jbradley57
New member
We brought home our 9 week old Labrador puppy last weekend and I have cried every day since. Today I had a full blown panic attack, which was a first in my 37 years.
I’ve never had a dog, let alone a puppy, but I love animals (I’ve always had cats) so this has really blindsided me. I would have never guessed that I would be this distraught over a puppy but my whole world feels like it has been turned upside down. I barely eat, have a constant stomach ache and just feel this constant overwhelming pressure from stress. I generally consider myself a pretty steadfast person but this has shaken me to my core.
I can’t even pinpoint what is triggering it. By all accounts he’s a normal puppy. At least that’s what everyone says. We’re crate training and using enforced naps to help manage time between play. He has only had two accidents in the house but that was mostly us not picking up his queues. Last night he even slept from 10 pm - 4 am with no break.
We are struggling with some things like biting, constantly chasing the cats, and he’s pretty stubborn when it comes to training. I know these are pretty normal puppy behaviors and this sub has a ton of great advice. Because of this intense stress reaction I’m having a really hard time managing my emotions (frustration) when these things happen. I haven’t bonded with him yet so I find myself not wanting to engage with him much.
Everyone says puppies are hard, but I wish I would have found this sub sooner because no one really tells you why it’s hard. Had I known the struggles, and about puppy blues, before I maybe wouldn’t have gone through with this. If it were just me, I would probably return the puppy but my husband, who is a dog person, is already so in love with the puppy.
I have read so many posts over the last two days, and everyone says it will get better. I sincerely hope it does. I’ll push through for my husband’s sake, because it is great seeing how happy he is. It just feels so daunting. I think I’m resigning to the fact that I’m just not a dog person and will forever be a cat lady.
Maybe this will all pass and in a few months I’ll be able to offer advice to others going through it.
I’ve never had a dog, let alone a puppy, but I love animals (I’ve always had cats) so this has really blindsided me. I would have never guessed that I would be this distraught over a puppy but my whole world feels like it has been turned upside down. I barely eat, have a constant stomach ache and just feel this constant overwhelming pressure from stress. I generally consider myself a pretty steadfast person but this has shaken me to my core.
I can’t even pinpoint what is triggering it. By all accounts he’s a normal puppy. At least that’s what everyone says. We’re crate training and using enforced naps to help manage time between play. He has only had two accidents in the house but that was mostly us not picking up his queues. Last night he even slept from 10 pm - 4 am with no break.
We are struggling with some things like biting, constantly chasing the cats, and he’s pretty stubborn when it comes to training. I know these are pretty normal puppy behaviors and this sub has a ton of great advice. Because of this intense stress reaction I’m having a really hard time managing my emotions (frustration) when these things happen. I haven’t bonded with him yet so I find myself not wanting to engage with him much.
Everyone says puppies are hard, but I wish I would have found this sub sooner because no one really tells you why it’s hard. Had I known the struggles, and about puppy blues, before I maybe wouldn’t have gone through with this. If it were just me, I would probably return the puppy but my husband, who is a dog person, is already so in love with the puppy.
I have read so many posts over the last two days, and everyone says it will get better. I sincerely hope it does. I’ll push through for my husband’s sake, because it is great seeing how happy he is. It just feels so daunting. I think I’m resigning to the fact that I’m just not a dog person and will forever be a cat lady.
Maybe this will all pass and in a few months I’ll be able to offer advice to others going through it.