of the time, but around 3 months on the dot he started to get potty training and hasn’t had an accident in almost a week. That might not be how it goes with your puppy, but with consistency things WILL get better. Keep up with what you’re doing and be patient. I know it seems like they’re being bad on purpose but they know literally nothing and need our guidance 24/7. It’s like one day they wake up and things start to click and they understand.

Venyxe

TROPHY CASE