Why I Quickly Failed at Getting a New Puppy
I failed…. BIG TIME.
After only 5 days of having my sweet 10-week-old morkie puppy, Persephone ‘Seffy’ Jones, I decided to rehome her.
So, if you’re thinking about getting a puppy, be sure to keep reading and make sure you’re ready for this huge responsibility.
Listen, I didn’t think I’d fail at getting a new puppy, either. No one does, right?
But following 8 long weeks of waiting and exchanging the loving glimmer in both of our eyes the day I brought her home… I knew we’d be together forever. I’d imagined trips to the store with her in my mesh-lined tote and both of us sitting at lunch in the most instagrammable spots with our matching outfits.
But the vision faded only 3 days in… sitting at my kitchen table, tears streaming down my face from overwhelm and embarrassment.
Disclaimer: Seffy was a good pup. She was energetic like a puppy but could still chill out at times—and she was even learning to use the pee pads without a constant eye!!
Regardless, some said I just wasn’t a dog person, others that I didn’t try hard enough. And the former group may be half right, considering I’ve been scared of dogs (of all sizes) for about 23 out of the 24.5 years of my life.
Nevertheless, that wasn’t my issue…
And it wasn’t for lack of trying either because I’d argue that I tried too hard if anything.
However, I think it really boiled down to three things:
Bad timing
I’d just started a new job the week prior and needed more time to get my bearings and learn the ropes.
Low support
It was just me and the dog. I had friends that said they’d helped, and my sister gave me her one-hour lunch break each day, but otherwise I was all in.
Stoking the flames of my overly attached puppy
Working from home meant we were attached at the hip, so after only 3 days, we were inseparable. Like separation anxiety level attachment… and I didn’t see it getting any better. And I felt like I was too far gone to restart the weaning process.
I should’ve known this would be the case. Everyone says that a puppy is like a baby after all. THEY. ARE. WRONG.
Let me clarify: A puppy is NOT like a baby!
You see, I’d argue that a puppy is so much worse. Because after 10 weeks, a baby isn’t running around the house, chewing, peeing and pooping on anything in sight. From that young age, a puppy needs stimulation and playtime, and a constant eye to make sure you’re training them right from wrong.
(Let me say… motherhood is a FEAT, the ins and outs of which I am not aware of and that I am also not ready for.)
It could be argued that you have to teach puppies independence and keep them contained with crate training and practice the “cry it out” method from the very beginning… and perhaps if I hadn’t just started working from home, then she could’ve cried and growled and howled, and I would’ve been none the wiser.
But I AM working from home and hearing her whine any time I left her was not for my faint heart.
Despite it all, I believe the biggest factor that made me rehome her was the fact that my quality of life suffered so greatly…
Seriously, I wasn’t eating, drinking, using the restroom, or showering until 7 p.m. every night. And when I would leave to run errands or workout, I would be overcome with a guilt that drove me to tears.
And in the end, that’s not worth it right?
Still, I asked myself, “how long does this puppy phase last? It can’t be so bad or so long, right?” And after getting answers ranging from 2 months to 6 months to a YEAR…
I knew.
This life would not be for me.
And maybe if things were different, if I had more support than friends who mean well but just don’t have the time, or a sister who didn’t need to work in silence behind closed doors, or a husband and kids ready to pitch in, then I could’ve done it.
But like my aunt always used to say: if ‘if’ was a fifth, we’d all be drunk.
Here’s the redeeming part though: no one can fault you or me or anyone else for trying. And I tried… HARD.
Like my therapist said, at least it was a dog and not a real baby.
So, if you’re still considering bringing home a new bright-eyed and fluffy tailed pup even after reading my experience, then here’s a few things you should know before getting a puppy:
Set healthy boundaries – Separation anxiety has been hard for a lot of people transitioning to that wfh life and especially getting new puppies as they’re working from home. You have to start crate training ASAP as if you were in the office.
Share the load – If you’re single and getting a dog, consider if this is something you could do on your own. Seriously…
Google exaggerates – Google will tell you all these things your puppy should be knowing and learning at a young age, but it’s not true! It will take so much time for your puppy to start understanding things.
I wish I could offer more… but I only had her for 5 days!! What do you expect?
I do hope she’s happy with her new family and gets all the cuddles and walks and belly rubs that she deserves. I think of her constantly, what things would’ve been like if I still had her and how she’s adjusting to her new mommy — and whether her new mommy rehomed her as well… YIKES.
Do you have a question about getting a new puppy? Leave a comment, and I’ll leave you my best answer!