When I gave birth to my son, I went through about three weeks of postpartum blues – wondering what the hell I was supposed to do with myself and this new baby, crying at 3pm every day (oh, the hormones), and generally being emotional collapse. Luckily for me, that depressive phase went away on its own within a few weeks. When we got a puppy my quality of life declined again and I felt the same way. Did we screw up? I’m so overwhelmed. This stage lasts much longer. So, what is puppy blues?
What is puppy blues?
To borrow a phrase from baby blues, puppy blues is basically the same thing. You bring home a new puppy and you quickly realize how much of your time they take up. Except outside, they pee and poop everywhere, eat your favorite shoes, bite constantly, try to wrestle – it’s just too much. It can create feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, and yes, it can even make you second-guess whether this puppy is a good idea.
“Feeling regret or frustration after getting a puppy is a relatively common feeling, just like becoming a new parent,” said Dr. Carly Fox, senior veterinarian in Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s Emergency and Critical Care Services. . “Raising a puppy requires a lot of time, energy and patience. It’s not uncommon for someone to feel tired, frustrated and lose free time while adjusting to having a new puppy in the home.
How long do puppy blues last?
It depends on you – whether you have experience raising puppies or are too romantic about how fun and adorable they can be – and your puppy’s personality and breed. Small dogs tend to reach behavioral maturity between 9 and 12 months of age, while medium-sized dogs take 12 to 18 months, and large dogs can take up to three years. Small breeds tend to teeth faster than larger breeds, and larger breeds tend to complete potty training earlier than smaller breeds, Taylor said.
“The length of time puppy blues lasts can vary greatly, from a few days to a few months. The first few weeks are definitely the most stressful. Puppies usually start learning basic commands and routines by three months of age activities. In most cases, by six months, both parties have settled into their new roles,” Fox said.
Lori M. Teller, DVM, DABVP, clinical professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University, agrees that puppy blues are usually fairly short-lived and are more common in those who have not received treatment. What happens before you get a puppy. “It is highly recommended that you research a life with a puppy and the breed or breed combination you want before purchasing one,” she says.
How to Get Over the Puppy Blues
Here’s what two veterinarians recommend for dealing with training, mischief, and early puppy chaos:
- Seek help from your veterinarian. “Puppies go through so much change and growth in just a few months that it can be overwhelming at times. Your veterinarian or staff can help you with some of the more challenging moments of puppyhood, such as house training, Teething and Sleeping Through the Night. Having realistic expectations and positive training strategies can help owners understand how long it may take to successfully housetrain their puppy, or how long teething may last,” says Taylor.
- Tire your puppy out. “Keep your puppy mentally and physically stimulated by purchasing educational toys, chew toys, and age- and breed-appropriate exercise. If you can, get help—hire a dog walker, local teenagers, or friends. Help with walking and nursing,” Fox said.
- Start crate training (and all training) immediately. “Crate training is the best way to get your puppy to stick to a schedule and reduce accidents,” says Fox. “This includes walks and pad training, socialization and play, and feeding. Bathroom accidents are expected to continue for weeks or even months. By the second to third week, start introducing basic commands with positive reinforcement.
- Sign up for puppy obedience classes. “In addition to having your furry friend learn good manners, another benefit of these classes is that you realize that you are not alone in the time and effort required to raise a puppy,” Taylor says. “Your classmates will experience the same highs and lows as you. Your puppy will make new friends and go home exhausted.
- Don’t leave teething puppies unsupervised and stay informed about your vet’s health advice. Teller points out that teething puppies can chew on almost anything, and swallowing foreign objects can cause a host of problems. Fox says vaccinating your puppy is life-saving preventative care. She adds that buying pet insurance can also save you thousands of dollars in emergency care costs if your pup does something undesirable. Knowing that you’ve done everything necessary to care for your puppy can make your stress about their wild antics less stressful, at least a little.
The best way to avoid puppy blues is to set your expectations for what owning a puppy will really feel like. “Puppies are cute, fun, interesting, and will love you unconditionally. They will also take up your free time, pee on your best carpet, and chew on your most expensive shoes,” Taylor says. “In other words, expect to feel the full range of emotions and live in chaos for a while. It’s amazing what you have when puppyhood is over: a well-adjusted, social companion who will be there for you when you return It will greet you when you are home and love you forever, whether you are having the best day of your life or the worst day.
