What do I do?

[Aquatic_blue]

Please don't judge me harshly. I am so broken right now.

So, we have been looking for a puppy. Somehow, we ended up with 2...my husband doesn't like separating siblings. I don't know what we were thinking. We have two kids under 6. My husband works. The dogs were spayed the day before yesterday and we are trying to keep them calm and separate (but can still see each other) and not let them run around for a few days. They whine and whine and the kids won't let the puppies sleep because they are of course excited. Try as I may it is hard to stop the 5 year old when 2 year old has just fallen asleep on me.

My oldest child is upset I give the puppies attention, won't pay attention to homeschool work for now, and I am finding it hard to do daily chores and meal prep because of course even though the puppies are in their own areas, I still need to supervise those little fingers.

My husband says it will be better when they heal and can play and be together and to give it a week before considering taking them back because it is an adjustment for everyone.

How can I tough this out? I am tempted to take them back. They are puppies, they will get adopted - a lot of people actually were interested on Facebook. I also don't want my kids heartbroken for taking them back. We don't get our money back, but at least I can get back to focusing a lot more on the kids.

I want to cry and am sick to my stomach...

 

[Mvan42]

Take a deep breath and relax.. as your husband said everything will work out. With the virus running rampid and getting the puppies i can see how things are a bit more stressful. Take a little time for each child, and have them help keep an eye on the puppies. Give them small things to do to help care for them.. God is with you stay strong everything will be ok

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

You have my encouragement and comfort, Aquatic_blue: No judgment, except for this: You seem stressed (entirely understandable; you have three kids and two puppies!) and in need of a good hug! Thus concludes my sympathetic judgment.
Hang in there.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Here's what my mother used to do.

Bulk prep meal items. What my mother always did was make enough food for two meals. We ate the first meal for supper, and had leftovers for dinner the next day while Dad was at work. We were kids. We didn't care, or get tired of having food twice. It does not take much additional time to make more of the same item. Or you could do the same thing and have the same meal next week, instead.

More work initially, but long-term gains.

I had a "naptime" until I was about seven, I think. I know that, as kids, we rarely slept through naptime, but we did get used to playing quietly, unsupervised, for an hour or two. Puzzles, coloring books, etc. We were not allowed out of that room.

Do you have a fenced-in grassy area? Put the kids outside for a bit, when the weather's nice. You'll probably want such an area for the dogs, eventually, if you don't already have one.

Have a half-hour where you just read to them. Something simple and long. Not a picture book, which requires page-showing, and movement. Books like Babe the Gallant Pig, and Charlotte's Web. Preferably right before bed. Increases vocabulary, and calms them down before they go to sleep.

Can you put the dogs behind a locked door?

I assume that that homeschooled one is the five-year-old? I wouldn't actually worry about it too much, if so. At this point, learning to be on a schedule and focus is probably more important that the learning itself, so don't worry about his falling behind. Just keep steady.

 

[chickens really]

Maybe sell one puppy? Keep one and have the kids involved in feeding and taking puppy outside to play and deficate.
Definitely one puppy is easier than two. Also the excitement of the puppies is new to the little people. They will quickly turn their attention back onto other things once the novelty where's off.
Best wishes..

 

[Folly's place]

All good advice above!
I'd be tired too, and have those 'melt down' moments.
ONCE we raised two puppies at the same time. ONCE. Never again did we do it, always had at least one or two years to have one dog civilized before getting another. Live will be 'slightly' less stressful if one is gone, and you can concentrate on the remaining puppy. That puppy will also be more 'people oriented' rather than totally attached to it's littermate. Better!
Have hubby stay home alone with the tribe for a few days (at least the weekend) while you hide out somewhere. See if he sings a different tune then.
Meanwhile, venting is good. We all do sympathize!
Mary

 

[Halfpasthen]

Please don't judge me harshly. I am so broken right now.

So, we have been looking for a puppy. Somehow, we ended up with 2...my husband doesn't like separating siblings. I don't know what we were thinking. We have two kids under 6. My husband works. The dogs were spayed the day before yesterday and we are trying to keep them calm and separate (but can still see each other) and not let them run around for a few days. They whine and whine and the kids won't let the puppies sleep because they are of course excited. Try as I may it is hard to stop the 5 year old when 2 year old has just fallen asleep on me.

