Light at the end of the tunnel

I just wanted to comment on our experience so far ,hoping and double big hoping it will give someone a comforting thought as we all know how massively demanding and patient testing it can be.
Our wonderful Cassie brindle Staff is now 18 weeks old,she has been the most hardest handful so far,full on mouthing ,nipping chewing little rat bag i have ever had the chance to meet.With all our love and perseverance ,no,no,down etc and plenty of walks we have made a break through. I think the walking has played a massive part in the calming down exercise ,at least 2 hours a day.We take her to the local park to socialise with other dogs and humans.We take her to central London she don't jump up at people she just gets on with it and walks(puddles can be a pain).She really has bonded that little bit more every day and your love for them gets stronger.
Please skip that thought of he or she has to go because with that extra hard work your putting in now my god these wonderful brilliant dogs certainly give it back ten fold.Hang in there people there the best.

amen to that

What a great post

Your words will echo with many new puppy owners here. They will test the patience of a saint but as you say all of a sudden it just clicks after all the hard work and you end up with such a character and a whole lot of love

brilliantly put so many owners get a pup thinking how cute and sweet they look with out thinking of the work and effort that has to go in to get a well behaved dog when it is a adult,yes we all know that things will change when a pup comes in to our lifes but how much??did we think of getting up at silly o clock in the morning standing in the pouring rain waiting for it to have a wee,coming home and finding your table legs have been chewed on,pups can be hard work but all that hard work is so worth it when it all clicks in to place,good for you mickey

I can only agree. Although our pup has been very good she's had her moments believe me!! It's surprising when you think back to all her 'remember when she used to do that' quirks that we thought might be a problem to train out.
Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
Pete.

Thanks guys for your supporting posts. We will carry on with our puppy quest ,we will all get there guy's , it will mean having less hair than I've got already Lol.keep you posted, Mick.

This is such an inspiring post has really helped me feel that all this hard work, worry, stress and extreme lack of sleep is worth it to get a loving loyal dog  Harley is nearly 17 weeks old and is also starting to show beautiful bits of his personality <3 even though he still get mischievous now and agian lol 
Thanks

glad to hear your hard work is going well Beth,sash is 10 and still has mischievous moments,i think its a staffy trate

Hi Beth
No probs,you worry and get stressed because you care and its hard work but you want your Harley to be your best mate as well,it will happen,what you sow you reap,hang on in there and don't put your guard down I haven't yet,we have a long way to go with Cassie but these are one of the most fantastic breeds of dog there is and everything in life has a balance.All the best ,Mick.

cant wait until I can get nico and cleo out together ... next week when he is jabbed at 8 weeks ill be out every day

Best thing ever, it seems like a lifetime it will come around quicker than you think,:-).

Very well said!! yes exercise is a key solution to a lot of problems, keep at it and well done

Ah thanks for that. Our little madam (12 weeks) is a real nipper. I have had 2 staffs before, both from 8 weeks old - and EBTs all my life - but 14 years since our last puppy and you do forget how hard it is! Seems one step forwards and 2 steps back. Had some of our worst days last week, and some of our best - and sometimes both in one day. I can remember our last staff was mouthy and thinking it would never stop. Then somehow one day waking up and realising it had stopped. But it's been so long ago, I can't remember when that was.

Your post cheered me up as today has been a bad day - but she also did her lognest and best so far walk. I know the guidance is 5 mins per month of life though so it should be 15 mins at tis stage. She has been very stop and start and nervous out of the house (a cocky little nightmare in the house!) But today she just suddenly seemed to 'get it' and we ended up walking an hour before we realised...

Mind you, she gave me one of the hardest nips yet when we got home! So it is still one step forwards, two steps backwards...

The joys of a puppy. In many ways I envy you guys that have puppies but so wouldn't trade my girl. Even though at 8 + she can still be a minx, I really couldn't face puppyhood. Big respect to you guys and keep at it, you'll end up with the most loving dog

Here here Ian spot on.
Charmy spot on as well, defo you think you winning and then "oi i'm a pup you know" and you do forget what it was like ages ago. Cassie is 4 months old and between the family she gets 2 hours a day. I don't think I could ever tire her completely but it is working well . Can't wait for the summer nights.Hang in there puppy people's.

... Because they're worth it.

Although as mine's a staffy/JRT cross, when she does something idiotic I blame the JRT side.