Welcome to the world of puppy blues
If you want to know more about dog psychology, training, health, and diseases, please subscribe to The Happy Puppers blog, so I can send you notifications about the release of all new blog posts. The Happy Puppers videos are uploaded on the YouTube channel Shruti and Delta. If you want to get notifications about the latest releases, please subscribe to the channel and ring the notification bell so YouTube can notify you about new video releases.Puppy blues can happen to anyone. Whether you are a first-time dog guardian or a dog guardian for the sixth time, it can hit any time. It is typical for owners of new puppies to feel very low after they have bought a puppy. Postpartum depression is a well-documented disease in the case of new moms. Even though puppies may not be humans, there are certain parts of raising puppies and kids that are alike. The experience of having a new puppy can be very challenging, intimidating, and emotionally draining.HOW TO INTRODUCE YOUR DOG TO A NEW PUP. 14 TIPSTopics covered in this blog post
What are puppy blues?
When you thought of getting a new dog, you imagined games, cuddling time, and long walks. However, once the puppy entered your life, you realized much more than just walks, cuddles, and fun. Real-life involves cleaning after your puppy, feeding them, training them, sleepless nights, etc. These are not the aspects that you imagined. All these factors put together force them to feel that the puppy would be better off with another family or in a shelter. Another major struggle that most dog guardians face is lifestyle changes. The guardian starts to feel like they have no time for themselves and cannot get any work done because of the puppy. These factors also contribute to the lack of a meaningful relationship between the guardian and the dog.Another name for puppy blues is postpartum puppy sadness. Puppy blues is not a psychological disorder but a common complaint amongst new dog guardians. Once they adopt a puppy, they may feel wary, numb, worried, desperate, and face other unpleasant feelings.When do puppy blues start?
Dog guardians are usually hit with puppy blues a few days after bringing the new dog or puppy home. However, it is not necessary that it would occur within the first few days. Guardians may also get hit by puppy blues after a few weeks. However, the second case scenario is more likely if the guardians have rescued a dog and the dog’s real personality starts to showcase after a few weeks. When the real character shows, the guardians begin to experience puppy blues. |
| What are puppy blues? |
How long does puppy blues last?
Puppy blues can last for any period, ranging from a few days to a few months. However, there is a chance that the problem can recur once the puppy reaches a milestone in the growth stages like the fear stages. The fear stage is a developmental stage of the puppy when the puppies act skittish or fearful. Puberty time is another milestone in the puppy growth stages where parents or guardians may feel overwhelmed. However, the good thing about puppy blues is that when they recur later, the duration is lesser, and they are not as powerful as the first time.Research on puppy blues is new (see below). Owners’ stories suggest that severe puppy blues occur during the third week from the start of symptoms. After the third week, the symptoms may persist. However, they become more manageable and usually fade away within three months. It has been often reported that when the puppies finish teething, the puppy blues symptoms also disappear away from the guardians.What research says about puppy blues
The first scientific study of puppy blues, from the University of Helsinki (2024), surveyed about 1,800 dog owners. Just under half reported significant negative feelings during puppyhood, and about one in ten reported the most severe strain. The feelings fell into three groups: anxiety (worry about doing things right), frustration (regret, irritation, trouble bonding) and weariness (exhaustion). The good news: they generally faded as the puppy grew up (StĂĄhl et al., 2024).
