The newest member of the Chic Dogs!
Well, three weeks have passed since my last post about the mysterious puppy. As you might remember, I was very eager and excited to adopt a new puppy from the Romanian shelter, Care 4 Shelter Dogs Vatra Dornei. In fact, right after posting on the blog, the husband and I drove off to the Netherlands to pick up the new puppy. Today, she’s with us and taking up her role as Chic Dog quite seriously.
Meet Stella!
Stella Bella Mozzarella but it’s just Stella to her friends. She’s a four and half month old puppy, estimated to become medium sized and she kind of looks like a perfectly baked croissant, she even smells like butter. Well, after I gave her three baths of course. She smells like butter and tropical fruit thanks to Pet Head shampoos. She has been with us for three weeks now and she’s adjusting well.
Puppy chaos!
Me however, seems to forget every single time what a mess puppies can be. And Stella is no different, I often refer to her as ‘Little Miss Mayhem’. Because she seems to have an on and off button and there is no warning as to when chaos will strike. She’s anything but shy or fearful, she’s feisty, not impressed by the size of Marlow & Emma and she talks back. Yes. She talks back. When I reprimand her, she snorts, growls and barks at me. And yes, exactly in that order! I told you she’s feisty.
Smart cookie
However, she’s also extremely intelligent and picks up on things really fast. Of course it helps that Marlow and Emma are adult and well-behaved dogs, she learns a lot from them. Often times, when she misbehaves, Emma will growl or stop her in her tracks. I didn’t know it was even possible, but I love Emma even more than I already did before, she’s such a good momma. Since two days ago, Stella has also started to understand that certain behaviors are not allowed. Prior to that, she did as she pleased and wasn’t very impressed.
Puppy Blues
The truth is that there is such a thing as the puppy blues and this happens to many people who bring a new puppy into their homes. Yes, even to me. I have been feeling the puppy blues too. It tends to come in waves, it ebbs and flows as the days come and go. The more I try to pretend I’m not feeling it, the heavier it becomes. So what are the puppy blues? Well it’s this feeling of overwhelm, disorientation and even regret right after getting a puppy. There is euphoria at first, as you become infatuated by the little floof ball but after a few days, as your daily routine gets shaken up and overwhelm takes over, the puppy blues grabs you by the ankles. If you don’t know what is happening then it can feel extremely confusing and isolating. You might think things will always be this hard, the chaos, the mess, the lack of structure and calm in your days, even the lack of connection to your pup.
However, I am here to assure you (and myself) that if you give yourself and your puppy the time and grace needed, that all of this will be nothing more than a hiccup. Yes, beginnings are always difficult and disorienting, especially when you bring home someone you don’t really know yet, and they don’t know you either. Just think about it, you are both strangers to each other and though it’s easy to fall in love with the cuteness of a puppy, the connection you’ll have with your dog will take time, love and patience.
I am planning on writing a blog post on how to build routines and structure for you and your puppy in the coming days so stay tuned.
In the meantime I hope you remember this:
- You are not a bad person for feeling overwhelmed and having doubts. Feel what you feel and allow it to move through.
- Puppies/dogs are ALWAYS a good idea.
- This is just a phase and yes, this too will pass.
- One day at the time.
- Breathe! Seriously, deep breaths in through the nose, long breaths out through the mouth with pursed lips. The slower the exhale, the lower you’ll heartrate will drop, creating a sense of calm and safety in your brain and body. A calm you = a calmer puppy.
- Ask for help, don’t struggle in silence.
- Find someone to dogsit for a few hours and go do something fun to recharge your battery.
- Find likeminded people and/or other dog parents.
- Look your puppy in the eyes.
- Smile, even with tears in your eyes. Because the puppy days are so soooo fleeting and years from now you will reminisce and smile about those crazy puppy days.
Have a soothing Sunday!
Love,
Wendy
