How Long Do the Puppy Blues Last? 5 Proven Tips to Overcome Them

How long do the puppy blues last? It’s a great question, huh? It’s the big question for you right now…

I’m a puppy trainer now, but I’ve also been a new puppy parent – just like you. And the puppy blues? Is no freaking joke. 

I’ve been where you are right now. I’ve been in your shoes, but for me? This content, this recognition didn’t exist. So I wanted to normalise this experience for you, to explain it from my first-hand experience. I want you to understand what’s happening and how you can help yourself. 

But the single biggest question is “How long”, the “When does it get better?”, “When does it get easier?” 

I want to talk about that. Because it’s not really a “one size fits all” answer. Because, as with anything emotional, it’s a “How long is a piece of string” answer. But I can give you the components. 

But, as always, let’s start with a little understanding.

What Is The Puppy Blues? 

Well, simply put, it’s feeling low, overwhelmed, anxious, sad and/or helpless shortly after getting a puppy and wondering whether it was the right thing to do. The puppy blues can be totally consuming, and you can feel like it inhibits your ability to bond with your new, gorgeous puppy that everyone told you was going to be your new best buddy for life.

Now, you know (logically speaking) that you didn’t just see the puppy in a shop with a label that said “HALF OFF! TODAY ONLY” and you bought that little puppy on an impulse, you’ve considered this (to some degree) for a long time.

Yet, you can feel like it’s all consuming, that you might even want to give your puppy back…

So… why do you feel this way? 

For me, I have a predisposition to depression and anxiety – so not a shock that I experienced it. I’m also an utter rat-bag when I’m tired. Managing your mental health when you’re exhausted is no joke – but that’s not always the reason behind the puppy blues. It’s not just people who are prone to anxiety or depression, it’s more than that.

Sometimes it can just be the drastic change in lifestyle associated with getting a puppy and suddenly having a hugely dependent creature in your life, having them break things, chew on things, then add in the associated sleep deprivation with toilet training… It can even just be a culmination of a bunch of small things as your entire world begins to revolve around this adorable, fluffy puppy that you know you’re meant to love.

Now. I want you to read this bit carefully.

It’s not that you don’t care (because you’re biologically programmed to, sorry, and especially if you’re female, it’s why dogs bonded with us in the first place!) but it’s that you care a lot. You’re worried you’re failing, and no one can tell you otherwise.

And it’s not wrong to want to get it right. Okay? But puppies don’t play to a plan, nothing living does. So you have to roll with them.

When Did It Stop For You, Ali? 

For me? The worst of it was the first week. After that? There were peaks and troughs after that first week, it’s not as bad. I found Indie became a whole chunk more manageable after I got the majority of my sleep back. For me and Indie, this was around the week after he came home – though I will say this may not be the case for you. Indie is a large breed dog (so bladder control tends to be easier), he is smart, his breeder had made a start, and his akita-side is very inclined to cleanliness (it is an odd fact that some dogs are naturally cleaner than others! Super weird, but totally true).

How Long Do The Puppy Blues Last? 

It can be as long as a month or two, but it definitely depends on a number of factors, such as the dog you have, some are easier than others, and some are more difficult! That’s just how the world goes. Then there’s also how much effort you put in too. Training is really important, after all, when was the last time you lived with someone who you didn’t have to tell “Can you at least put the toilet roll up the right way?” (or similar, you know… just an example that’s definitely not what I tell Mr. Rebarkable… often…)

Problem #1 – The Sleeplessness

Feeling tired is a huge component of low moods, it makes you less tolerant and it makes you snappier (generally!), which often means that when puppy does a thing, that you react harsher than you might if you were well-rested. 

Eventually, I’ll put a thing here that has tips for making puppy sleep easier, but for now? It’s all about acing your puppy’s crate training!

The quicker your pup starts sleeping through the night, the quicker this will abate, the quicker this goes? The quicker you will get back on schedule and this element of the puppy blues risk factors will diminish…