It's OK to regret getting a puppy. Pets can be a hefty commitment, especially when they're young and require training and guidance. The “post-puppy blues” or simply “puppy blues” are a natural response to the sudden lack of freedom and increase of responsibilities that can come with a new dog.
Often, these feelings manifest during the first few days and weeks after bringing the puppy home. Feelings of worry, confusion, and stress are common during this period. Pet owners may also feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with their new puppy.
In conclusion, it is very normal for puppy owners to feel overwhelmed in the first weeks and months with their new addition.
'Puppy blues' is a term used to describe the negative experiences and feelings that some people experience after bringing home a puppy. After the immediate euphoria of the fluffy bundle of fun wears off, many puppy owners (and particularly first-time dog owners) are left feeling overwhelmed and without support.
This adjustment period rarely lasts for more than two weeks. Here are a few things you'll need to know to welcome the latest addition to your family. Please be patient with your dog. Most of us have an idea of some ideal dog in our mind and when reality doesn't match the dream, we can lose our patience.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
It's OK to regret getting a puppy. Pets can be a hefty commitment, especially when they're young and require training and guidance. The “post-puppy blues” or simply “puppy blues” are a natural response to the sudden lack of freedom and increase of responsibilities that can come with a new dog.
As a last resort, you may be able to surrender your pet to a local shelter or rescue organization. Each agency may have a different process for surrendering a pet to their care; learn more by visiting their website or by calling ahead.
There is so much you're trying to teach your new puppy, that it can feel overwhelming: house-training, sleeping through the night, not to nip, not to chew, and all the other household rules you've established. Add to that a puppy's natural curiosity and energy, and you might start to feel as if he'll never get it.
Our time with our pups truly is short, so do your best to enjoy each moment with him/her! And remember, if you have moments where you regret getting a puppy, that is fine! It is a totally normal feeling!
So the answer is, it will get easier and easier, depending on how much effort you put into educating your dog. You should therefore remain hopeful in the process during the first year. It's several months of intense work that will give you many years of wonderful companionship with your dog.
The one thing to keep in mind is that in most cases puppy blues is only temporary. It probably doesn't feel like it, but puppy blues tend to fade away somewhere between a few weeks and a few months until you can barely even remember having felt overwhelmed. Give it time.
Nearly 70% of puppy owners reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both. These emotions are very common, very real, and can be disruptive daily.
From 1 to 2 Years
Your dog has graduated from puppyhood. As your puppy nears age one (up to two years for a large breed), they're beginning to look and act more mature. They will probably still be playful, but now they've learned the ropes and are much better at following the rules.
It may seem like it's a natural skill, but puppies need to learn how to be alone, and it's a gradual process. Generally, puppies work their way up from being under constant care and supervision to being trusted and comfortable being on their own over the course of an eight-hour workday over time.
Just like a human child, your puppy's bones and joints need time to mature. If you over-exercise your puppy while they are growing, they might damage their growth plates and joints, which can lead to conditions such as early onset arthritis and hip dysplasia.
A shelter or rescue might be able to take your puppy off your hands, or allow you to keep your puppy as a foster until they can help you find a new home for them. Shelter and rescues have networks of potential adopters and usually have protocols to ensure that your puppy is going to a good home.
Yep, it's fairly normal to regret getting a puppy or dog. You're not a bad person! If you've recently added a new dog or puppy to your family and you're wondering if you've made a mistake, just know that others go through the same feelings.
Symptoms Of Puppy Blues: Sadness And Anxiety
Often, new puppy owners expect to feel sheer joy about their new pet. Instead, you might feel really down about the situation. You might find yourself crying often, eating less, sleeping less, and having trouble focusing. Similarly, you may feel more anxious than usual.
A 3-month-old puppy can learn boundaries and good manners, potty training, and basic commands. They're also learning to love you—this is when the bond between you and your pup is solidified.
While you'd think that helplessness would make it harder to raise a baby than a puppy, the opposite is true. That helplessness is exactly what makes babies so comparatively easy to raise. The job isn't, in the grand scheme of things, as hard as people would have you believe. For starters, babies are immobile.
No matter how cute your little rascal is, puppy-wrangling can be absolutely exhausting. While it's true that adopting a puppy can bring a much-needed source of joy and unconditional love into your life, it can also bring stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and frustration (often called the “puppy blues”).
Generally, most puppies will start to settle between 6 - 12 months, but as mentioned above there are a few other factors that can impact puppy energy levels. Some might say that female dogs are calmer dogs due to the fact they mature quicker than males, however a more impactful factor to consider would be their breed.