Puppy Blues: Why and How

Puppy blues. A simple yet meaningful term that not a lot of people know about, even if you have heard it somewhere.

Congratulations, you’ve bought or adopted a puppy! That’s a huge accomplishment for any household, even if you owned dogs in the past.

Puppies seem like the best idea ever. You can lock into an important relationship with a dog you’ve known since birth, but this is truly and honestly not the reality. Puppies bite, scratch, bark, cry, pee and whine all the time.

Once those ideas are over, after a few days or even a few weeks, you can start to get what is called “Puppy Blues.” I once had to petsit a puppy named Lily. We weren’t even keeping her, and I was already getting the puppy blues within a few days.

Basically, puppy blues are when you regret buying a puppy. You may wonder if you should return them or if puppies are for you. But don’t worry, puppy blues are normal and usually disappear within a few weeks or months.

Lilly, the puppy we were petsitting, was a maniac. She peed everywhere, even if we had taken her out 10 minutes ago. She would bite and chew everything: our plants, our couch, and our furniture. She would steal your flip-flops and run away with them, then chew them on her bed. Lilly would roll on the ground and get into what I called a biting frenzy, where she would bite anything nearby: her bed, your hands, a toy. It didn’t really matter.

I told myself Lilly was a great, perfect dog. I became obsessed with the new dog. I stopped eating. I was entirely focused on Lilly: playing with her, feeding her, and interacting with her.

She cried all night, these awful long “awoos” that filled the air. At first, it was just a small whine, but it became this terrible howl that was impossible to tune out.

Puppies crying at night is not exactly what you had in thought when you got a new dog, so naturally, you start reconsidering. What if a dog wasn’t a good idea? Was a dog even the right choice for them? Maybe you are a cat person now.

But cut your puppy some slack. They are probably 8 weeks old, and they are in a strange, new environment. They explore through their teeth, and they cry at night for your attention. They don’t understand your schedule, and why you are mad at them for being noisy.

Let’s tackle crying first. It’s a lot more common than you think because the puppy is scared and confused in this new environment.

First, make your puppy comfortable in their new environment. All dogs are different. Lilly did not like a blanket over the crate, but for someone else, a towel over the cage could create a comfortable, cave-like environment for them, and they would feel safe there.

Now, your puppy is happy in their crate. You could try stuffing a kong with peanut butter or cheese to keep them busy licking and not whining. You could also hide handfuls of kibble or treats inside a towel or blanket for them to find. This will stimulate them and keep them busy.

You should never, ever use the crate as punishment. Not only will the puppy not understand, but they will be confused as to what the crate is for. You don’t want your puppy to think that they’re a bad dog just because it’s naptime. Make sure your puppy knows that the crate is a good thing. Throw treats inside and out so your puppy learns to adore the cage.

Another thing you should never do is take them out of the crate while they’re crying. Attention is their prized possession, and don’t give it to them unless they deserve it. Even if you’re yelling at them, they crave your attention, and you should only give it to them if they’re being good. Practice putting them in their crate, and hand-feed them kibble when they’re quiet. At night, if they cry, they will learn that it’s no good, and crying won’t resolve anything. After a few days, your puppy will learn how your schedule works, and tune into it.

Also, don’t give your puppy a crate that is too large. If you do, you are giving your puppy room to pee in. Try waking up once or twice in the night to let them out, and soon your puppy will be old and mature enough to hold it until the morning.

If you are thinking about getting a new puppy, hopefully, these tips help you.

Another reason for Puppy Blues could be housetraining. It’s a real hassle to housetrain a dog, and I have respect for people who own puppies.

First, watch out for signs that your puppy needs to go out. This could include sniffing or circling.

When they go outside, give them a big reward. Praise works, but the food is usually the winner in this situation, however, it’s not always available. You could clicker-train your puppy as a substitute for food.

By feeding your dog at certain times and not purchasing an automatic feeder, you can track their weight gain and when they need to go out. Make sure to feed them several times a day in small amounts instead of once or twice in large amounts. Puppies need to adjust to bigger meals, so give them time.

Don’t punish them when they go inside. Instead, take them outside and reward them when they do something right.

And make sure to leave the puppy outside for around 15 minutes! Just a few more minutes could make all the difference in the world. Puppies are not used to emptying their bladders all at once, so don’t take them right back in. Keep it up, and in a few months you might find out that your puppy is fully house-trained.

Another reason you might be getting the puppy blues is because of resource guarding. This is when a dog makes a move to protect their food or toys. This is usually growling or biting but it can also be eating quickly or avoiding you.

I’ve seen people train their dogs how to “trade,” and they’ll offer a higher value reward for the resource they are guarding, then switch. I’ve seen this work pretty well with my dogs. I throw a stick for them, and they don’t want to give it back? Throw them another stick.

Try giving your dog a comfortable space that they can go to if they feel overwhelmed. Leave your dog alone when they are there so your puppy understands that they are safe in there. A crate is a good option for this since they are already adjusting to the fact that the crate is good.

Resource guarding is normal dog behavior since they are trying to protect their possessions, but sometimes it can get out of control and you may need to contact a professional dog behaviorist to deal with your dog.

Your puppy may also annoy you in another way: barking. By training your dog how to bark on command, you can also train them how to be quiet. Yes, it's ironic and makes no sense, but go to 16:30 in this video:

Positive reinforcement is key! Praise your dog for everything they do correctly, and don’t punish them for their mistakes.

For example, if they chew something they’re not supposed to, don’t slap them with this object. It will only make them run away from you in fear, and they won’t learn anything. Your dog understands your tone of voice. You’re mad at them, but they don’t know why. Throwing a shoe at them will not prove your point, so don’t yell and punish them. Instead, reward them when they don’t chew.

A lot of issues on this list are due to boredom (barking in particular). There are lots of toys you can buy for your dog that will stimulate their brains because they have to work for their treat. Take your dog on walks to make them tired.

Chewing is a big problem with puppies. Their gums ache and they don’t know what else to do, so they chew on things. Buy things for your dog to alleviate their pain. Just because your dog isn’t chewing on a certain toy doesn’t mean they’re bad. Maybe they don’t like the texture. Try using different objects to entertain your puppy and take the things they are chewing away from them.

The command I trained my dog is “drop it.” It’s perfect when they have their teeth on something they are not supposed to have, and it’s also a good option to train them how to fetch. First, get your puppy to bite something. I recommend using a toy or a stick.

Next, make yourself really boring. If you tug it away from them, they’ll think it’s a game, so grip tightly onto the stick and don’t pull. Just let your arm stand there. Your puppy will become bored and confused, so they’ll let go. Reward them and try again. Training is key. If your dog becomes upset, stop the training to let them calm down. Don't push your dog and annoy them, or they could snap. They can get bored and annoyed, too.

If you want similar posts, please comment any post suggestions or vote on my poll. I apologize for not posting several months ago, but I was busy (and got a little lazy) so I couldn't post. I was also (and still am) on vacation.

I will definitely be posting soon, so there is no need to worry.

Thank you for reading my post and check frequently for the next post about the humane society!