How to Handle Post-Puppy Depression and Regret

You may have wanted a puppy for years, maybe since you were a kid, and now that it’s finally here, you don’t feel like you thought it would.

You feel stressed, sad and depressed, and wonder if you made a terrible mistake.

You have done everything to prepare:

• You have all the supplies to give your pup a healthy start and help your new dog feel safe.
• Read everything you can find about puppy care

You were sure you were ready. You were 100% sure.

Having your own dog was your life’s dream, but now you’re wondering if maybe you weren’t meant for it after all?

Believe it or not, this is a very common feeling and many new dog owners (not just puppy owners) experience something similar to postpartum depression after bringing home a new member of the family. furry family.

The phenomenon is known as puppy blues.

The Puppy Blues Explained

After bringing home your new puppy, many dog ​​owners find themselves regretting or questioning the decision to get a dog.

I know I did.

Suddenly, you’re confined to the house like you weren’t before, and you can’t just run around for coffee with friends or take a spontaneous trip.

Instead, you find yourself having to plan your days around the pup, resulting in a sense of lost freedom.

I know after bringing my dachshund puppy home I felt overwhelmed and like I couldn’t do anything on my own – all my time was busy and I had trouble eating or showering. .

Having a puppy is hard work, and it comes with an inevitable lifestyle change.

As a result, it’s no surprise that so many people come to experience something comparable to what new parents of human babies feel.

The puppy blues can set in immediately or after a few days or weeks.

It often strikes in unexpected and massive ways – pulling the rug out from under new dog owners.

Puppy Blues Symptoms

The puppy blues can present itself in many different ways, but it’s usually a mixture of negative feelings towards the concept of owning a puppy or the puppy itself.

Symptoms of the puppy blues include feelings of:

• Sadness
• Regret
• Depression
• Anxiety

As these symptoms set in, it’s common to want to give up, but it can be comforting to know that you’re far from alone and that the symptoms usually don’t last very long.

Having the puppy blues is normal, and it doesn’t make you an unsuitable dog owner.

According to concerned dog owners, it’s almost like a strong case of buyer’s remorse; you wanted something so badly until you decided to get it, and then all of a sudden you don’t want it anymore.

You find yourself regretting your decision to have a dog.

Possible Cause of Puppy Blues

Sometimes the cause of the puppy blues is the result of an inability to solve a problem.

Potty training may not be going the way you planned, or maybe the puppy is chewing up the whole house!

It can also be caused by sleep deprivation, if the puppy tends to cry at night or if he needs to be taken out frequently.

Having had certain expectations, only to find that the puppy is not meeting your goals, could lead to feelings of failure and a sense of inadequacy as a dog owner.

However, more often than not, the puppy blues has no obvious cause.

You could have the sweetest, smartest, best-behaved pup, and yet develop the puppy blues!

The reason for this is believed to be the loss of absolute freedom, as you come to mourn the freedom you didn’t know you had until you lost it.

You are suddenly in charge of the welfare of a living being, and it takes time to get used to such a responsibility.

Prevent Post-Puppy Depression

If you still don’t have your new pooch, you can use your knowledge and preparation to fight the puppy blues and prevent it from happening.

The better prepared you are, the less likely it is that your puppy’s arrival will throw you into a black hole of regret.

Three reminders to help prevent puppy blues:

1. Lower your expectations
2. Don’t blame the puppy
3. Know that you are not alone

Try not to expect too much from yourself or your new dog, especially the first week after you bring your puppy home.

Potty training your pup can take longer than expected, and the dog could potentially chew through your favorite purse or hiking shoes!

The thing is, it’s fine. All dogs are different and learn at their own pace.

Most naughty puppy behaviors are temporary and sooner or later they tend to grow out of it.

Give yourself some slack – you’re probably doing a lot better than you think.

Second, remember that your puppy is not responsible for your feelings.

Dogs don’t misbehave to annoy their humans, and most of the time it’s just a matter of being patient and learning to communicate better with your dog.

There’s no guarantee the puppy blues can be avoided, but the more you know about it, the less alone you’ll feel.

Plus, you’ll have the comfort of knowing what you’re dealing with.

You are not the first, nor the last, to question your decision to have a dog.

Defeat the Puppy Blues

By the time you decide to do a Google search for puppy blues, chances are you are already experiencing symptoms.

If you feel numb, hopeless, sad, full of regrets, or frustrated shortly after buying a new puppy or adult dog, you may already have it.

The most important thing to do when you have the puppy blues is to remember that your dog is not to blame.

It’s not the pup’s fault, nor yours, and it’s just something that happens to many new dog owners.

Ask for help. Look for dog-related groups on social media and write an article about your feelings.

It may seem scary to admit you’re struggling, especially when you thought the puppy would make you happy, but you’re sure to get support from others who have been through the same thing and overcome it.

The only thing to keep in mind is that in most cases the puppy blues is only temporary.

It probably doesn’t feel like it, but the puppy blues tend to fade between a few weeks and a few months until you barely remember feeling overwhelmed.

Give it time.

It’s getting better

While having a dog isn’t for everyone, most cases of puppy blues aren’t permanent, and it’s worth hanging around for a while.

One day this dog will be your best friend and you can’t imagine your life without him.

Your dog won’t always pee on the carpet (but for now, you probably want to be ready to get the pee stains off your carpet), wake you up at night and bite your hands until you’re done. Look like I got in a fight with Freddy Krueger.

One day you will miss it all.

Knowing that it’s likely to get (a lot) better can be incredibly comforting when you’re suffering from the puppy blues, and the best comfort you can get comes from other dog owners.

Talk about how you feel, because just as someone could help you, you share your difficulties can also help someone else with theirs.

Final Thoughts

Raising a puppy is incredibly hard work, especially in the first few weeks and months, and it often means losing sleep and feeling exhausted.

The feeling of having lost one’s freedom, and missing the carefree life before the puppy, is normal. It probably won’t last, and you’ll soon realize why life is so much better with a dog.

All the hard work will be worth it in the end, and the best thing you can do for yourself and your pup is to ask for help if you need it.

Ask a friend to come watch the puppy for an hour or two so you can take a break or talk to others who might understand your struggles.

Take a cup of coffee, close your eyes and count to 10.

Everything will be alright.

It’s normal to have regrets, and it’s okay if parenting a puppy isn’t what you thought it would be.

It’s okay to admit how difficult it is.

No dog owner gets everything right and no dog owner is perfect, but you are perfect in your dog’s eyes.