The Puppy Blues Are Real, And New Dog Owners May Doubt Their Care Abilities Or Struggle To Establish A Bond With Their Pet In The Face Of Emotional Strain, Recent Research Suggests
It’s always exciting to welcome a furry bundle of joy into your home, but there can be other not-so-positive emotions that come with this life change. While the tiny paws and wagging tail are to die for, new puppy parents might feel somewhat down due to all the responsibility and sleepless nights.
According to a new study, the puppy blues are a real thing, and it’s similar to the postpartum blues that new mothers can get after childbirth.
The emotional strain of a new pet makes it difficult for dog owners to establish a bond and causes them to doubt their abilities to provide the proper care for their pup. Fortunately, these negative feelings tend to fade over time.
The researchers of the new study wanted to investigate the “puppy blues,” a widely overlooked phenomenon in scientific research. Owning a puppy is often thought of as a fun and joyful experience, but it can also be extremely exhausting and stressful.
Many dog owners face sleep deprivation, frustration over the puppy’s behavior, and anxiety for the puppy’s health. As a result, they are unable to fully connect with their puppy.
“The arrival of a puppy is generally seen as a positive life change, yet for some people, it triggers significant negative emotions,” said Aada Ståhl, a study author and a doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Center.
“Similar to the ‘baby blues’ experienced by new parents, new dog owners might be struggling with puppy blues, including feelings of anxiety, frustration, and weariness. These symptoms often occur together but may also manifest more prominently in one area.”
The research team gathered data from more than 100 dog owners who experienced emotional strain during their puppy’s early life. The participants were recruited through social media and were questioned about their feelings and experiences while caring for a new puppy.
Next, the team created a survey based on the responses. They included questions about the emotional challenges that new puppy parents faced during the early years of their pet’s life.
KDdesignphoto – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual dog
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Then, the survey was given to more than 2,000 dog owners selected from a larger pool of individuals who had participated in related studies before. Most of the participants were from Finland.
The researchers found that almost half of the dog owners surveyed had felt significant negative emotions during the early months of their puppy’s life. The emotions consisted mostly of anxiety, frustration, and weariness.
The owners were mainly anxious about their caretaking abilities and the puppy’s development. They worried about whether they were doing enough for their puppy and if their puppy was happy. They expressed concerns over their puppy’s future and would sometimes blame themselves for any of their puppy’s setbacks.
Additionally, the owners described feeling frustrated by the puppy’s needs and behaviors because it was more overwhelming than expected. Many owners also reported feeling drained by the puppy’s constant need for attention, which left them feeling weary and exhausted.
They experienced sleep disruption and had to balance caring for a puppy with other responsibilities, such as work and family.
By examining the puppy blues more closely, the researchers hope to improve support for struggling dog owners and make them better equipped to handle the challenges of puppy care, resulting in a stronger bond between owners and their dogs.
The study was published in npj Mental Health Research.
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