What Is Puppy Love And How Does It Influence Mental Health?
Key takeaways
- Puppy love refers to a common experience of infatuation for adolescents.
- This type of infatuation can sometimes cause teens to ignore warning signs.
- Teens experiencing puppy love may need support from their parents, other trusted adults, or therapists.
Infatuation, often called “puppy love” for children or teens, is a powerful experience accompanied by intense emotions ranging from elation to devastation. While some puppy love experiences evolve into mature relationships, they are often fleeting.
What is puppy love? Puppy love meanings
The term “puppy love” has two standard meanings:
- Infatuation (crush)
- Bond with a canine
Puppy love: Infatuation or crush
Puppy love is defined as “transitory love or affection felt by a child or adolescent.” It’s also known as having a crush. This article discusses this type of puppy love.
Puppy love: Love bond with a canine
The other type of puppy love relates to dogs. It is an intense bond between a human and a puppy or dog.
What are the signs of puppy love?
Certain characteristics of puppy love involve short-term and intense emotions.
Intense emotions
Experiencing puppy love can make someone lose themselves in emotions, feeling elation at one moment and pain the next. Getting each other’s numbers can be exciting, for instance, but when they don’t text, it can feel devastating.
Idealization
When someone experiences puppy love, they often idealize the object of their affection, focusing on positive attributes and ignoring warning signs.
Short-lived infatuation
Puppy love is typically based on attraction and not genuine connection. Thus, it tends to fade quickly. What began as all-consuming may end up a cute and funny story or totally forgotten.
What often happens during puppy love?
When someone experiences puppy love, they likely feel intense emotions and think about their crush constantly. They may feel physical symptoms, such as butterflies in their stomach, and have a difficult time concentrating. This might only last for a short time, though. Either it ends in disappointment, or it can develop into a deeper connection.
Dealing with your child’s puppy love as a parent
Parents can have a difficult time watching their children, male or female, experience the thrills and disappointments of puppy love. Perhaps the best thing a mom or dad can do is to listen to their child without judgement and validate their feelings. They can give suggestions for how to show self-care and cultivate a healthy relationship, such as maintaining boundaries. If your child experiences significant anxiety or depression, it could be a good idea to seek professional support.
Does puppy love involve good chemistry between people?
Chemistry can play a big role in infatuation, but it can quickly wear off.
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Good chemistry
Typically, there is “good chemistry” in the early stages of puppy love involving attraction, fun, and romance. A good outcome isn’t necessarily written on the wall, since these chemical influences don’t typically last.
When things go wrong
The initial attraction of a crush typically wears off, and it may not end up being a love match. You might discover faults or sense that you have different goals and values. You could discover this after dating for a while or after you sit through a disastrous first date.
Can puppy love be difficult emotionally?
We often think of puppy love as something light and insignificant, but it can be emotionally challenging for adolescents due to intense emotions and disappointment if the crush is one-sided.
When does puppy love develop into something deeper?
Once the initial infatuation has worn off, the power struggle and disillusionment stages cause some relationships to end. However, if a couple navigates their way through these stages successfully, they have the potential to develop a lasting commitment.
Is it helpful to attend couples therapy?
If you’ve experienced communication and intimacy difficulties, whether with a crush or a long-term partner, therapy can be an important part of healing.
Couples therapy
If you have relationship conflicts, it may be helpful for you to attend couples therapy. A couples therapist can help:
- identify relationship issues
- offer communication techniques
- teach conflict resolution skills
Individual therapy for mental health
Many people find that individual therapy can also be beneficial. In individual sessions, a therapist can help you address any personal issues that may be affecting your relationship or overall well-being.
Is online therapy effective for mental health?
Online couples therapy has been proven to be just as effective as in-person therapy. With online therapy, scheduling around your busy calendar may be easier, and you can meet with your therapist from your own home.
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Takeaway
What is puppy love in a relationship?
Puppy love is often seen as a form of intense infatuation that often occurs between young people in their first romantic relationships. While it doesn’t usually last long-term, puppy love can be all-consuming and exciting.
How long does puppy love usually last?
Most sources report that puppy love lasts between two months and two years. The emotions associated with puppy love are typically driven by hormones, which tend to decrease over time.
What age does puppy love usually start?
First crushes may occur around ages six to nine. Meanwhile, puppy love is often associated with early teenage relationships. In adult relationships, the “puppy love” phase is more often referred to as the honeymoon phase.
What are the three types of puppy love?
There aren’t necessarily three types of puppy love. However, when looking at Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, which includes the three components of intimacy, passion, and commitment, puppy love tends to be associated with passion.
How to tell if it's puppy love?
Puppy love is typically characterized by intensity, excitement, and passion. It usually lacks true emotional intimacy and commitment. Puppy love most frequently develops between teenagers and young people who don’t have much relationship experience.
What makes puppy love so intense?
The release of hormones like oxytocin and dopamine is usually a big part of the intensity of puppy love. In addition, when you hold hands with or kiss someone for the first time as a young person, it can be deeply impactful.
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