Five Puppy Behaviors to Nip in the Bud Early

 


 Puppies are highly receptive to learning the first 16-weeks of their lives. But that doesn't mean a dog older than 16-weeks cannot be trained. To foster a well-behaved adult dog, it's crucial to address specific behaviors in puppies early on. Here are five of behaviors you should consider focusing on early in your dog's life: 

  1. Chewing: Puppies will chew on things for a variety of reasons. Just like a human baby, your puppy may be teething and chewing on things provides relief. Another reason is that your puppy is bored and looking for exploration. To help your puppy, provide lots of chew toys & redirection when chewing on an unacceptable item. In addition, you will want to make sure your puppy is getting enough exercise-- physical and mental-- to allow their natural tendency to explore to be satisfied. 
  2. Biting: When dogs play, they naturally nip at each other, and usually will let a play partner know when play is becoming too rough. One way a puppy can learn not to bite too hard is through socialization with other dogs. It is important to start socializing your dog with not only other dogs, but also with people as early as possible. You should never punish your puppy for biting too hard or use your puppy's crate as a punishment. Instead, when your puppy bites you too hard, give a yelp and ignore them for 20 seconds. If your puppy's play is getting out of control, it may be that your puppy is getting over stimulated and playtime needs to end. 
  3. Jumping: A dog's natural tendency will be to jump up on people to greet them-- nose to nose. But, this can be dangerous, because your dog may end up knocking someone over. Instead, teach your dog to "sit" to be greeted. 
  4. Separation Anxiety: Dogs are natural pack animals and do not like to be separated from the pack (meaning you), but it is unrealistic to bring your dog everywhere you go. On the flip side, you should not leave your dog alone for hours at a time. This is not psychologically good for your dog. To introduce your puppy to being separated from you, start with a gradual introduction for short periods of time. Slowly, over time, increase the duration of the separation. Your puppy should be crate trained and comfortable with being in a crate when you are separated from them. Give your puppy plenty of exercise beforehand, so they are tired. When you leave, let them rest in their crate with comfort items. Reminder: A dog's crate is their den and should never be used as a punishment area.  
  5. Potty Training: Potty training needs to be a consistent routine. Take your puppy our regularly, especially after meals and naps. Always praise your puppy when they use the bathroom outside. Never punish your puppy for having an accident in the house. 

No matter what age your dog is, remember that training never stops. Always refresh your dog's memory with frequent, short trainings.  Trainings should be short and sweet-- only 5 to 10 minutes at a time, several times a day. Be positive, have fun and practice with patience. Consistency is key when it comes to being a dog parent.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

8 DIY Enrichment Games for the Canine Mind

Image
As winter continues on, we all try to ward off the winter blues by taking our handful of vitamin D daily and watching endless hours of Netflix. Sometimes, we take hikes in the winter wonderland...or there is skiing...or ice climbing.  But let's face it, winter is a time of hibernation and cabin fever can take it's toll. A dog's mental health can suffer. While you can go skiing and ice climbing, a dog can't. They get bored when mental and physical exercise are not consistent. And a bored dog equals a mischievous dog. Luckily, humans are also a creative species and below I have found a bunch of DIY enrichment games for dogs. So start crafting away the winter canine blues! What you see above is a "snuffle pad". You can purchase these or make them. The picture above is a snuffle pad from an Etsy store: FleeceBeWithYou . The price of these mats vary depending upon size and weight ($9.00- $50.00) Snuffle pads are also fairly easy to make, but can b...
Read more

DIY Enrichment Games For Your Dog

Image
Because we have a great Enrichment Program , I thought it would be fun to post some enrichment games you can make for your dog at home:  Image: Yes Missy The Muffin Tin Game is somewhat like Hide-and-Go-Seek, but with treats instead of humans. It's pretty simple and easy to put together. You just grab a muffin pan, and place a few treats in random indentations in the pan. Then, place tennis balls over all the indentations. You dog needs to A) figure out how to get the balls out and B) figure out which indentations hold the treats. A full tutorial can be found here: Yes Missy . Image: The Nerd's Wife This enrichment game was found on The Nerd's Wife and will keep your dog entertained for hours. I do want to write a little disclaimer: The Nerd's Wife tutorial on how to make this enrichment toy also endorses Purina Beyond Pet Food. Though Bark City thinks this is an awesome idea for an enrichment toy, we are not endorsing Purina Beyond.... Because, well... ...
Read more

Caring For Your Elderly Dog

Image
Old age is not a disease, it's a stage of life. Larger dogs will hit the "elderly stage" earlier than smaller dogs: Giant breeds-- 5 to 6 years, Medium dogs-- 7 to 8 years and Smaller dogs-- 10 to 12 years. Once your beloved dog starts to reach this age range, it's time to start adjusting their care in order to give them the longest, healthiest and happiest life possible. Here are some tips on caring for your elderly dog: Elderly dogs are more sensitive to extreme temperature changes because their metabolism is changing. They are less able to thermoregulate. In cold weather, if needed, provide your dog with a winter coat and do not leave them outside as long. In hot weather, again, do not leave them outside as long. Plus, make sure their is plenty of opportunities for hydration. Dehydration is at a higher risk.  Start to moderate exercise . As your dog starts to age, the heart and lungs will start to weaken. This will mean Fido will no longer be able to exerci...
Read more