Bringing home a new puppy is one of the most memorable moments in any pet parent’s life. Despite all the joy your new furball brings, you may still feel sad, anxious, and more. A new study labels it “puppy blues.”
The research found that new pet parents feel a range of negative emotions, similar to the experience of motherhood. “Puppyhood can cause ‘puppy blues’ reminiscent of ‘baby blues'”, the title of the study says.
‘Puppy blues’ are a real thing, says study
The study conducted at the University of Helsinki shows that some dog owners experience emotions similar to post-natal baby blues when they bring home a puppy.
The emotions in puppyhood reportedly manifest in three ways and often impact the bonding with the dog. Anxiety, frustration, and weariness were identified as three common feelings evoked from concerns about the puppy’s well-being and thoughts about their own ability to look after the dog.
New pet parents may be faced with challenges during puppyhood that take a toll on their mental and physical health as they may have trouble sleeping, finding time to give the puppy constant attention, and more.
The data collected from over 2,000 dog owners found that more than half experienced negative emotions while bringing their dogs up.
Professor Hannes Lohi, whose research the study was a part of, said: “Just under half of owners report having had significant negative experiences during their dog’s puppyhood phase, with only about a tenth reporting the most severe levels of strain. This is in line with the prevalence of postnatal depression. However, the negative feelings fade relatively quickly.”
The negative emotions ‘fade’ away
Even though most pet parents felt overwhelmed during puppyhood, they remember it more positively with time. The negative memories of “puppy blues” fade away with time.
As with all dog parents, the first few weeks and months with a new puppy are indeed stressful and overwhelming if you aren’t prepared beforehand.
Dog trainers and behaviorists urge new pet parents to crate train the puppy as soon as they bring it home to minimize possible damage from chewing which is common in puppyhood.
This is also effective in teaching your dog to hold its pee and poop for a decent amount of time, thus reducing the stress of not potty training them.
Introduce them to a few toys and ensure they socialize with humans from the beginning as it helps them calm down and not become anxious growing up due to lack of exposure to their environment.
