The New Puppy Survival Guide: What Nobody Tells You (But Should)
The New Puppy Survival Guide: What Nobody Tells You (But Should)
You did it. You brought home a puppy.
That tiny, wiggly, impossibly soft bundle of joy that looked up at you with those eyes and made your heart explode.
Congratulations! You're about to experience one of life's greatest adventures.
Also, you're about to be very, very tired.
Here's everything I wish someone had told me before I brought home my first puppy.
Week One: The Honeymoon Phase (Sort Of)
The First Night
Your puppy will cry. A lot. They just left their mom and siblings. Everything is new and scary.
What helps:
Don't give in and bring them to your bed unless you want that to be permanent. (Some people do. No judgment. Just know what you're signing up for.)
The Potty Situation
Puppies need to go out:
Yes, really. Set a timer. Take them to the same spot every time. Celebrate like they won the lottery when they go outside.
Accidents will happen. Don't yell. Just clean it up with enzymatic cleaner (regular cleaners don't eliminate the smell to their nose) and try again.
The Biting
Puppy teeth are tiny needles attached to a creature with no impulse control.
They're not being mean. They're being puppies. This is how they explored the world with their littermates.
What works:
The Supplies You Actually Need
The Essentials
The Nice-to-Haves
What You Don't Need (Yet)
Training: Start Now, Thank Yourself Later
The Big Three Commands
Focus on these first:
1. Sit - The foundation of everything
2. Come - Could literally save their life someday
3. Leave it - For when they find something gross/dangerous
The Training Mindset
Socialization Window
Between 3-14 weeks is the critical socialization period. Expose them to:
Do this carefully and positively. Bad experiences during this window can create lasting fears.
The Stuff Nobody Warns You About
The Witching Hour
Around 7-8 PM, your sweet puppy will transform into a demon. Running in circles. Biting everything. Pure chaos.
This is normal. It's called the "zoomies" or "puppy witching hour." They're overtired.
Solution: Enforce a nap. Crate time with a chew toy. They need 18-20 hours of sleep a day.
The Regression
Just when you think they've got potty training figured out... accidents. Just when biting is improving... needle teeth everywhere.
Regression is normal. Stay consistent. They're not being bad. They're being puppies.
The Destruction
Puppies chew. It's not optional. They WILL destroy something you love.
Puppy-proof like you're baby-proofing. Anything at puppy level is fair game in their mind.
The Guilt
You'll feel guilty leaving them. You'll feel guilty when you're frustrated. You'll feel guilty that you're not doing enough.
Take a breath. You're doing great. Puppies are hard. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or has forgotten.
Self-Care for Puppy Parents
Sleep When You Can
Seriously. Nap when the puppy naps. You're not lazy. You're surviving.
Ask for Help
Puppy burnout is real. Let friends and family help. Hire a dog walker if you can. Take breaks.
Remember Why You Did This
When you're cleaning up the third accident of the day and your favorite shoes are destroyed, look at that sleeping puppy face.
Remember the walks you'll take together. The adventures you'll have. The unconditional love that's building every single day.
This phase is temporary. The bond is forever.
The Timeline of Hope
The Secret Nobody Tells You
Here it is, the thing I wish someone had told me:
It gets easier. And then it gets amazing.
The sleepless nights end. The biting stops. The accidents become rare. And what you're left with is a best friend who thinks you're the greatest person in the world.
Every early morning potty trip, every chewed shoe, every moment of frustration—it's all worth it.
I promise.
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