Puppies are so cute I know, and they are quite good at reeling in some cute boys. But it is not all fun and games once they are truly yours and I am gonna tell you why. I always loved the idea of getting a dog. I wanted a companion for when I am stressed, and I truly believe that they are the best thing to have around but they are some tough work. I looked weeks and weeks on all adoption sites to find the perfect dog to adopt. Three weeks had passed and I was starting to give up. I decided to look one more time right before bed one night, and I am so glad I did. I found this adorable yellow labrador retriever with the biggest paws I have ever seen. I contacted the women who was taking care of him for the time being and the minute we spoke on the phone she told me he is all mine if I want and I can come get him whenever. And you know what I did? I hopped in my car the next morning and drove three hours to pick his cute butt up!
The minute I got him I instantly knew he was the one. He immediately ran to me and started giving me kisses, he couldn’t get his paws off of me. Ten minutes later I am paying for him and we are on our way home! When we got home he was terrified, as any puppy would, so I let him explore. My parents were a little hesitant about me getting a dog just because of how much attention they need, but I assured them that he wouldn’t be neglected and I would take complete care of him. Guess what happened next? The minute Sheamus (that is what I named him) layed eyes on my dad he took the biggest poop right on their kitchen tiles! We were off to a GREAT start. Besides the poopig incident though Sheamus was doing great, a little too great if I am going to be honest. I heard all these horror stories about puppies chewing up furniture, jumping on counters, biting everything, but I didn’t experience any of that. The first two weeks he was home he was a golden child. He played, slept, and never had accidents in the house. All I could think was “this is too good to be true”…….it was.
Fast forward to four weeks I am back to school, and Sheamus? He was going WILD. Before I knew it he started using his cute puppy eyes to an advantage. He started jumping onto his crate stealing his food, getting into the garbage cans, and crying when he didn’t get attention. Talk about drama king. I didn’t know how to handle him, especially now that school had started and I was working part time. Week five of being a dog mom and nothing was improving. I decided to get the Furbo, an interactive dog camera where I could talk to Sheamus when I was at school, throw him treats, and get notified when he was barking or misbehaving. This camera CHANGED. MY. LIFE. I 10/10 recommend this to anyone, whether your dog has separation anxiety, is depressed, or misbehaves. Since then I can tell you that things have been looking better. I mean I do yell at him to stop barking from time to time while in the library, but hey, I know I am a crazy dog mom. As you can see puppies are a handful so overall I am gonna give 5 tips to deal with puppy mania.
1. Puppy depression is real: When I say puppy depression, I mean the new owner getting depressed not the puppy. Everyone thinks when they get a new puppy that he/she will follow you around and give you all this attention but sometimes this isn’t the case. It is very normal for puppies to actually want to be alone and find a safe space and get acclimated to a whole new life so give it time and don’t feel bad!
2. Meal plan: Just like having a kid, it is very important to feed a puppy on a strict schedule and a specific amount. Not only does this help with obedience but it helps them get into a schedule, and yes I mean poop schedule! NOTE: do not just leave a bowl of food out for your dog at all times, your puppy will get obese and poop all the time.
3. Frequent activity is needed: Puppies need to exert their energy everyday and it is crucial for them at a young age, especially puppies at 10-16 weeks. If they don’t get proper activity they could have health issues down the road and also depression.
4. Dogs get dirty: New puppy smell is amazing I know, but it doesn’t last for very long. Puppies love to explore and they don’t know any better so if they see a big puddle, or big pile of mud, they are going to LOVE it, regardless if you do. Keep your puppy clean at all time is not only good for your sake but it also a good habit to start your puppy on, especially if you plan on taking them to groomers in the future.
5. Vet bills can get expensive: Puppies are so much fun, but they are very expensive. First vet bills can be up to 200$, and as a puppy they need to go every month at first. Getting them spayed or neutered can range from 200-1000$, food varies on what you would like to feed them but I personally spend 20$ a bag, and don’t forget toys! The way I buy toys for my dog you would think it is Christmas everyday!
Dogs are so much fun, and Sheamus is truly the light of my life and was the best decision i’ve made. After all though, it is not all sunshine and rainbows so just make sure you really think and educate yourself on everything you need to know about puppies before you make the choice!
If you do get a dog, throw it a PAWWWTYYYYYY! :)