One common reason a new puppy is overwhelming lies in misguided expectations. Quite often, adopters are unaware of the commitment they’re about to make (this is even more often the case when working with puppy sales, where *some* organizations only try to make a quick dollar, regardless of what it means for each puppy’s life).
Because a great deal more time has been dedicated to outlining the early work associated with a newborn child, we’d like to take a moment to draw a comparison between puppies and babies. More information is available on this subject, of course, and we’d love to hear more on your comparisons between the two.
- Babies are expensive
- Babies do not sleep through the night (at least for a very long time)
- Babies require a strict diet to enjoy healthy development
- Babies can’t control their bowel movements
- Babies can’t be left alone for almost any amount of time
- Babies cry when they don’t get what they want
- Babies put everything in their mouths
- Babies can’t speak, so when they get sick we don’t know why
- Puppies are expensive
- Puppies do not sleep through the night (at least for a very long time)
- Puppies require a strict diet to enjoy healthy development
- Puppies can’t control their bowel movements
- Puppies shouldn’t be left alone for a very long time
- Puppies whine when they don’t get what they want
- Puppies put everything in their mouths
- Puppies can’t speak, so when they get sick we don’t know why
Most readers will recall, from some point in life, hearing the “7” rule—that dogs age 7 times as quickly as humans do (and, as puppies, this rate of development is even quicker). Growing this quickly is difficult on your dog, but it has its advantages; a great many concerns are short-lived. Bladders and digestive tracts, for instance, become significantly larger fast, and the time between bathroom breaks can be scaled back in just a matter of months. Continue to work hard and (often before you realize it) your puppy will grow out of their worst habits and into position as a loved family member.
Like almost anything in life, though, the more time and energy you put into building a relationship, the more you’ll come to understand and love your puppy.