puppy depression

What is Puppy Depression (the Kind People Get)?

Do puppies get depressed? The answer is they can. Probably. But that isn’t what “Puppy Depression” is about when you search on Google.There are two types of puppy depression.

Below we will address the type of puppy depression that affects people.

What is Puppy Depression?

Puppy depression, also known as the “Puppy Blues”, is a syndrome of depression that can occur to humans after acquiring a puppy. Some behaviorists create parallels from puppy depression to “postpartum depression.

Puppy depression can be a normal response from a substantial change in lifestyle. Some pet owners go from a relaxed routine with a clean home to a home that has been turned upside down. This is most common in homes that did not previously have a dog or in homes where there are adult dogs with a well-established routine.

One big reason puppy depression occurs is from loss. How, may you ask, does getting a puppy have to do with loss? Getting a new puppy can be an amazing time but it can also turn a person’s life upside down. They can cause the following:

For some new dog owners, especially puppy owners, it truly changes their lives.

How Long Does Puppy Depression Last?

Puppy depression can last from weeks to months depending on the puppy and the owner. Sometime it will last until some of the more difficult behavioral issues like housebreaking and chewing have resolved or improved.

Puppy Depression in People: Signs To Look For

Signs of puppy depression in people can manifest as frustration, annoyance, depression and can even escalate to the point where they relinquish their puppies.

A recent study suggests that dogs under the age of 1 year have been rehomed 3 to 4 times before they find their “forever home”. Some new puppy owners suddenly realize that they don’t have the time, their apartment is too small, they can’t afford the cost of care, and many more reasons.

How do You Treat Puppy Depression?

There is help. First and ideally, research the breed you are to adopt. This can help give you some guidelines on the care they will need. For example, Border Collies are amazing dogs but they need a job. They need to stay busy. If you give them the right opportunities, they will be very happy dogs. You put a Border Collie in an apartment where they are cooped up for 16 hours a day, they are likely not going to be a happy dog.

If you already have your puppy, it is important to know what a puppy can do physically and what a puppy can’t do. For example, an 8-week-old puppy can only hold his urine for 3 hours. A 12-week-old puppy can only hold his urine for 5 hours. If you leave a puppy that is 8 weeks for 8 hours – he is going to have an accident. Understanding what a puppy can and can’t do at each age is critical to understanding your puppy and avoiding problems.

Here are some articles about what to expect from your puppy at specific ages:

What to Expect from your 8-week-old puppy
What to Expect from your 12-week-old puppy
What to Expect from your 16-week-old puppy
What to Expect from your 6-month-old puppy
What to Expect from your 9-month-old puppy
What to Expect from your 12-month-old puppy

Tips on what your puppy needs to stay healthy:

What your 8-week-old puppy needs to stay healthy
What your 12-week-old puppy needs to stay healthy
What your 16-week-old puppy needs to stay healthy
What your 6-month-old puppy needs to stay healthy

Just as it is important to understand what a puppy can do physiologically, it is critical to understand what your puppy is capable of processing. For example, say you leave the room or go to work and your puppy upsets and plays in the trash. You later find the upset trash.

Now your puppy has moved on and is sleeping in the other room. What does your puppy understand about that trash? The answer is nothing. He doesn’t associate the trash with his behavior. If you take your puppy over to the trash and show it to him and yell – he thinks “What does this have to do with me?” He associates you yelling with the trash. He may cower and be frightened.

Then say a week later your kids knock over the trash and the puppy sees it and sees you – he is going to associate the trash and your erratic behavior toward him.

Below are some articles that can help.

Is My Dog Depressed? How to Help Your Pup
What are Dog Depression Symptoms?
How Does Dog Depression Treatment Work?
Dogs that Lick Themselves – Understanding Acral Lick Dermatitis
Our Stress, Depression, Joy…Can Dogs Tell?
Not Feline Fine: Dealing with Feline Depression
Does Your Dog Need Anxiety Medication?