A mom who thought a puppy would become a sweet companion for her family says the reality has been far messier, harder, and more exhausting than she ever expected. After three months with a Golden Retriever puppy, she is now seriously considering rehoming her and feels crushed by the guilt of even thinking it.
In a post on Reddit, she explained that the dog is now 6 months old and has been with the family since she was 3 months old. But instead of feeling like a lovable new addition, the puppy has started to feel like one more overwhelming responsibility in a house that already includes three young children, including a toddler and a baby.
She Wanted a Family Dog and Got a Full-Time Cleanup Job Instead
The mom said the biggest struggle right now is potty training.
According to her, the accidents feel nonstop. She takes the puppy outside, the puppy goes, they come back in, and then somehow there is another mess to clean up. Some days are better than others, but most of the time she feels like she is just chasing accidents around the house while already stretched thin by the kids.
What made the whole thing even worse is that the puppy has developed another gross habit too.
She said if she does not catch it immediately, the dog eats her own poop, and has even thrown up twice afterward. That means the mom feels like she has to watch the puppy constantly just to prevent the next disgusting disaster. She admitted she cannot realistically monitor a dog every second of the day while also raising little kids, and after doing this for three months straight, she feels completely drained.
The hardest part may be that she does not even dislike the dog. She called her a really sweet puppy. That is what makes the whole thing hurt more.
The Breaking Point Was Realizing the Dream in Her Head Does Not Match Real Life
The mom said she genuinely believed getting a dog would be something healthy and valuable for her children.
She pictured the puppy growing into a loyal companion, a kind of best friend for the family and for her too. Instead, she says it feels like she added another problem to an already overloaded life. That gap between what she imagined and what daily life actually looks like seems to be what pushed her into finally admitting she may be at her limit.
She said she is now considering rehoming the puppy to a family that has more time, energy, and patience to handle what this stage requires. But even as she thinks it through, she feels like she is failing the dog and backing out of a commitment she already made. At the same time, she knows she has to be honest about her own mental and physical health while caring for three small kids who depend on her.
A Lot of Parents Said Keeping Her Out of Guilt Might Be the Bigger Mistake
The replies were blunt, but many were also sympathetic.
Several people pointed out that Golden Retrievers are high-energy working dogs and that puppyhood can stay chaotic for a long time, especially in a busy house. Some said rehoming now, while the dog is still young and highly adoptable, may actually be the kindest choice for both the family and the puppy. A few suggested going through a rescue so the dog lands in a solid home.
Others shared that they had pushed through a similar mistake and that it eventually turned out fine, but even they admitted the timing had been awful and the early years were brutal. One parent said four years later the dog and child are inseparable, but still called getting the puppy then the “worst decision” at the time.
The strongest thread running through the comments was simple: this was not really about whether she loves the dog. It was about whether guilt alone is a good enough reason to keep forcing a situation that already feels like too much.
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