Understanding Puppy Behavior

Puppies are like infants. They need time to learn appropriate behaviors.

It is up to you, the learned species, to understand puppy behavior and train responses that are acceptable in your home and in public. There are certain puppy traits that you will think cute. For example, wobbly legs, tiny little play barks, clumsiness, and this cute little shadow that follows you everywhere are all adorable. You will love it, but all of this can become just as annoying as it was cute. Rather than finding a shadow enjoyable, you may get upset that you are constantly tripping over your new pet. Of course, you understand there is a reason for their behavior, but when it stops being cute it may be too late for you to condition an appropriate set of normal behaviors and you have no one to blame but yourself. When these behaviors stop being cute is when many of them end up dumped at kill shelters or taken in by rescues or turned out on the streets.

Dogs learn by observation and hand gestures. They are visual learners and will eventually be able to pick up vocal commands like “sit.” As with most species, puppies are at an age where they are learning everything around them, soaking it up like a sponge, and developing traits that will last a lifetime. Only you can stop certain behaviors from remaining.

Problem behaviors can include barking, biting, nipping, chewing, peeing indoors, acting aggressively and crying all night. These behaviors are normal, but they are not wanted when they can interrupt sleep, daily habits or ruin a home.

An important fact to remember is that puppies need to be with their mother for a minimum of eight weeks but preferably 12 weeks, receiving milk filled with nutrients from her; eventually being weaned off her milk to eat puppy food and learning pack manners from mom as well as the litter mates.

Arriving in your home, your puppy is now in an unknown place with new smells, perhaps new pets, certainly new people; which can be traumatic and scary. In these first few days puppies might sleep more, eat more or less and may display perfect behavior. Once the adjustment period is over, their normal behaviors will start to present. It is after the first week that you will begin to see your puppy’s true personality and normal behavior.

During this initial period you will want to balance the love and attention, with proper alone time for your puppy. You do not want your puppy to get used to you being around and receiving attention all the time, because this can lead to separation anxiety and other behavioral issues later on.

Puppies naturally chew and nip. There are different reasons for these behaviors. Nipping others is meant as fun, teasing and playful. Chewing on you, clothing, blankets and other items can be because of teething. When teething occurs you need to make certain you are supplying appropriate items to chew on to stop your puppy from finding other things acceptable.

Chewing on items when your puppy is not ready for teeth or has all their teeth is too often about cleaning their teeth, because it feels good or because they are displaying displeasure. Chewing on shoes or something you dearly love can indicate your puppy is asking for attention.