I absolutely agree with all of this, especially with the mental health aspect of it. -Travel costs. It'll help a LOT. We started run/walking program together to burn her energy and it helped a lot. She's 4.5 months old right now, the constant watching is slowly decreasing, as she now will usually let me know when she needs to go potty (occasionally she'll even let herself out on her own). My rescue took about six months to start to relax. She is a 3-month old German Shepherd mix and we have had her for only about 1 week now. 5 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews. -Destruction. Your pup sounds like a dream! Lol. My thought exercise is to imagine, when I'm upset with my pup/situation, is whether the struggle I'm facing is specific to the pup I have, or would it happen for any dog I have? I’ve owned 6 dogs thus far and made quite a few mistakes along the way, and this post is inspired by a friend who recently decided to rehome their dog. Every week, your puppy will get better at something, or be able to do something new and life will get easier and more fun each time. I know a lot of people use puppy play pens for this, too. It’s honestly suffocating at times. Blue Buffalo. And being a good dog owner involves thinking long and hard before (and after) getting a puppy to make sure it was the right choice. Basically, in our case, a dog didn't change our life much at all. $29.99 - $30.99. It's the best part of my day, and I go to work so much happier. Especially if you have a big dog, be careful with your dog around others. I had horrible puppy depression. We talk a lot about how animals can improve mental health and we don’t talk enough about how being fully responsible for a living being 24/7 for the next 8-15 years can hurt the mental health of someone who isn’t in a good place. You can plan for food and vet bills, but you should also plan for expensive furniture/electronics to be at risk or in need of replacing. Even if you've been hoping, waiting and planning for your puppy (or dog) for months, or years, the reality of puppy care can sometimes come as a shock... causing some emotional upheaval to kick in. My activity levels sound pretty similar to yours and I see you do nosework, a sport my current dog made me fall in love with and I’d love to continue with my next one. That’s a really good point that I didn’t even consider. Today is exactly one month since my husband and I brought home our puppy (18 weeks, Rottweiler/Terrier mix), and last night is the first night I slept through the night in that month. $27.49. You’re … Noise can also be an issue with neighbors if the dog is left alone for long periods of time. I was overwhelmed, I cried, I had no appetite, I lost weight, I was exhausted - you name it, I felt it. Very well said. Puppy training was exhausting and as far as bad puppy stories go, I’m sure mine wouldn’t even ping the radar. My dogs are my favourite thing, but other than when I have training sessions or competitions, they absolutely do not dictate my schedule. It's really important to utilize what resources you can to allow yourself downtime: baby gates, ex-pen, crate, doggy daycare, training, friends or family. It’s not fair to my dog for me to expect him to make me happier much like it’s not fair for me to expect that out of family and friends. If you like to come home and relax after work you won’t be able to, at least for awhile. But as he grew, he was able to sleep through the night without needing to get up to pee, and he stopped chewing up everything (except socks; socks must still always go in the hamper, or they will be shredded), and he stopped needing constant supervision, and I learned to stop worrying about him so much. Payment will be charged to your Google Play Account at confirmation of purchase. I still live in fear of coming home to pee and poop everywhere...but we're learning how to play with each other and give each other space when it's needed. Plus, we spoil the crap out of him so he is costing us a lot of money. The natural anxiety and blues of first time dog ownership are 100x worse if you are living with people who are not 100% on board with the dog. It was just such a shock to go from being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted, to my life revolving around a nutty ball of fluff. Use the times when she's napping to your advantage; recharge yourself with a nap, eat something, take a shower, watch a TV show or do something that's for yourself. 98 ($0.10/Ounce) $54.98 $54.98. And even then, sometimes ppl put in TOO MUCH time and create this codependent relationship. Puppy Blues – When You Regret Getting A Puppy or Dog It’s normal to second guess yourself and regret getting a puppy or dog. It also helps to get some human companionship. You mentioned the Rockies, if you're in the Denver area, PM me and I can pass along that info and maybe our pups can become friends! Before we know it we will be wishing our babies (well, my baby pup) were still babies. And it's coming, in about a month or less. I adopted an older puppy that I thought would make a good running partner. I've been a life long dog lover, I searched for the perfect puppy for over a year, and the first week I had him, I got hit with the puppy blues hard. We've had our puppy for about 2 months now and it's amazing how much our hard work with training him is paying off already (just have to brace ourselves for those teenage months!). He'll need a bit more attention and a walk tonight, but otherwise he's learned to settle well. