You know that overwhelming excitement that happens when you get to bring a new puppy home for the first time? So cute. So sweet. So cuddly. All your friends and family know you adopted a new friend, because everything about the little pup just seems so Facebook and Instagram-worthy.
Then reality decides to remind you of the less sunshine-y side of owning a new, untrained, un-housebroken puppy. Coming home to missing shoes, toilet paper pieces all over the house and destroyed couch pillows becomes the new norm. Here are the 10 roller coaster stages of bringing home a new pup:
1. Excitement
Nothing beats the joyous feeling of bringing home a new furry member of your family! Everything the little puppy does seems so adorable and exciting. You're pretty sure that it's the best thing to ever happen to you.
2. Over Sharing on Social Media
You know those new moms on Facebook that become paparazzi for their new tiny human? The same thing basically happens when you bring home a new puppy. Everything they do is automatically THE cutest thing, and there's this indescribable need to show everyone you know. (I speak from experience. I apologize to all my twitter followers.)
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3. Puppy Snuggles
Is there anything better than cuddling with a puppy? Even though they often have high energy during the day, by evening lil pups are tuckered out and love to spend time snuggling with you. How could you say no? They're all warm and fuzzy and loving and calm after a day at work and school. There's no better way to bond with your dog!
via buzzfeed.com
4. The First Incident
You're going through life, in complete love with your little pup, and then they decide to shatter your picture perfect idea of what owning a dog is like. Maybe they have an accident on the carpet, or they pull food off the kitchen counter, or they decide to have a lovely dinner consisting entirely of the contents of your garbage can. Face it, your angel of a puppy is just like all the rest. Reality hits hard.
via dogtrainerslongisland.net
5. Potty Training
Every dog owner has claimed, "I WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER DOG AGAIN." Most of the time it's exclaimed when you wake up in the morning and find a not-so-welcome present on your bedroom floor. House training is messy, gross, and takes far too long. Really, who needs another dog?
6. Barking, Jumping, and Whining
This is a stage where dogs don't understand personal boundaries and are always all over everything. How can something so cute be so obnoxious? They bark at everything. Funny hats. People in big sweaters. Leaves blowing on the side walk. And have you ever heard a puppy whine? Because if you haven't, it's THE most annoying sound on the planet. Don't be fooled by the cute puppy dog eyes; they know the noises they make are the equivalent to the devil's nails raking down a chalkboard. It's why they do it so often. The faster you get annoyed, the faster they get what they want.
7. Asking to go Outside
Although potty training a puppy is probably the equivalent to being in the ninth layer of hell, that first time your growing puppy wants to go outside, you can't help but feel a huge sense of pride and accomplishment. All those accidents and punishments may have been worth it.
8. Losing The Sharp Puppy Teeth
The only thing worse than the high pitched whine of a little pup is the feeling of razor sharp puppy teeth chomping down on your hands and arms and legs and every other part of your body you leave exposed. But when your dog finally starts to grow out of the attack-the-owner-that-loves-me stage, they loose their baby teeth, and big-puppy teeth come in! With no more teething, puppies often stop chewing on everything in sight, and it is the most glorious feeling in the world.
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9. Calmer moods
The later puppy months = calmer moods. Sometimes the change even comes really suddenly. One week you couldn't even imagine your pup sitting still long enough to stop gnawing on your hands when you try to sit on the couch together. Then the next week she's chilling next to you while you watch "Modern Family" reruns.
via rd.ca
10. Relaxation/Reminiscent
After all of the work of raising and training a puppy, when it's finally grown you can't help but be a little sad. Sure, the relaxation of not constantly wondering what the annoying ball of fur is chewing on now is nice, but it was kind of exciting getting to watch them grow up. You can't help but to be reminiscent of the excitement of early puppyhood. Maybe getting another one doesn't sound so bad after all.
