We hope that everyone in our loving Habibi Bear Tribe family had a wonderful holiday celebration and we are so thankful to have you in our experience. It is amazing the sense of solidarity and fellowship that we all share in our love for these amazing little Habibi Bear puppies, the Original Teddy Bear dogs. In our mission to bring more joy and love into the world, we are committed to helping further the education of puppy parents at every turn. Today we will continue with the topic of the Puppy Blues, the subject of the last two blog posts (Preparing for puppy and Realistic expectations).
The puppy blues are a set of symptoms that can be temporary but occur when a new puppy is brought into the household when we aren’t prepared in our homes for puppy and the physical or educational realities of what care for a puppy entails.
Symptoms can include but are not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Regret
- Hopelessness
- Guilt
- Dismay
- Weepiness
- Overwhelm
- Frustration
- Sleeplessness
In the more extreme cases, some people may experience a lack of bonding with their Habibi Bear puppy, or a lack of connection that never gets firmly established.
Despite the direness of the Puppy Blues phenomena, there is extremely good news in that it is a relatively short experience of discomfort that normally lasts for only three weeks in the longest of cases. In other words, it takes about four weeks for new habits and routines to be established in order for everyone, puppy parents and Habibi Bear pups alike, to settle in, get comfortable and acclimate to their new life together.
If you experience symptoms of the puppy blues, here are some of our recommendations to alleviate your stress:
- Make use of your crate and enforce regular nap times.
- Create dog zones and enforce physical boundaries.
- Journal and chart puppy’s progress.
- Use a sitter or trainer to help with your physical overload.
- Find community support, either in person or online.
- Adjust your expectations for your puppy.
- Increase your mindfulness practices.
- Remember puppydom is a temporary phase.
Time passes quickly and it is helpful to remember that your Habibi Bear puppy will be changing, growing and learning daily. Sooner rather than later, your Habibi Bear pup will be a full grown dog and their puppy days will become a cherished memory. In the meantime, remember to reach out to us for more tips and advice on how to weather the occasional rough waters of puppyhood. We are always her for you, cheering you on!