When you bring a new puppy home, you should realize he’s neither a small human nor a small wolf. He is a baby dog, and puppies often do many normal baby-dog things that can sometimes be challenging for us to control at first. It therefore helps to know what to expect from your puppy before he’s part of the family. Puppies normally:
- Pee and poop
- Chew and rip
- Play, explore and socialize using their mouths -- and their very sharp teeth
- Have bursts of energy, especially in the mornings and evenings
- Feel uncomfortable when left alone
- Easily learn what pays off and what doesn’t
- Quickly learn what is normal and what is frighteningly different
Be Proactive
Your biggest goal with a young puppy is to prevent mistakes before they happen. This usually means keeping your puppy confined to a puppy-proofed area when you cannot actively supervise him. This could be a crate (for short periods of time), a pen, or a “safe” room with the door shut or a tall baby gate in place (often a bathroom or laundry room). In this room, potty accidents are forgiven (clean them up with enzyme cleaners), and only items that are safe to chew are in reach. Periodically take him out to his potty spot. When he’s finished, allow him to explore the rest of the house and yard under your watchful eye.
Preventing mistakes also entails giving your puppy plenty of opportunity to burn off energy and the chance to play properly, using his razor-sharp teeth on tug toys or other dogs or puppies (only those who actively enjoy interacting this way). The best time for this is those “crepuscular hours” -- mornings and evenings -- which unfortunately are the same hours we’re rushing off to school or work, or rushing home to prepare dinner and start homework. Having your puppy’s meals in food-dispensing toys (like a KONG) is good for those moments.
Socializing your puppy is another important aspect of preventing mistakes. That means letting him encounter a variety of people and other dogs, as well as new environments: crowds, slippery floors, carpets, stairs, household noises, neighborhood noises, car rides, crates, vets’ offices, etc. The things that a puppy encounters in his early life are usually the things that he’ll accept as a normal part of his world as an adult. During the beginning and end of adolescence, new things are often reacted to with caution at best, and fearfulness at worst.
Mistakes Happen
Mistakes happen, and they’re usually the human’s fault: The puppy was left in the living room without an empty bladder, or shoes were left within the reach of those teeth.
If you catch your puppy doing something you don’t want him to, interrupt him with a short, sharp sound like “Unh-unh!” or a clap. You can say “No!” if you want, but keep in mind that you are only stopping the present behavior in its tracks. The word “No” does not really inform the puppy that his behavior is forbidden and should never be repeated. Don’t fool yourself into thinking your puppy understands more than this.
Immediately redirect your puppy toward a more acceptable behavior (the correct potty spot, a more appropriate chew toy). And immediately make plans to prevent future mistakes.
The flip side of this, of course, is catching your puppy doing the right thing and rewarding him with praise, attention, the chance to interact with you, or special toys and food treats. If all the good stuff comes to your puppy when he’s behaving the way you want, and if he’s pretty much prevented from practicing the behavior you don’t want, you’ll soon have a well-behaved puppy!