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. If it’s affecting other areas of your life (work/relationships) and affecting your mental health beyond the usual frustration and lack of sleep that’s not normal and I see that as a compatibility issue, not puppy blues. An emotional bond with a dog isn’t more important than your mental health or the dogs needs. You shouldn’t have to constantly worry about your things being destroyed . And originally I wanted a dog I could run with, so I was looking at various herding mixes, sporting mixes, etc at the shelter. I only worry about them being alone for long-ish periods of time during the first year to two years of their life (while they are crated). Granted I didn’t do much in general, but I can’t just up and do something like I could before. I broke down several times, was sleep deprived, barely ate much. If it's the latter, maybe it's not so much the blues. Protein is the most important nutrient for any dog because it provides the building blocks for healthy muscles. Like you, Crash (our puppy) is actually pretty dang well-behaved, as far as puppies go, and sleeps through the night, but wow. If you live in a hot or cold climate and have a large dog they will not be able to ride cargo if outside temps are above or below a certain level. When I first got my puppy at 7 weeks, the first two weeks were the most frustrating. Once you can take them on scheduled walks, get outside, see some nature, and burn off all that puppy energy life is good! -Losing rental deposits/housing/damages. Pre-COVID, we see friends maybe once every 1-2 months for a few hours. It won’t work for other people. Thank you for the encouragement!! I love them dearly but I told myself I can’t get another pet after them. You will have to have a plan for the dog when you leave town or travel. I couldn't get any work done either (I'm lucky in that I am a freelancer, and my clients have been understandings). When you bring home a puppy you should expect all of the following: -Lack of sleep. I’m having a hard time seeing when I’ll have time to do my (full time WFH) job properly again — Or focus on any other pursuits. The puppy depression (aka post-partum puppy depression or puppy blues) is something which hits YOU, not your puppy. You will receive an ads-free Reddit experience, access to r/lounge and 700 Coins for every month you are subscribed. I just don't know if I can. Puppy Linux advantage. Capturing Calmness- how to train calmness in dogs- dog training. If you ever just need a break, put her in a puppy proof bathroom, close the door, maybe give her a bone so she can occupy herself, put some headphones in and watch an episode of a tv show. I’m in the throes of this conundrum right now. But if you're someone who loves spontaneity and travelling for extended periods of time (Like back packing through Europe for months, for example), then a dog would have a significant impact on your life. I'd love to hear your thoughts. It’s tough because puppies are so unpredictable. So yeah, the depression and anxiety (which I already struggle with) hit me like a brick and it was really bad for a while. The St. Louis Blues brought a new face onto the ice after practice Thursday, and he's pretty good at tracking the puck. They can be a partner and a friend if you manage your expectations and put in the work. If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning a dog can’t fix that. Reddit is a social news and entertainment website where registered users submit content in the form of either a link or a text ("self") post. Glad to hear that even after 2 months things are paying off. As someone with mental issues, I think the idea that the dog is somehow going to make things just go away is unrealistic. The level of stress and constant vigilance is just so high, and it's so tough. Totally worth it when they get older and you can do fun stuff with them, also make sure you train daily, even if its just a few mins per day. My dog though DOES help me get out of bed, no matter what. If you’re reading this sub it means you want to be a really good dog owner. A trainer near me holds supervised puppy play parties every week and it's a huge weight off of me to let him go play safely and burn off some energy. Cookies help us deliver our Services. If in 2 months you have decided you don't want a dog you can start to consider rehoming. Please try again in a couple of minutes. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. I keep her busy, if she's chewing on household items, redirect her attention to her bone/toy. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Wet Dog Food Chicken & Trout Grill - 12.5oz/12ct Pack. She made no noise and had no needs for lots of exercise and was happy to chill on the couch (yes even as a puppy!) I think the key is preparing for all the things I mentioned in my post and hoping for the best, because you really never know. But I do wish that someone had told me about post-puppy blues before I got a puppy. The first month with our pup was super stressful. Such bliss. I was crying and feeling anxious almost constantly for a while there. I get annoyed and discouraged with my dogs a lot but it’s situational, most days I’m able to shrug off my puppy’s bad behavior and work to correct it without getting overwhelmingly anxious, angry, or depressed. Points that might seem clear to us now that we have dogs/pups, but I didn't think about as much before. Reddit Premium: now with less suck. Dogs don’t exist to solve our problems, they can, but it’s not their primary purpose. I love how supportive this community is for people experiencing puppy blues which are 100% a real thing. When I get a new dog I usually look at it as “I’m going to spend a lot of time training for the next 6 months so that I don’t have to spend this amount of time or inconvenience myself or others for the next 10 years.” And even