Puppy Blues? 3 Steps to Overcome New Dog Parent Stress & Overwhelm
Raising a puppy (or older dog) can be very difficult... many of us face the 'puppy blues' occasionally. We may even question if having a dog or puppy is the right choice! And, in some cases, you're wondering if you can keep your puppy or if you need to consider rehoming. The frustration, stress, and even sadness of raising a puppy is normal!
Starting with a puppy training course is step 1. Do that here: https://pfrd.site/blues-puppy-class
The puppy blues can be a real struggle, but it's essential to remember perspective! Here are a couple of essential points to overcome the puppy blue... ⤵️
1- The beginning is often the hardest
2- Focus on laying a strong foundation
3- Be patient & consistent
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.
TIPS & ADVICE 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. The puppy blues are often the worst in the beginning!
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!
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!
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Intro music cred to Kevin May: / kevin_may