My oldest child is upset I give the puppies attention, won't pay attention to homeschool work for now, and I am finding it hard to do daily chores and meal prep because of course even though the puppies are in their own areas, I still need to supervise those little fingers.

My husband says it will be better when they heal and can play and be together and to give it a week before considering taking them back because it is an adjustment for everyone.

How can I tough this out? I am tempted to take them back. They are puppies, they will get adopted - a lot of people actually were interested on Facebook. I also don't want my kids heartbroken for taking them back. We don't get our money back, but at least I can get back to focusing a lot more on the kids.

I want to cry and am sick to my stomach...

Two dogs are easier than one, however, two PUPPIES are harder than one.
You aren't the first person to feel like you've made a mistake getting siblings. They're often more difficult to train, can suffer from separation anxiety, and generally create double the trouble.
This probably wasn't the best time to get a puppy with very young children but who hasn't made a choice that in hind-sight probably wasn't the very best?
The good news is either option (rehoming or sticking it out) will probably end up fine In the end.
Do not wait until they are passed the cute puppy phase and have bad behaviors engrained to make the decision though.
If you decide to stick it out, try to find a trainer and work with the pups separately. That's my best advice, seek help. After 2 years you'll most likely have a couple great dogs.
If you decide you can't commit the time to train, exercise, and socialize two young dogs then the right thing to do is re-home them while it's still a viable option and before bad behavior sets in.
May I ask what breed? I may have missed it.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

Here's what my mother used to do.

Bulk prep meal items. What my mother always did was make enough food for two meals. We ate the first meal for supper, and had leftovers for dinner the next day while Dad was at work. We were kids. We didn't care, or get tired of having food twice. It does not take much additional time to make more of the same item. Or you could do the same thing and have the same meal next week, instead.

More work initially, but long-term gains.

I had a "naptime" until I was about seven, I think. I know that, as kids, we rarely slept through naptime, but we did get used to playing quietly, unsupervised, for an hour or two. Puzzles, coloring books, etc. We were not allowed out of that room.

Do you have a fenced-in grassy area? Put the kids outside for a bit, when the weather's nice. You'll probably want such an area for the dogs, eventually, if you don't already have one.

Have a half-hour where you just read to them. Something simple and long. Not a picture book, which requires page-showing, and movement. Books like Babe the Gallant Pig, and Charlotte's Web. Preferably right before bed. Increases vocabulary, and calms them down before they go to sleep.

Can you put the dogs behind a locked door?

I assume that that homeschooled one is the five-year-old? I wouldn't actually worry about it too much, if so. At this point, learning to be on a schedule and focus is probably more important that the learning itself, so don't worry about his falling behind. Just keep steady.

Maybe sell one puppy? Keep one and have the kids involved in feeding and taking puppy outside to play and deficate.
Definitely one puppy is easier than two. Also the excitement of the puppies is new to the little people. They will quickly turn their attention back onto other things once the novelty where's off.
Best wishes..

I am thinking about that...might keep the more independent yet mellow one. I hate to do it, but I am sure we all could handle that better.

 

[chickens really]

I am thinking about that...might keep the more independent yet mellow one. I hate to do it, but I am sure we all could handle that better.

Yes..Siblings also can start fighting. Way easier to train one puppy..

 

[Aquatic_blue]

Two dogs are easier than one, however, two PUPPIES are harder than one.
You aren't the first person to feel like you've made a mistake getting siblings. They're often more difficult to train, can suffer from separation anxiety, and generally create double the trouble.
This probably wasn't the best time to get a puppy with very young children but who hasn't made a choice that in hind-sight probably wasn't the very best?
The good news is either option (rehoming or sticking it out) will probably end up fine In the end.
Do not wait until they are passed the cute puppy phase and have bad behaviors engrained to make the decision though.
If you decide to stick it out, try to find a trainer and work with the pups separately. That's my best advice, seek help. After 2 years you'll most likely have a couple great dogs.
If you decide you can't commit the time to train, exercise, and socialize two young dogs then the right thing to do is re-home them while it's still a viable option and before bad behavior sets in.
May I ask what breed? I may have missed it.

They are like a lab mix, they think with a type of terrier.

True, at cute puppy phase they will be swooped right up. Considering taking one back and focusing on the other.

True, my husband and I did the reading...planned this for years and I guess no matter how much planning I did..didn't matter.