Many new dog owners encounter ‘puppy blues,’ a phase marked by stress, frustration, and exhaustion from raising an energetic puppy. While welcoming a furry companion brings joy, the chaos of teething, constant activity, and lack of affection often leads owners to question their decision.
A TikTok User’s Honest Experience
TikTok user Jade recently shared her struggles with her three-month-old golden retriever puppy, Lilo. In a video capturing Lilo’s home havoc, Jade questioned, “Am I the only one that has a puppy but doesn’t feel like they have a dog?”
She explained that owning a dog typically means cuddles and relaxing walks, yet Lilo shows no interest in either. “I haven’t had a cuddle from my dog at all,” Jade noted, attributing it partly to strict crate training that prevents Lilo from relaxing outside her crate. “It is really heartbreaking to see videos of people curled up with their puppies and that has quite literally never happened for me.”
Jade acknowledged future improvements but admitted current challenges feel overwhelming. “I know I’ll look back at this when she’s older and she will be displaying those behaviours. But right now I literally cannot see past it.” Evenings prove toughest, contradicting tales of puppies settling down after a long day.
She encouraged others facing similar issues: “I know I’m not the only one to have ever existed with a difficult puppy… This is my video to anyone who’s also experiencing this and remembering that people who share all the gorgeous cuddly videos choose to share the good parts, but it still can feel lonely and overwhelming. So we’re in it together and I’m just praying that there is this magical light at the end of the tunnel.”
Community Support and Shared Stories
Commenters rallied around Jade, confirming her feelings are common. One shared, “Girl I’m exactly the same! My puppy is almost five months and still doesn’t relax. He only sleeps in the crate and if he’s out he’s on the go 100 per cent.”
Another described their 10-week-old pup: “He has no off switch. Never ever relaxes or cuddles up, just relentless running, biting, and playing. Hoping he grows out of it.”
Experienced owners offered hope. One posted a photo of their now-cuddly dog: “Don’t beat yourself up girl. My puppy didn’t cuddle me to start with. He was 24/7 go go go… Now we do this. He’s still not perfect… but it’s the small wins I’ve started to love.”
A Shiba Inu owner advised, “Totally normal for him to be a monster first couple of months… Try balance the rules with fun – chasing, football etc. I had to learn to let them come to me. Now I cant get rid of them.”
