How getting a puppy can affect your mental health for the worse

Within the first few weeks of getting our puppy, Eddie, I knew I wanted to write this blog post. That 

sounds terrible and like I immediately didn't want him anymore, however that's not the case. There 

are so many reasons why I wanted to write this post, but the main one being that no one talks about 

how your mental health can be affected for the worse when you get a pet. So many people talk about 

how pets, especially dogs, can change your mental health for the better and whilst I agree, the puppy 

stage is completely different and can make your mental health worse.

At first you're excited, because you've got a puppy that you've most likely been dreaming of for years. 

Myself included. Then either a few hours or days later it hits you. The reality off it all. You now have 

to look after a living, breathing animal, train and feed it, make sure it goes to the toilet outside, 

doesn't chew anything it shouldn't, buy toys and food, make sure it sleeps, leave on its own so it 

doesn't get separation anxiety, but don't leave it for too long, neutered, microchipped, vaccines, vet 

bills, walk it multiple times a day and watch it 24/7. It was around day 2 or 3 that I realised all of this.

Because he was 9 weeks old we couldn't walk him until his 2nd injections had been completed and 

settled. He was 14 weeks when we took him on his first walk. 5 weeks of being even more restricted 

on what we can and can't do. The first week of having Eddie, I didn't shower, brush my hair nor my 

teeth, wouldn't leave him, didn't eat or drink because I felt such an immense amount of pressure. The 

second week I started to feel a lot better and got into a routine for a few weeks. Then once we could 

walk him everything changed again. I found he was getting more energy as well as being 

overwhelmed and distracted by every single thing outside, as well as biting more due to his baby 

teeth starting to come out. My arms were covered in scratches, scars and blood from his tiny teeth 

irritating him. There were obviously good days, but there were bad days too.

People think you get a puppy and it's all cute and fun. A puppy doesn't just sleep, eat and poop. 

A puppy is an awful lot of hard work. More than myself or anyone realises.

You can't lock a puppy in a cage when it's not doing what you want it to. Yes time out for a few 

minutes to calm down or when you're leaving the house etc, but you can't keep a dog locked up all 

day long. A dog is a commitment for life, not a present for Christmas. 

I struggled and am still struggling trying to find the balance between managing to get things done, 

professional and personally, but also making sure that Eddie is safe. It's in my nature to worry and be 

overprotective but I didn't realise how much it would impact my mental health. I almost felt like I hit 

rock bottom again and had to cruel out a 10ft hole to get myself back to being semi ok. 

The main reason for me writing this is because I wish someone had told me this. I wish someone told 

me to think about my mental health before getting a puppy. I wish someone was there to say put 

yourself first, make sure you're ok and settled then introduce a puppy into your life. In no way is this 

me saying I hate Eddie, I don't want him anymore or I wish we never got him, because I spend way 

too much time crying over how much I love him, however I just wish someone talked about the 

negative sides of a puppy with your mental health. Since getting Eddie (14 weeks ago) my mental 

health has become more rocky, my medication has had to increase and I am having more down days. 

But since getting Eddie I've also met people I wouldn't have before, become more active, talking to 

new people, waking up earlier and getting the chance to start a family. 

I love Eddie and wouldn't change anything, I just wish I had this post to read first.

xoxo

Lea-Mai