I may have made a mistake.
I just got a puppy last Thursday and I think I'm already regretting it. I wanted a dog so bad, but now that I'm having to do all this work, I'm not sure it's worth it.

I think I'm just too lazy and I don't have enough patience or something. I'm used to being able to come home for lunch and watch a 45 minute TV show, or spending the evenings on the computer, watching a movie, out with friends, etc.

Now all that is GONE. I kept telling myself it was just for the first month or two, but I got on this forum and see all these posts saying 7-12 months was the worst time for them. I have to deal with this for an entire YEAR!?!?

Don't get me wrong, I love the puppy very much, she is so adorable. But I'm constantly having to stop her from biting clothes, hands, furniture, etc. Toys only hold her interest for a few minutes, then it's back to trying to bite everything else despite my verbal reprimands.

I can barely eat lunch because I have to take her from her crate and sit there and watch her outside so she will go to the bathroom. Instead of going, most of the time I have to repeatedly keep her from biting the lead or the chair I'm sitting on.

And in the evenings, I can't do anything except keep my eyes on her constantly to keep her from biting things, going to the bathroom inside, etc. I can't watch TV, be on the computer, go out, or do anything except watch the dog!

Not only that, but I'm used to sleeping until 8am, now every morning I have to get up at 6 to let her out and play with her until I have to get ready and leave for work so that she has a break from the crate. I've been sooo tired lately.

I'm stressed out and feel anxiety about it already, what should I do? I don't mind putting some work into this, but I'm feeling overwhelmed. I want to be able to play with her, then let her play with her own toys while I watch TV, then take naps with her on the couch, and be able to just let her out in the yard by herself, let her do her thing, then come in when she's done.

How long will it be before things are like that? If I'm feeling this anxiety/doubt already, I'm not sure if I can make it. I hope I'm not sounding selfish, but if you're used to a certain lifestyle and then everything is flipped upside down, it gets to you pretty quick.

Thanks for listening. by Anonymous, printed with permission 7/06