Time has flown by, and just like that, two of my puppies have moved on to their new homes. Before sending them off, I prepare a list of what their families will need and how they spend their days here to help their new families adjust to life with a puppy. I also remind them that raising a puppy is a marathon, not a sprint.
In 2024, the University of Helsinki conducted a study that described new puppy owners getting cases of what they call the “puppy blues.” The study concluded that many puppy owners experience frustration and anxiety similar to that of new parents and newborn babies. Frustration resulted from things such as the arguments over the division of labor and responsibilities within the family, potty accidents, crate training issues, biting, destroying things, and, of course, sleep deprivation. By the way, all of those are also common complaints from just about every puppy owner I have ever met.
My advice to puppy owners is to remember that bringing a puppy home should be a happy time in your life. Remember, keeping a level head and an open heart will serve you well while navigating the frustrations.
Let’s break down all of the issues that cause the puppy blues, starting with housebreaking. Accept that there will be accidents while your new puppy learns their new home and the new potty routine. If your puppy was raised in a kennel situation where going potty in their runs was the only option, or if they were raised on pee pads, you will need to have patience and set boundaries while they learn their new routine. Remember, young puppies can not hold their urine overnight yet. So yes, there will be some sleep deprivation if you do not want to wake up to a wet crate. You will have to take them out to potty overnight.
Crate training will result in fewer events of destruction and fewer potty accidents. If your puppy is safely in a pen or crate when you can not watch them, they cannot destroy your new shoes or kill the pillows. When I am not actively able to watch the gang here, they are safely in their pens or a crate. That way, I know that I will not find a random act of destruction somewhere in the house. In my experience of hearing people express frustration about things being chewed, the sentence always begins with “I only left the room for a minute.”
The time to have a plan in place with the family is before the puppy comes home. Even then, the best-laid plans can go out the window, particularly if young children have been tasked with puppy chores. While I lay no claims about raising children, I can suggest that when bringing a puppy home, you may want to consider all of the possible ways things can go poorly if someone else is unable to pull their weight. Things happen in families, and responsibilities can shift for a variety of reasons. Always be ready to step in to fill the gap.
I fully relate to feeling tired and frustrated as a result of puppies. While trying to raise these six puppies during two blizzards and the worst winter ever, I had to remind myself to cherish the fun and silly moments that only puppies can bring to our lives. Yes, there will be days when you think why did I get a puppy, but banish those puppy blues by savoring each moment of joy that they bring. I am looking forward to watching my puppies bring their families joy and love, and I will be here for them to talk them through the rough days.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
