Puppy Blues? Watch This | Pupford

Raising a puppy (or older dog) can be very difficult... many of us face the 'puppy blues' from time to time. We may even question if having a dog or puppy is the right choice!

When you first bring a puppy home, there is so much excitement! You envision all of the fun things you will do together, the tricks you will teach them, and the companionship.

Then reality hits. There is biting, peeing in the house, excessive barking, and running out of the house… and things can get really really hard.

Let's look at some things to keep in mind when the puppy blues hit.

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FIRST, WHAT ARE THE PUPPY BLUES?

While there isn't one exact definition, puppy blues are often feelings of despair, and or frustration when trying to raise a puppy.

The challenges of raising a pup often overwhelm new pup parents and can even lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and overwhelming stress. While we certainly love and want the best for our new puppy, the toll of trying to do everything right for that puppy can be extremely taxing and difficult.

Many pup parents who experience the puppy blues end up feeling worse because they feel bad about any type of resentment or sadness toward their puppy. It can be a vicious cycle...

So, what can be done? 👇

TIPS FOR GETTING OVER THE PUPPY BLUES

When the puppy blues show up, the first thing you can do is allow yourself to experience those feelings. Having regrets about getting a puppy, feeling inadequate, and sadness/depression are totally valid feelings.

One more time to drive the point home...

Feeling the puppy blues is a completely normal and valid feeling!

Now, let's talk about some ways to get over the puppy blues.

1. THE BEGINNING IS OFTEN THE HARDEST

When we first get a new dog we are getting to know them, their temperament, personality, etc. And on top of that, we are dealing with all the things new puppy parents deal with. Training, educating ourselves to best train them, trying to understand what is happening with our dog, etc.

Then you get over the first hump, and more challenges arise.

But when we remember that the beginning is often the hardest, it can give us some insight, and we can know that if we can get through this, it will be so much better in the long run.

2. LAY A STRONG FOUNDATION

This will set you up for future success with your dog. It is a lot of work but needs to be done before we can increase the difficulty of your training.

When training, you need to start off training our dogs inside the house. They need to learn to focus on us, and what is and isn’t okay with chewing. The foundation work will help you down the line as your dog comes to know what to expect from you. Consistency is key!

As a pet parent, it is important to lay the foundation for ourselves as well. We should be using positive reinforcement training, learning how to use a clicker, rewarding our dog’s consistently, etc.

If you're needing help with laying a strong training foundation, please sign up for the 100% free online training class, 30 Day Perfect Pup. Millions (yes, millions) of pup parents have found hope, understanding, and actionable techniques through this course!

Best of all, it is 100% free. No credit card is required. Sign up here!

3. BE PATIENT & CONSISTENT

The truth about your puppy's progress is that it may feel slow at times. And on other days, you will feel surprised at how much your little pup has improved!

So, be patient!

And that patience should apply to yourself AND your puppy. You're both learning and growing together.

Take the time to connect with your puppy and know that with consistent training, things will improve!

RECAP OF THE PUPPY BLUES

The puppy blues are normal, and it's oh-so-important to remember that!

In our opinion, the challenges you are facing right now will be well worth it. Our relationships with our dogs are so strong that we couldn’t imagine our lives without them. Don’t give up, keep fighting, bring in an in-person dog trainer for additional help, and use some of our resources like Pupford Academy when training your dog.

Again, if you haven't already, sign up for the 100% free (and available in the Pupford App) dog training course 30 Day Perfect Pup. Sign up for free here!

And on a personal note, you're doing better than you think!

How were you able to get over or improve the puppy blues? Tell me in the comments!

PS- Learn about mental health in dogs here.