Reddit mentions of IRIS Extra Large Puppy and Dog Training Pet Pad Holder, Blue

Deep breaths. But also, good on you. As bad as your anxiety is, it would be MUCH worse if you came into this unprepared. I see so many people on this reddit page who seem like they just woke up one morning and thought "I'm going to get a puppy" without doing any sort of preparation or realistic expectations. So you, my friend, are already ahead of the game and you're already a good puppy mom/dad.

The #1 thing that helped me? The realization that I can watch all these videos and read all these books, and that DID help a LOT . . . but there are also some things that are just unique to my puppy and that I'll have to make up on the fly.

If you potty train with a peepad, expect to use that peepad forever. Which is TOTALLY OKAY by the way. I work full time so it's better for me to leave a peepad out so that my dog doesn't have to hold her bladder for 8-10 hours a day (though she will pee outside when we go for walks; she just doesn't alert to pee). I use reuseable, washable ones (like this: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Solution-Washable-Absorbent-Controlling/dp/B0077HUORI) and a peepad tray (like this: https://www.amazon.com/IRIS-Extra-Large-Training-Holder/dp/B0006ABVGQ?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1). The tray was VERY important for my puppy and really helped her figure out where the line between "bathroom" and "not bathroom" was (if her back paws are behind the rim and standing on plastic, she knows she's good to pee!).

Yes, it's definitely a good idea to only carry dog around outside until she's had her shots--but carry her around a LOT. And not just on walks. Take her on the metro, in cars, on trains--anything and everything she could conceivably ride on later in life. Lots of treats if she's not too scared to eat them!

If you put her on a puppy pad, that would be fine and she's not likely to pick up any illnesses that way. But good luck getting her to pee on the pad on command before trying to wander off the pad! I would just arrange outings to keep them short for the first month or so. Wait until she pees inside on the pad, then take her out for 15-30 min. She shouldn't have to pee in that short time frame (and I think she's very unlikely to pee on you. My dog never, ever peed in someone's arms when she was a puppy, nor would she ever pee on something she deemed a bed--crate, my bed, a carpet, etc. She only had accidents on the hardwood floor).

Most importantly: HAVE FUN. Your dog will have fun if you have fun. Find the joy in her puppyhood. Don't let it be too clouded by anxiety. She's going to grow up safe and happy and well-adjusted, because her parent is well-prepared and thinks about everything. Plenty of dogs grow up safe and happy and well-adjusted with terrible pet parents who don't even consider any of the things you are. You're setting her up for a good life, I promise it'll be okay!