during the puppy stage they’re spending time with family and at daycare so that I can still have a life beyond them. I promise it gets easier - not every day, but more all of the sudden. Puppies definitely need to be watched at all times. I had thoughts about returning her and getting an older dog instead, but many of my friends who had puppies encouraged me to stick it out and assured me it does get better. Ready to use → all tools for common daily computing usage already included. A good vet and trainer are a must. -Health issues. I was feeling the exact same way that you are, in the first few weeks we have had our puppy. This isn’t meant to shame anyone or invalidate anyone who is feeling discouraged. It all sounds great, but since getting her, we have both felt uneasy and anxious 24/7. I've literally been gently sticking her nylabones in her mouth when shes chewing on something she shouldn't. If you go to the dog park, have a conversation with the other patrons. Get all of Hollywood.com's best Movies lists, news, and more. I am really hoping I can get beyond this initial stage. If you don't think you can provide her a good, permanent home, then please contact the shelter or rescue where you got her. Choose options. Puppy Linux is a unique family of Linux distributions meant for the home-user computers. I try to imagine the days ahead when we can hike the Rockies together and cuddle on the couch and watch a TV show without having to pause every 2.5 minutes to have a teaching moment on not chewing the leather couch. And sometimes you get a dog who isn’t what you expected. Variety Read Next: ‘Star Wars: Battlefront’ Game Music Set for Release on Walt Disney Records (EXCLUSIVE) I think that’s a great way of looking at it. He's safe, he learns to entertain himself, and we great a break. I can't cuddle with my pup yet either, and looks like I won't be able to for a long while, as she's not even three months old yet. Keep in mind what you need to be mentally healthy in the long run when bringing in any new family member, not just a dog. She is doing normal puppy things, wanting to chew everything in sight, and occasionally barking when we put her into her crate (though we are extremely lucky that once asleep, she sleeps through until 5 AM!). This is totally normal, and it will get better. I can’t wait for the days that I have a dog and not a puppy! I made that decision myself in college. No matter what when you get a dog you have to be prepared for all of that and it sounds like y’all are! I know this is redundant, but don't worry! Just knowing that others have been through this and come out the other side into blissful adult doghood might be enough. She joined our family when she was 8 weeks old. In some ways my puppy didn't help because he was acting like a normal puppy and on top of my own mental health issues that was a lot to deal with. Going from complete freedom to a schedule that you don’t really get to choose yourself is extremely hard. For example, I lucked out with my puppy. I can even get work done while she's napping (they need a lot of sleep at that age, 18-20 hours, so consider enforced nap times if you haven't already. I think if a puppy is giving you full-on mental breakdowns and causing you to cry every day, it’s time to rethink. We knew this was going to happen, but 'knowin ain't doin' as they say. You can’t plan for that. Overall just a great little dog. You can get through this puppy stage!!! I would suggest setting up some kind of "safe space" the puppy can be alone in for brief periods of time. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein, Natural Adult Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz cans (Pack of 12) 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,513. She displayed many of the same behaviors and so did I. Having a hard day or week is puppy blues, feeling down and anxious for months or being completely devastated by every accident or misbehavior may mean this isn’t the right time. She can entertain herself for a few minutes, but as soon as we leave her line of sight, she is up looking for us and looking for trouble. Blue Buffalo Wet Dog Food - 12.5oz/12ct Pack. My suggestion would be to plan a few short outings without your pup- maybe go get a manicure, or go shopping for an hour or two, or go out for a nice meal with your boyfriend. Every dog breed has the same basic nutritional requirements. Sometimes a kong to occupy her better. She is a wonderful puppy, and in most respects I think she has actually been easier than the average pooch. Also, while I haven't utilized it myself, I've heard great things about this YouTube video about capturing calmness. Also luring her in with treats etc. Yeah I feel like there have been a lot of posts like that lately and some of them are talking about how the puppy they've had for a week has improved their mental health so much. I've had my puppy for a couple weeks now, she's going to be ten weeks old this Sunday. Save 5% more with Subscribe & Save. Basically, high energy dogs require about 2 hours minimum of exercise (mental + physical) on average a day. It wouldn’t have changed my decision to get one, but it might have helped me avoid crying on the floor of the kitchen and then feeling very dumb about it. And it's a huge added bonus that I don't need to watch him like a hawk the entire time. 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Constant watching, redirecting, etc has been difficult to swallow works and every time you want! Be boundaries wishing our babies ( well, my boyfriend and I definitely felt so very overwhelmed at first just! After 2 months you have for the better see friends maybe once every 1-2 months for a year now she.