Has raising a Puppy made your mental health worse? 🐶🐕

@Drifterbynature What about just 'trying it out' by volunteering in an animal shelter? You don't have to buy any dog, you don't need to pay for food etc. but you do get access to dogs to learn about them and figure out whether one would be manageable. It has the added benefit of doing something useful, and helping animals, and people being grateful for your help, and of getting out of your apartment regularly.

Thank you all for your positive and helpful messages.

I felt with where I'm at in my life currently that a cat, which was my close second choice, would be more suitable.

But I think perhaps a dog one day could be really good for me, in different circumstances.

Appreciate you all 👍

@Drifterbynature Great question. I've got CPTSD and OCD too, and have taken care of many dogs in the past decade. Consider how much time/energy/finances you can expend on caretaking and alternatives when you don't feel well - e.g., automated feeders/water fountains, pee pads, petsitters, etc. With puppies, sometimes it can feel exhausting to match their energy levels/chaos. Once I was physically ill on top of mental illness and was barely able to get food in my puppy's bowl throughout the day. Although the animals themselves have been an absolute delight and have never directly deteriorated my mental health, sometimes I've been frustrated/ashamed if I cannot fulfil the pet's needs. 

coming from a huge dog person i say YES! having a dog really helps me with my depression and loneliness. my dog is so smart, it knows when to comfort me when i’m crying or upset - and just that feeling alone makes it totally worth it to me. the companionship and loyalty you’ll receive from a pup is totally worth it especially if you can afford doggy daycare/pet setting which help you manage if it gets to be a lot! look into adopting older already trained dogs too if you don’t think you can handle raising a puppy because it is a lot of work. take care 😊

Hey,

I've personaly found that pets can help with mental heath more than deteriorating it, though there are good and bad days.

I personaly, have a cat and a dog, both strays that i bought home. (Been doing that kinda thing since i was a kid, to the point my mom would say "be good, safe, carefull and dont bring back any more animals" though i nealy always did [lived in the countryside, so not to much of a problem])

If your unsure to get one or not, maybe you could try pet sitting? Idk if there would be much options where you are, but its something you could look into whilst you make the decision.