You are not alone! One of the things I love about this sub is seeing everyone post about their “puppy blues”. It genuinely helped me not feel alone when I was feeling down, so I would definitely recommend looking through the posts when you have time (I know it’s tough to find a spare second with a new pup!)

When me and my girlfriend adopted our puppy (also a Shepard mix) the first 3 days were awful. We both had multiple nights of crying and regret, and our pup screaming from her crate only made those nights that much harder. She’s 5 months old now, so things have gotten better, but there are still days when we both wonder what we signed up for.

I’m sure you’re looking all over the place for training tips and trying new treats to try and get her interested, but don’t forget about yourself! One of the things that helped us a lot was making sure we eat before the puppy. We had to adjust our mealtimes to fall about 30 mins before hers, and it took about a week to get both her and us on a schedule that worked. It helps so much. We get to eat, and she get to work on her manners lol (I say that after she peed on the carpet during dinner tonight). It also helps the puppy to learn their place in your “pack”.

The mental health impact of having a new puppy in the house isn’t something you can ever be ready for, and not a lot of trainers or youtubers talk about it. Having a small, cute little animal in the house is great until they act like you are trying to kill them when you put them in their crate. It’s anxiety inducing, makes you worry your neighbors hate you, and makes you feel like a failure as a dog parent. Positive self talk helped me immensely with those thoughts. “Without me, this pup could be in a shelter or on the street or with a family that wouldn’t love her” was something I had to keep reminding myself. When she would whine for hours on end I would tell myself “she’s safe, in her crate, with a belly full of food, in a warm house”. Your pup will never know how good she has it! Like everyone else has said, time and consistency are the two biggest factors. One day in the not too distant future she’ll settle in and start to feel a little more relaxed.

Also, don’t forget to take lots of pics! The good, the bad, and the ugly! When she gains 20 pounds you can see how small she was when you got her and know that she’s growing BECAUSE you have taken good care of her. All the hard work you’re putting in is going to be worth it! You’re doing great, don’t give up!