Puppy Blues symptoms
The puppy blues symptoms and duration can vary depending on the guardian’s personality. Most of the symptoms of puppy blues are very similar to symptoms of anxiety that people experience. Suppose a person has an inclination towards depressive disorders. In that case, they are more likely to suffer from puppy blues after bringing a new dog or puppy home.HOW TO COPE WITH DEPRESSION NATURALLY? 6 TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS, A COMPLETE GUIDEPuppy blues symptoms and signs
The following symptoms and signs are part of puppy blues if they occur after a new dog enters your life:- Sadness, hopelessness, anxiety
- Overwhelming feelings
- Paralyzed or helpless feelings
- A sense of shame or guilt
- Feeling empty on the inside
- Feeling trapped
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm (call or text 988 now)
- Feeling resentful towards the puppy
- Feeling like you made a big mistake when you got the dog
- Feeling like you are not the right person for the dog
- Crying more than ever
- Increase in the frequency of quarrels with family members
- Increase in irritability
- Concentration problems
- Stomach, nausea, headache, or other discomforts
- Muscle tenseness
- Weight gain or loss
- Appetite changes
- You cannot sleep even if the puppy sleeps the whole night
If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out now. In the US, call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any time, day or night. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911. Outside the US, contact your local emergency number or crisis line. Feeling overwhelmed by a new puppy is common, and you don’t have to handle it alone.
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Why does puppy blues occur?
There can be a variety of causes behind severe puppy blues, including sleep deprivation and the realization that suddenly, another creature is entirely dependent on you. When you start to feel anxious and resentful towards the puppy, you must look inside yourself and find out where these thoughts stem from. There is a chance that you may uncover underlying stress or depression contributing to the puppy blues. Understanding the causes behind puppy blues will help you hold onto your normalcy and put your feelings into context.Changes in sleep quality or pattern
When you bring home a dog, it’s a big responsibility. You may be waking up multiple times at night to take your puppy out. You must console your puppy if they bark or cry. Finally, you do not sleep as well as before when you sleep. Constant sleep deprivation can impact mental health negatively and make it difficult for you to bring your emotions under control. Even if you have high mental strength, lack of sleep can cause you to feel depressed, overwhelmed, anxious, and distracted.Changes in daily routine
Suppose you are used to a specific daily routine. Once a puppy enters your life, your routine turns upside down. You have to make time to walk the puppy, feed the puppy, train the puppy, take the puppy out for bathroom breaks, etc. Suddenly the entire schedule seems haphazard. Unless you adapt to the new schedule involving your puppy, you will continue to feel anxious and overwhelmed.Increase in disturbances
If you prefer a tranquil environment, bringing a puppy into your life can make it challenging to find peace. You have to constantly check on the puppy, make sure they are not chewing anything inedible, clean up pee accidents, clean up the poop, crate train the puppy, play with the pup, etc. You may start to feel that even five minutes of peace has become very expensive.Increased attention demands
Puppies require a lot of attention. They do not like to be alone. Even when the puppy is playing independently or is behaving peacefully, you have to keep one eye open to ensure that the puppy does not get into any trouble. Constantly keeping your focus on the pup can be very draining mentally.DOG TOYS IMPORTANCE AND ROLE IN DOG DEVELOPMENTNo independence
You cannot go anywhere without a puppy. If you go to the bathroom, your puppy will follow you. When you are home, you must ensure that the puppy gets ample bathroom breaks. For this reason, you may have to decline an outing with your friends and forgo making any spontaneous plan. These can contribute to frustration, irritation, and a sense of being in jail all the time.Deficiency of information
If you are not entirely prepared before you get a puppy, you may not know what is expected at what age for dogs. This may make it very difficult to deal with puppy issues like excessive barking, excessive chewing, crying at night, etc. Whether it is a puppy or a dog, not having complete information on how to take care of the animal can be very tiring and worrisome.MY PUP HAS WORMS! THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO PUPPY DEWORMING.Unmet expectations
Most people dream that their dog will be perfect. They do not consider the initial stages of puppies’ biting, chewing, and destructive behavior. Thus, your reality may not live up to your expectations when you get a new puppy. Even though this is a part of the initial phase only, the gap between reality and expectation may cause you to feel overwhelmed, disillusioned, and depressed.STOP PUPPY NIPPING BEHAVIOR! A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR NEW GUARDIANSUnderlying mental health issues
As I previously mentioned, if you already suffer from any mental health issue, bringing in a dog or puppy into your life, especially when you are not entirely ready, can increase problems. This is especially true if you suffer from depressive or anxiety disorders. Negative feelings toward the puppy can make existing low mood or anxiety feel worse.Suppose you start to observe such changes within a few days after bringing your new puppy home. You might begin to feel more melancholy, worried or angry. If that happens, talk to a doctor or mental health professional. If you ever have thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (US) right away.Complete dependency
It suddenly hits you that another creature is entirely dependent on your love and care. What if you are busy somewhere and a mishap happens with the puppy? What if you are not able to take care of the puppy properly? What if the puppy has some disease? How will you handle that? All of these can contribute to extreme levels of stress. You might feel overwhelmed due to the sudden responsibilities of becoming a parent without the proper preparation. Such thoughts can be highly anxiety-inducing, frightening, and overwhelming.How to survive puppy blues?
