Raising a Well-Behaved Puppy: What Every New Dog Owner
Should Know
Bringing home a puppy is a rollercoaster of excitement,
love, and moments of chaos. Those wagging tails and floppy ears make it all
worth it, but if you’re not careful, those innocent antics can quickly develop
into habits that aren’t so cute in six months’ time.
As someone who has raised two of my dogs from puppies, bred
a litter, and works as a behaviourist, I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum:
well-prepared puppy owners who thrive and those who struggle because small
issues were overlooked early on. The good news is that a little knowledge and
proactive training can make all the difference.
Puppies Are Always Learning: What Are You Teaching Them?
From the moment you bring your puppy home, they’re
learning—whether you’re actively teaching them or not. Every interaction shapes
their understanding of the world. For instance:
Jumping up for attention? - Your puppy might learn that this
is the way to get noticed.
Nibbling on your hands during play? They start to think hands are chew toys (even
if you shout ouch, this might get them to think that you squeak too!).
Exploring the bin? - They might decide it’s a treasure trove
of delights.
It’s easy to accidentally reinforce these behaviours if
you’re not careful. The key is to redirect their energy and enthusiasm into the
behaviours you *do* want to see, like sitting calmly for attention or chewing
on appropriate toys.
Common Challenges (and How to Overcome Them)
Here’s a closer look at some of the most common puppy
problems and practical steps to address them:
1. Puppy Biting: Nipping It in the Bud (pun intended).
Puppy biting is natural—after all, it’s how they explore the
world and soothe their teething gums. But it’s not something you want them
carrying into adulthood!
What to do:
- Preemptively offer a long toy (store-bought or DIY) before
biting starts. Toys that can be animated along the floor and kept away from
your hands are ideal. Think fleece tug toys or stuffed socks on a string.
- If your puppy starts to bite, redirect them immediately to
the toy. Encourage them to chew the toy instead of your fingers.
- If they continue to bite, calmly remove your attention.
Stand up, cross your arms, and turn away. Resume interaction only when they’re
calm.
- Never use your hands as toys. Wrestling or play-fighting
with your hands might teach them that it’s okay to bite skin.
2. Early Socialisation: Building Confidence Without
Overwhelming
Socialisation is about more than meeting other dogs. It’s
about exposing your puppy to a variety of sights, sounds, environments, and
people in a way that builds their confidence.
What to do:
- Introduce your puppy to new experiences gradually. Start
with quieter environments and work up to busier ones.
- Pair potentially scary things, like loud noises or new
people, with something your puppy loves—like tasty treats or a fun toy. For
example, when your puppy hears a vacuum cleaner, offer a treat to create a
positive association.
- Teach your puppy to focus on you in stimulating
environments by rewarding them for checking in or making eye contact. This
builds trust and helps them navigate the world confidently.
3. Preventing Resource Guarding: Building Trust
Many guardians unknowingly encourage resource guarding by
taking things away from their puppy. Imagine if someone kept snatching your
snacks away—you’d guard them too!
What to do:
- Teach your puppy that giving up items leads to a reward.
Start by approaching them while they chew on something and tossing a high-value
treat nearby. Over time, they’ll associate your approach with good things.
- Practise swapping low-value items (like a boring toy) for
something better (like a chew or treat). Say, “Drop,” offer the swap, and then
return the original item after a few seconds.
Why Puppy Classes Are a Game-Changer:
While you can (and should!) teach your puppy skills like
“sit” and “down” at home, there’s something uniquely valuable about attending
puppy classes.
In a controlled environment with other puppies, your puppy
learns to focus on you despite distractions. This helps build reliability in
real-world settings where distractions are inevitable, like parks or
cafés.
Plus, having an experienced instructor on hand means someone
is watching for behaviours you might miss. For example:
- Is your puppy playing nicely with others, or are they
overwhelmed?
- Are they starting to show subtle signs of resource
guarding?
- Are they responding appropriately to your cues, or are
there gaps in communication?
These insights are invaluable and can help you adjust your
approach before small issues become big problems.
Real-Life Examples of Puppy Success
Here are a few scenarios I’ve encountered with clients, and
how simple adjustments turned things around:
Shy Around Hands: A puppy who flinched when hands reached
toward her was likely overwhelmed. To help, I advised pairing touch with a
reward. Every time someone extended a hand toward her, they offered a small
treat. Over time, she began associating hands with positive outcomes.
Growling Over Chews: An early sign of resource guarding,
this was addressed by tossing high-value treats each time someone approached
the puppy with a chew. Gradually, the puppy started looking forward to people
approaching.
Crying at Night: A
puppy left to “cry it out” in the utility room was moved into a crate next to
the guardian’s bed. This allowed them to reassure the puppy and take them out
for toilet breaks when needed. Once the puppy was sleeping through the night,
they gradually transitioned him back to the utility room.
How Foundations in Puppyhood Prevent Future Issues:
As a behaviourist, I see older dogs with challenges like
reactivity, separation anxiety, and resource guarding. So often, these issues
could have been avoided with the right foundations in puppyhood. Simple
actions—like pairing new experiences with positive associations, teaching
trust, and building focus—create a ripple effect that lasts a lifetime.
Join Us for Puppy Classes in Berkshire and Oxfordshire:
Raising a puppy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Our puppy
classes provide hands-on guidance, real-world practice, and personalised advice
to set you and your puppy up for success. Whether you’re working on
socialisation, polite greetings, or lead walking, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, or nearby areas like
Reading, Henley, Caversham, Burghfield Common, or Mortimer, we’d love to
welcome you to our classes.
And remember, if you’re facing challenges with an older dog,
I also offer behaviour support to help resolve those issues.
Ready to start your puppy training journey? Contact us
today, or share this blog with a fellow puppy owner who could use some support!
