What do I do?

[Halfpasthen]

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.

Have y'all ever had a family dog before? Like before kids?
Lol I have a 5 month old shelter pup. We lost our 2 elderly dogs last year and the year before. So it's definitely tough to go from 2 well trained old lady dogs to a rambunctious and/or disgusting puppy lol. I always joke that his only redeeming quality is that he's going to grow up to be a dog. But puppies aren't near as fun as people think they're going to be hahaha. It's like with kids though, you get amnesia and completely forget how rough it is at first. It does get better if you can put in the time and energy.

 

[Halfpasthen]

Also for what it's worth, lab mixes are amazing. But lab puppies are very trying lol.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

Have y'all ever had a family dog before? Like before kids?
Lol I have a 5 month old shelter pup. We lost our 2 elderly dogs last year and the year before. So it's definitely tough to go from 2 well trained old lady dogs to a rambunctious and/or disgusting puppy lol. I always joke that his only redeeming quality is that he's going to grow up to be a dog. But puppies aren't near as fun as people think they're going to be hahaha. It's like with kids though, you get amnesia and completely forget how rough it is at first. It does get better if you can put in the time and energy.

Before kids, my husband had a border collie and when we was growing up, he had a lab mix that had puppies. I took care of the border collie at times....it was a weird situation and his parents wouldn't let him keep his own dog because his dog "bonded with them better" - his parents were abusive narcissists, though. Can't expect them to let him keep someone that brings them joy.

 

[Halfpasthen]

Before kids, my husband had a border collie and when we was growing up, he had a lab mix that had puppies. I took care of the border collie at times....it was a weird situation and his parents wouldn't let him keep his own dog because his dog "bonded with them better" - his parents were abusive narcissists, though. Can't expect them to let him keep someone that brings them joy.

I understand. If you aren't used to having puppies it can look deceptively fun and easy lol. I've worked with dogs everyday day for the past decade (vet tech, dog trainer and now groomer) so I deal with puppies on a daily basis. I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into with the new pup but I STILL lose my patience occasionally. I STILL ask myself "what have I done?" On a regular basis lol.
Just know if you decide to keep them it will all get better with time. And if you decide you can't it's OKAY to say that "this is too much, I bit off more than I can chew."
Don't let other people's judgement determine what choice you make.
It's okay to make a mistake and have to right your ship.

 

[rosemarythyme]

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.

I think it's a matter of timing. "Now" has a very difficult and trying time for all of us, so adding 2 puppies to the mix must be overwhelming. I don't even have kids and wouldn't want to deal with puppies right now, nevermind 2 of them at once (and I have 3 dogs at the moment... and one just peed in the house ).

I question your husband's logic in taking both dogs... it's normal that a litter gets split up to go to new homes. Not even sure if 1 right now is a good idea. Maybe this wasn't the right time for you to get dogs (personally I would've waited until the kids were older, and I wouldn't have gotten a puppy), but that's something you need to talk out with your family. Even if your husband is working he needs to chip in with the pups, they need training and play time and supervising.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

My husband helps when he is home. He works 5 days a week 8-12 hour shifts depending on work load.

Kids don't want to share me with the puppies and are upset about not being able to sleep/nap. The puppy nipping has my kids saying they are "bad dogs" -sigh-

We have to take one of the puppies to the vet in a few here because her incision looks split and my oldest lets her out of her puppy crate every chance she gets. She can't be running and jumping...she doesn't understand. If she's not listening now, I am not sure how this will work out. My youngest is scared of the barking, whimpering, and nipping.

I think we did bite off more than we could chew. I have never had puppies nor did I think the shelter would tell us, "Oh, they were just spayed yesterday." After we had adopted them. We weren't given any special instructions for their incision care.

My husband still wants me to give it time as they adjust to us and our schedules. After all, the adoption fee is non-refundable. We could also give the one a new home and keep the other.

I have been thinking of keeping one, too, but I still don't know if it would be doable. It will be easier, but it won't get rid of the kids eagerness to play with them or their fears when they try to nip. It won't get rid of the kids annoyance with less attention. My husband says he supposes he is simply used to it because he has dealt with puppies.