If you are trying to find a way through your puppy blues, the primary thing you must do is understand the underlying cause. Once you know the underlying cause, it is easier to deal with the puppy blues symptoms. If you are suffering from a severe puppy blues case, making certain adjustments in your life and implementing specific tactics would make your day-to-day life much more manageable. You must be flexible and adaptable when you are attempting new things. What has worked for someone may not necessarily work for you. Thus, keep an open mind about things.Tips for surviving puppy blues
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| How to survive puppy blues? |
Get help
Initially, you will have to spend all your free time with your pup, it may become overwhelming, and you may feel jailed in your own house. Instead of feeling cooped up, you can invite your friends over to your place. This would prevent you from feeling caged. It will also allow your dog to meet other humans and learn socialization. You will start to get a feel of normalcy while your pup learns to deal with the presence of other humans in the house. You can also check out groups on social media sites like Facebook, where people openly discuss puppy blues and how they dealt with it. You may find some tips which may work for you.Get in touch with the veterinarian.
Suppose you are unsure about any unusual behavior that your puppy is showing. In that case, the best person to contact will be the veterinarian. A quick call can put your mind at ease regarding the health of your pup. Most veterinarians are very helpful. They will be happy to answer your questions and guide you regarding any skill or information that you need to ensure that your dog is in perfect mental, behavioral and physical shape.If you’re struggling with nipping, house training or crying at night, a reward-based puppy class or a certified trainer can make a big difference quickly. If you’re thinking about rehoming, talk to your breeder or rescue first; many will take the puppy back or help you find a good home.
Research
Research is crucial before you get a puppy. Suppose you missed out on researching before you got a puppy. In that case, learn on the job. It is never too late to do research. Research is especially crucial with regards to understanding the behavior your puppy displays. When you are armed with knowledge, parenting will become easier. You will gain newfound confidence to help you deal with puppy blues and be a better dog guardian. Alternatively, you can also contact your family members or friends who have dogs. You can ask them for help with training, behavioral issues, and dog psychology.Be flexible
Do not have your head in the clouds when it comes to your dog. Focus on maintaining realistic expectations. Reading up on your dog’s breed, developmental stages, age, history, etc., will allow you to expect what might happen. This would mentally prepare you and keep you from getting worried if something does not go as per ‘your’ idealistic plan.Do a puppy course
Many online and offline classes can arm you with the current skills and knowledge needed to make sure that you provide a wholesome environment for your dog. Puppy courses are a terrific way to meet other dog guardians who might be going through the same problems and joys that you are.
