I'm a first time dog owner of an 10 month boy poodle, Rocky.
I took Rocky home when he was 10 weeks old. I've had not issues with potty training, chewing, barking, separation anxiety, no bad behaviors, he's good with children, other people, big and small dogs, knows basic commands (I need to work on commands more...my lack of discipline), calm during fireworks.
I had recently posted that he wasn't crate trained and wanted my attention all the time. The real problem was me. When I ignore him for a minute because I'm doing something, he settles down himself. I don't move anything, like my shoes, and he doesn't touch or chew anything he's not supposed to touch. In fact, I leave him home alone, uncrated, to go to the gym in the morning, and when I return, nothing is touched, he simply jumps up from his bed to greet me. He maintains good eye contact, he's my shadow, and he listens when I set boundaries. I never had to work to build our connection.
My fear is that when I get a second pup, I may not love the second pup as much as Rocky. I fear that I will unjustly compare the second pup to Rocky.
With Rocky I have the 'first baby syndrome' really bad - intense bonding, intense training, intense focus on learning everything about him, intense worry about everything. I was drained and severely sleep deprived for about the first 3 months of bringing Rocky home. I was totally ignorant about how hard it was to raise a puppy.
I fear that with the second pup, I will slack off, be more impatient, cut corners, bond less with the second pup. I fear that since I can't clone Rocky that the second pup will not be 'as good' as Rocky. I fear that my love for Rocky can never by matched or as intense with the second pup or any future pup.
“Love does not divide - it multiplies.” But will I somehow mess up the second pup and not love him or her as much?
"Every love is unique" - easier to write that to believe it will happen....Rocky is my first dog and so easy to love.
I took Rocky home when he was 10 weeks old. I've had not issues with potty training, chewing, barking, separation anxiety, no bad behaviors, he's good with children, other people, big and small dogs, knows basic commands (I need to work on commands more...my lack of discipline), calm during fireworks.
I had recently posted that he wasn't crate trained and wanted my attention all the time. The real problem was me. When I ignore him for a minute because I'm doing something, he settles down himself. I don't move anything, like my shoes, and he doesn't touch or chew anything he's not supposed to touch. In fact, I leave him home alone, uncrated, to go to the gym in the morning, and when I return, nothing is touched, he simply jumps up from his bed to greet me. He maintains good eye contact, he's my shadow, and he listens when I set boundaries. I never had to work to build our connection.
My fear is that when I get a second pup, I may not love the second pup as much as Rocky. I fear that I will unjustly compare the second pup to Rocky.
With Rocky I have the 'first baby syndrome' really bad - intense bonding, intense training, intense focus on learning everything about him, intense worry about everything. I was drained and severely sleep deprived for about the first 3 months of bringing Rocky home. I was totally ignorant about how hard it was to raise a puppy.
I fear that with the second pup, I will slack off, be more impatient, cut corners, bond less with the second pup. I fear that since I can't clone Rocky that the second pup will not be 'as good' as Rocky. I fear that my love for Rocky can never by matched or as intense with the second pup or any future pup.
“Love does not divide - it multiplies.” But will I somehow mess up the second pup and not love him or her as much?
"Every love is unique" - easier to write that to believe it will happen....Rocky is my first dog and so easy to love.