When you get a new puppy, people often say things like, “Start them right,” “Do your foundation work,” and “Build those blocks.” These words can make you worry! Are you doing it correctly? What if you make mistakes? Will your puppy meet your expectations or those of your friends, trainers, and breeder? It’s natural to feel concerned about your puppy, your training, and even yourself. You might worry if your puppy is learning fast enough or if you’re capable of raising this puppy. (Spoiler: You are!) These worries are normal and human. No matter how your puppy came to you, worry will sometimes be your companion. You want to do everything right and protect your puppy from harm.
How can you manage these worries? Slow down. Think. Plan. Then act. Develop both process goals and outcome goals for your journey together. A MACH title or a podium finish are outcome goals, but between now and then, there’s a lot of learning, exploring, and building a solid foundation—those are your process goals! Regularly check if your process goals are still realistic. Are they progressing? How do you measure success? Keeping records can help you see progress and reassure you that you’re moving forward.
Despite all the planning, worries may still creep in, and that’s okay. When worry arises, address it thoughtfully. Notice it and make a plan to test a solution. If the first strategy doesn’t work, don’t despair. Try a different approach. It’s important to avoid creating a chain of anxiety, where one worry leads to another and builds into a bigger problem. To help you manage worries, remember these four key ideas: Stop comparing. Love the puppy you have. Other people’s experiences can guide you, but don’t let them be your measuring stick. Your experience is unique, and your relationship with your puppy is special. Don’t be disappointed if your puppy is slower than others. Celebrate the learning process!
Have fun! Your dog is only a puppy once. If going to puppy camp makes you happy, go for it. If it stresses you out, try a local class. You don’t need to check off 300 items on a list to raise a great puppy—do what makes you and your puppy happy. Let go of worry. Worry is just a thought in your head, and you control your thoughts. Ask yourself how long this worry will bother you: five minutes, hours, days, weeks, or years? This perspective can help you move past the worry.
Finally, reframe your worries. If your puppy is slow to learn, be grateful you’re learning new training techniques. If your breeder asks many questions, consider it a compliment—they care about your puppy’s well-being. Your puppy is your baby canine, an infant! Focus on what really matters. Enjoy the zoomies and the occasional mistakes. Take time to simply enjoy your new friend and build memories that will become precious over time.