Check your progress
You can use your phone or paper to keep track of the progress that you’re making. Take three issues and focus on them for two weeks at one point. Focus on every small thing that you accomplish with your dog. This will help you gain confidence, feel more upbeat, and increase the bond you have with your dog.Unwind and relax
It is not always possible to be patient, attentive, and upbeat. It is tough to have a small puppy dependent on you for their fundamental needs. Thus, you need to give yourself breaks. When your puppy is sleeping, focus on yourself. If your puppy is crate trained, put them in the crate with a chew toy while you nap or take some time for yourself, but keep it short: young puppies shouldn’t be left alone for more than about 3 hours. Once your puppy has finished the vaccine series, a good puppy daycare can give you a break too.Understand that the situation is temporary
When life is difficult, minutes seem like an hour, and an hour seems like a lifetime. Tell yourself to put one foot in front of the other and progress. If things are hard, focus on the next task at hand. Remember, your puppy will grow and whatever situations come in front of you, you are strong enough to handle them.Be kind to yourself
It is easy to start feeling overwhelmed when things don’t go your way. However, you deserve kindness. Every new parent learns from their mistakes. You cannot be at your 100% at all times. You should be prepared if something goes wrong. Tell yourself that you are okay as long as the puppy is in the crate or a safe and has access to clean water and food. Have your veterinarian’s number on the fridge or at a place that is easily accessible. There will be good and bad days. If a day seems particularly difficult, take a deep breath, tell yourself you will get through it, and focus on progressing forward instead of allowing yourself to start feeling overwhelmed.Talk with therapist
You may not realize it, but therapy can play a huge role in helping you adjust to your new life with the pup. It is easy to give up when situations become difficult; it is easy to forget why you got the dog in the first place. One of the best ways to deal with puppy blues is to talk to someone who has been through it already. It is tough to be positive when you are drowning in negativity. Thus, if you suffer from sadness, anxiety, or guilt, you need non-judgmental support. A therapist is one of the best sources of this kind of support. Your therapist can help you process the problematic aspects of your experience, figure out solutions that can easily be implemented, and control that feeling of overwhelm that has become a constant in your life.Pin it!
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Conclusion
Puppy blues is something that the guardian feels when taking care of your puppy starts to seem like too much work. They begin to question themselves if it was the right decision to bring a puppy into their lives or if the puppy would be safer with someone else. Life starts to seem overwhelming and extremely difficult. However, puppy blues does not last forever.For most people it eases as the puppy grows up, often by the end of the teething stage. Dealing with puppy blues can become easy if you learn to be kind to yourself, implementing strategies like having your veterinarian’s phone number at hand and researching puppyhood stages, behavioral issues, and dog psychology. Learn to keep an open mind and tell yourself how strong you are. You can lean on your family and friends for support.You need to remember why you got the dog in the first place. Nothing compares to the love of your dog. You may have a rocky start, but it is all worth it when that bond grows strong. Your dog will be a massive part of your mental and emotional health. Thus, do not let a case of puppy blues separate you from your puppy. Get help from a licensed mental health professional to guide you through this challenging situation.I will be uploading the videos of The Happy Puppers on my YouTube channel, Shruti and Delta. If you want to watch the videos, please subscribe to the YouTube channel. If you found this article insightful and would like to know more about the latest blog posts, please subscribe to The Happy Puppers so I can send you notifications about the new releases directly in your inbox.How many dogs do you have? Did you ever suffer from puppy blues? How did you deal with it? Please share your experiences in the comment section below so that others who might be suffering from puppy blues can know about your experience and how to survive puppy blues.
A dog is not for Christmas. A dog is for a lifetime.
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See you in my next article.ShrutiWhat are puppy blues?
Puppy blues are the anxiety, frustration, regret or exhaustion many people feel in the weeks after bringing a new puppy home. It isn’t a medical diagnosis, but research suggests nearly half of new puppy owners experience some of it.
How long do puppy blues last?
For most people, puppy blues ease within a few weeks to a few months as the puppy settles in, sleeps through the night and learns basic manners. If low mood, hopelessness or anxiety last longer than two weeks or affect daily life, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
What are the symptoms of puppy blues?
Common signs are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or trapped, regretting getting the puppy, crying more, irritability, poor sleep and trouble bonding with the puppy. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US right away.
Is it normal to regret getting a puppy?
Yes. Many new puppy owners have moments of regret, especially in the first weeks of broken sleep and constant supervision. It usually passes. Get help from family, a trainer or a puppy class, and give yourself breaks.
