Is Snuggle Puppy Worth It

In late March, my husband and I decided to adopt a puppy. We had our hearts set on a black lab mutt, and I had found the perfect one. All puppies make me go weak in the knees. But this one was a real looker — speckled paws, cockeyed ears, and seal-pup eyes. As she snuggled into my lap on the long car ride home, I looked over at my husband and sighed. I was in puppy heaven.

A week later we were in puppy hell. The dog hadn’t taken to being in a kennel the way we hoped she would. At night she made ear-shattering noises that sounded like human screams. And then she would howl, and then yowl, and then cry, and then bark. She tried every noise in her puppy arsenal. Even earplugs couldn’t muffle the sounds of her discontent. So we suffered . . . sleepless night after sleepless night.

In vain I searched for some solution. I downloaded e-books on crate training. I pleaded for advice on Facebook. I scanned online puppy forums, studiously reading even the most cockamamie suggestions. But nothing worked. And the more I read, the more certain I became that this was somehow our fault. We had ruined our puppy.

So when a friend mentioned that a toy with a beating heart might calm her down, I didn’t even chuckle at the ridiculousness of the suggestion. I turned to the almighty online purveyor of everything — Amazon. And there I found “Snuggle Puppies Behavioral Aid Toy for Pets,” a stuffed hound with a “new and improved” plastic heart designed to produce a “real feel” heartbeat. The price tag was a tad hefty for a dog toy — $39.95 — but I wasn’t just buying a toy. Oh no. I was buying peace of mind and (potentially) a good night’s sleep.

Four days later, Snuggle Puppy arrived. We opened the Velcro cavity in her sternum, removed her red plastic heart, and switched it on. Tha-thunk. Tha-thunk. Tha-thunk. The heartbeat was audible even at a distance. And it seemed to do the trick. With each passing night the dog whined less and less until she wasn’t making any noise at all. Blissful silence. Totally worth $39.95.

Snuggle Puppy’s impact on our family has been overwhelmingly positive. But there is a downside. Lately, I find myself fixating on what Snuggle Puppy represents: namely, my inclination to overparent. Rather than giving the dog a few weeks to get used to her crate, I let my anxieties get the best of me. I looked for a quick fix. I coddled her. I threw money at the problem. And the end result is, of course, totally adorable. But it doesn’t really matter much if you indulge a puppy. What worries me is that I might behave the exact same way with a human child.

My husband and I are still undecided about whether to have a baby. (I’ve agonized over the decision on this very blog.) And my hesitation stems, in part, from deep-seated concerns that I won’t be a good mom. I’m worried I’ll become the kind of over-indulgent, uber-protective, anxiety ridden helicopter parent that I abhor. And having a puppy has done nothing to alleviate my concern.

A couple of weeks ago, we left the dog with my parents and flew to New York City. I left excruciatingly detailed instructions in which I outlined the many steps required to turn on Snuggle Puppy’s heart. But would my parents read them? Would they be able to figure it out? I wasn’t sure. At 9pm I sent a text. At 11pm I sent another: “Don’t forget to turn on Snuggle Puppy’s heart!”

They did forget. “What is snuggle puppy?” my stepmom texted back the next morning. But the dog survived. She had a ball, in fact. Puppies (and children) are resilient creatures, after all. They can probably handle a little over- (or under-) parenting. And who knows? Perhaps I’ll use up most of my anxiety on the dog, and when it comes time to rear a child, I’ll be able to provide the perfect amount of parenting. One can hope.

Welcoming home a new pup and wondering if the SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy works? We’ve got answers!

Bringing a new puppy home can be unbelievably challenging, but it’s so worth it! One of the biggest battles is getting our new puppy to sleep without crying all night.

Let’s just say it can feel a lot like having a newborn baby. We already have to take our new pup out every 2-3 hours to potty train, but we can’t even enjoy a small nap in between with all the whining. I can say from experience, that these annoying and sleepless nights can last weeks!

Recently, my family and I welcomed an F1 standard Goldendoodle, Sunny. Before her arrival, we decided to plan as best as we could and focused on how to make sure she had a comfortable first night.

After doing some research, we learned about the SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy. But it’s priced at $40, and we felt we had enough toys and supplies, getting a new pup is not cheap! Still, we decided to spare no expense and made the choice to buy it.

I’m happy to report that it’s the best puppy purchase we have ever made! I’ll share my experience and tips for best results, below…

The Snuggle Puppy Is an Effective Aid.

It works by recreating the intimacy of a realistic heartbeat, making this cuddly toy the perfect substitute for a puppy’s mom when they are lonely and scared , especially at night.

The plush fur offers an extra source of comfort and warmth, combined with the additional heat from the heat pad.

If you plan to get it before you get your puppy, give it to the owner to put with the mum and pups.The scent will remain on the toy adding another level of sensory comfort for your pup.

It recreates the sensation of when the puppy would snuggle into their mum and siblings, by providing warmth and reassurance.

It calms without medication or restraint. It will comfort your puppy during fireworks and thunderstorms too.

Helps themtransition into their new home and sleep soundly through the night.

And it is great for crate training. Put in a cozy bed with a few blankets, a treat or two, and place the Snuggle Puppy inside, and your puppy will never want to come out!

It provides your new puppy with a friend who they can snuggle into for warmth and reassurance, while the heartbeat and heat pad provides relief for the lonely pup.

And apparently, it works for cats as well!

One of my friends had a senior cat that was causing them grief because it yowled all night, yet when allowed into their bedroom, it wanted to lie on their faces and was such a nuisance that they banned it yet again only to suffer the return of the yowler prowling around.

In desperation, they brought a Snuggle Puppy, turned on the heart, and never heard from the cat all night. They were so worried by the silence, they got up several times during the night only to find kitty snoring quietly curled up with her Snuggle Puppy.

You can do a lot to make your puppies first night sleeping alone a relaxing time. Here are some things you can do to ensure your puppy will sleep soundly.

On the first day at their new home, keep them busy exploring their new home, meeting everyone, and playing with lots of new toys. Spend time with them to bond but also allow a little time on their own to explore. You want a tired puppy at bedtime so that they will be happy to go to sleep.

Introduce the Snuggle Puppy to them early in the day, and make sure you have put your scent on it by cuddling it previously.

In the last two hours before bed, slow the pace of things down. Quiet time with gentle play and snuggling will help.

Make sure your puppy is using the toilet box or goes outside to do their business, especially before they bed down for the night. A full bladder or needing to poop will wake your youngster up. If you do get woken during the night, talk softly and do not encourage play. Its pee and poop and then back to bed.

Use a crate which they will learn is their safe place, but the first few nights, it would be best to have the crate in the bedroom so that the puppy can smell and hear you. You can also easily reach down and gently pat them if they cry.

Teach them to go into the crate by leaving a trail of small treats. You do not want to force them. Let them discover all the things puppies love – such as food, a soft deep bed, a plush Snuggle Puppy toy, and something to chew on.

Remember to turn on the heartbeat and use the heat pad if needed for extra warmth.

Keep calm, be firm but fair, and encourage your young puppy to enjoy sleeping on their own within reach of their new mum/dad.

Is Snuggle Puppy Good For Older Dogs?

Snuggle Puppy can be beneficial for older dogs to help ease their anxiety. It just might be the solution you are looking for as an all-natural cure to many of your dog’s anxiety-related issues. It has helped older dogs with separation anxiety, travel anxiety, fear of loud noises, grief, and adjusting to a new family member. Many owners have had great results using the Snuggle Puppy for their rescue dogs as well. That being said, every dog is different, and the Snuggle Puppy may not work for your dog.

FAQ

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