Thank you everyone for providing helpful advice. Maybe I asked all the wrong questions before getting them. It is also one thing to imagine puppy care and how it will go and plan what you need, but totally different when they are in your home.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The nipping thing needs to be stopped immediately, before it progresses to biting. But it's going to be hard trying to explain to a 5 yr old to not wiggle their fingers in front of the puppies or tease them with toys.

And I've had adopted dogs that had been freshly spayed/neutered and both times the incisions got infected (they weren't puppies either), so I have no idea why they let people take them home so soon after surgery.

Make a plan with your hubby and set a deadline - if you can't manage after 5 days, a week, whatever, they need to go back. I'm not a fan of returning dogs but this has potential disaster written all over it. I'd honestly recommend waiting until the kids were a bit older and get an older, calmer dog instead. Puppies are great with kids, but it works out a lot better when the kids are old enough to help with training and caretaking of the dogs.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

The nipping thing needs to be stopped immediately, before it progresses to biting. But it's going to be hard trying to explain to a 5 yr old to not wiggle their fingers in front of the puppies or tease them with toys.

And I've had adopted dogs that had been freshly spayed/neutered and both times the incisions got infected (they weren't puppies either), so I have no idea why they let people take them home so soon after surgery.

Make a plan with your hubby and set a deadline - if you can't manage after 5 days, a week, whatever, they need to go back. I'm not a fan of returning dogs but this has potential disaster written all over it. I'd honestly recommend waiting until the kids were a bit older and get an older, calmer dog instead. Puppies are great with kids, but it works out a lot better when the kids are old enough to help with training and caretaking of the dogs.

You've hit the nail on the noggin with this one.

My husband and I deal with the nips, but our 5 year old jerks her hand back even though we are trying to tell her to touch their back and not their face so they don't nip...but yes...difficult. We don't need biting when they are older.

I remember getting a bonded pair of cats before after they were spayed. It was before kids so I had all the time in the world to sit with one for 30mins then the other. They healed and adjusted well because I could keep them heavily supervised and entertained. Not so much with these puppies.

The puppies are a bit more rambunctious when they see people. Hard to keep them still.

I hate the idea of taking them back, and I don't want this situation to become a dangerous one. Husband will be home in a few and we will decide.

 

[Folly's place]

It's easy to fall for the busy, pushy puppies, and then discover that a calmer, 'steady Eddie' type is much nicer. Two busy babies at once is a challenge, and this is your first experience with puppies?!
Children and dogs can be great together, but need constant supervision, and instant feedback over all the fun behavioral issues that happen. Children aren't able to have the 'instant feedback' that it takes to modify the dog's behavior, until they are closer to eleven years of age.
We did puppies and toddlers at the same time, long ago, so it's possible, but it takes the right dogs, and one puppy at a time. And much more energy than I can call on now!
Mary

 

[Halfpasthen]

You've hit the nail on the noggin with this one.

My husband and I deal with the nips, but our 5 year old jerks her hand back even though we are trying to tell her to touch their back and not their face so they don't nip...but yes...difficult. We don't need biting when they are older.

I remember getting a bonded pair of cats before after they were spayed. It was before kids so I had all the time in the world to sit with one for 30mins then the other. They healed and adjusted well because I could keep them heavily supervised and entertained. Not so much with these puppies.

The puppies are a bit more rambunctious when they see people. Hard to keep them still.

I hate the idea of taking them back, and I don't want this situation to become a dangerous one. Husband will be home in a few and we will decide.

I'm sorry you're in a tough spot. I too have a 2 year old and the puppy and baby are Absolutely NOT allowed to interact unsupervised. They also aren't allowed to interact until after the puppy is exercised. lab puppies are exceptionally "mouthy" but do train out of it well if you are very stern. They are meant to have a soft mouth for retrieving. That said? As far as terriers go i would never own one. From Pit bull terrier to Yorkshire terrier you might as well have a cat for all they care about what you want lol.
But those lab genes are strong as is the desire to please. Either way, if you want to try to keep one or both of the puppies I highly recommend a professional trainer. They're cheaper than you would think and are an absolute must if you've never raised a puppy/don't have the time to navigate it.