Dogs

[Kleio]

He’s so gorgeous Lily!

[dizzyd]

Welcome to turtle Bertie
You're going to be spoilt rotten

[Glint]

He looks a lovely gentleman Lily, and you will give him the best.

[Margo]

Yes to Stinky Stuff, J uses it for Bijou and Murphy.

[Jupiter]

He is gorgeous! Congratulations x

[Hobbes]

He’s gorgeous Lily!

It’s very normal to wonder what the hell you’ve done, but that does pass, and I’m sure you will soon have a lovely bond.

[Lily]

Poor little Bijou! We have no idea what they've been through. The Stinky Stuff comes highly recommended, and he has SO many itches, that I've ordered some.

We've had a nice day really. He was rolling in the grass at one point although that could have been just another itch. He enjoys his walks and is very good on the lead, no problem with other dogs. He did slip his collar, which was really frightening, so I'm going to get a harness which his foster mum also recommended. He managed to open the bin :lol: so I have decided to keep certain rooms off limits! I had a camera on him when I popped to the shop and he was fine, just fell asleep in his bed, which was also good to see.

I feel better than I did yesterday but I don't feel like this is "me" yet. I also don't love him yet. I want to do my very best for him and I want him to be happy, and seeing him happy (like when he wags his tail when I come towards him) is a good feeling, but I don't feel like he's mine yet.

[Margo]

Oh, definitely get a harness; it’s much kinder than having a collar, especially if he pulls. And a seat belt adapter so he can travel safely in the car.

You’ve done a lovely thing Lily, and as much as he needs to get used to you, you need to get used to him. I had wobbles when Bijou first arrived as Mimi didn’t take to her, she was bigger than i thought and as a puppy she was… well, mental. I even looked up what I’d have to do to surrender her. But she settled quickly and showed me and Mimi so much love and affection, and I loved her right back

[Ruby]

I feel better than I did yesterday but I don't feel like this is "me" yet. I also don't love him yet. I want to do my very best for him and I want him to be happy, and seeing him happy (like when he wags his tail when I come towards him) is a good feeling, but I don't feel like he's mine yet.

:lol: This is what it's like when you have a baby. The midwife said to me, "with care, comes love". So the more you do the everyday caring and feeding and cleaning up and cuddling, the more you bond.

Anyway. I'm sure it's not exactly like having a baby.

[Squirrel]

It all sounds really positive Lily, it’s still early days. Mentally give yourself at least three months.

:lol: This is what it's like when you have a baby. The midwife said to me, "with care, comes love". So the more you do the everyday caring and feeding and cleaning up and cuddling, the more you bond.

Yep, this is exactly right (with dogs I mean).

[Livilla]

Having had babies, and a puppy, it’s really not that dissimilar! :lol:

I agree that you will both be in a transition - him to getting used to you, and you to being a dog owner. I imagine it won’t be too long before you’re thinking about how much you’d been missing out on before you had a dog (something said to me recently by another friend who just got her first dog).

[Morganna]

He's lovely, Lily - what a gorgeous colour.

I hope you'll be very happy together, and I'm sure you will.

[Lola]

That’s so true that it takes a while to love them. I was really anxious & wondered if I’d made a mistake for the first few weeks with Katy. It’s a bit different when you get adult pets too as you haven’t got to know them from being babies. Saying that, when we got kittens years ago it took 2/3 months again to bond with them as I’d not long since lost my first cat & I wasn’t quite ready.

So basically it’s different every time and this is your first dog so everything is new & scary. Just give it time & get to know each other slowly.

[Texaco Shirley]

He’s lovely Lily.

In my admittedly short experience getting a dog is remarkably like bringing a baby home.

[Jupiter]

I definitely felt similar after having both my children

[Lily]

I know I keep saying this but it helps so much hearing that other people have had doubts. I have real anxiety about it but I'm hoping that will pass.

I think he MAY have learned the "bed" command.

[rosy]

When I first got Lokiboy I was convinced I'd made a terrible mistake; I didn't initially bond with him at first as I had with Serena, and I felt horribly guilty about it. I thought that I was letting him down by not feeling instant love and connection. The love and the bond, though, crept up on me without my even noticing.

[sally maclennane]

Oh he is A Good Boy

I absolutely loved our spaniel but the first few months we had him, I didn't like him at all. He was my younger brother's dog and even he wanted to send him back after a few weeks.

[Scooter]

He is so gorgeous, Lily. Looks like he settling in like a champ!

[Cerise]

Lily, I’ve had the same feeling over the last week with the kittens. I also had it after my first child. :))