Welcoming a puppy into your life is certainly exciting, and such a day to remember in your new life as a dog pawrent. But is everyday with a puppy all sunshine and rainbows? Well, any seasoned puppy owner, or pooch expert, will tell you that some days are nothing of the sort!
But not to worry, “naughty” behaviour in puppies is extremely common - it’s just about how you stop it developing into a long-term issue. We’re here with our expert guidance, tips and tricks to help you explore all the most common types of puppy behaviour, why they happen and how you can squash them.
When it comes to puppy personalities, each one is different! But one thing they all have in common is their thirst for mischief. In their first few weeks at home with you, your puppy’s naughty behaviour may wear you down - but know you’re not alone.
The key is to recognise these common behaviours and nip them in the bud.
Here are some of the most common puppy behavioural issues:
Once they come home with you, puppies will be a few months away from having their full set of adult teeth. That said, the razor-sharp little pincers they do have will still pack a punch!
Puppies are known to bite, nip and mouth very early on and whilst in the right environment and under control, it’s a completely natural behaviour.
From a young age, puppies use their mouths to explore the world around them. This might include picking up things they shouldn’t, biting furniture or even having a nibble on your fingers and toes. Puppies also use their mouths when playing with their littermates, so will also often do this when playing with you.
As cute as it may be at first, this is a behaviour that can easily develop into a potentially dangerous habit as they grow . Plus, teaching your puppies boundaries from a very early age is important, so they know not to be sinking their teeth into new people and strangers, no matter how playful.
The best tactic for stopping biting, mouthing and nipping is to always have a puppy safe toy on hand to redirect it. Frozen carrots also work a treat! Pair this with some positive reinforcement, treats and lots of ‘good puppy!’, and they’ll eventually learn where it’s safe to chomp till their heart’s content.
To learn more about puppy mouthing and how to tackle it, explore our puppy trainer article: Puppy Mouthing, where our expert trainer will go through step-by-steps on how to tackle this common behaviour.
You may find that your puppy is actively snubbing you - not listening to their commands, not reacting to their name, or just generally letting the urge to cause mayhem take over.
There are a few reasons why your pup may be ignoring you, including:
It’s important to be able to get your pup’s attention easily, as it’s the best way to succeed at training and curb other bad behaviours. The best way to do this is to focus on teaching them their name and using irresistible, high-value treats.
You’re probably accustomed to hearing all the horror stories of puppies destroying a brand-new pair of shoes, a favourite pair of slippers, or even tearing up the side of a couch. And as we can’t have eyes in the back of our heads, it’s just a typical part of puppy pawrent life!
As we’ve previously mentioned, puppies at a young age love exploring with their mouths, and as soon as teething sets in, this can turn into a chewing massacre - especially when they can't find any puppy-approved items to gnaw their gnashers on.
Puppies can also turn to excessive chewing and generally destructive behaviour when they’re bored or stressed.
With all this in mind, here are a few things you can keep in mind to help reduce destructive chewing:
Tackling chewing habits early in your puppy’s life is the best way to help avoid accidents when they’re older. Of course, we want to stop them from chewing up your favourite possessions, but it’s also in aid of keeping them safe and from digesting anything toxic.
This is especially handy for when they eventually get confident enough to tackle the stairs and get their jaws around something unbeknown to you whilst away from them.
When do puppies learn to climb stairs?
This will always depend on their size and breed, but most puppies will be confident and strong enough to tackle the stairs at around 12-16 weeks old.
Be sure to monitor their first couple of times climbing the stairs to help avoid any accidents, and consider installing a puppy gate to help stop any solo secret missions of mass destruction.
One of the most common behavioural issues puppy parents prepare for is little accidents in the house. This is usually prevalent in the first few weeks your puppy spends at home, and can easily be tackled with the use of puppy pads, spotting the signs of a potential poop or pee, and strategic toilet training.
Sticking to a good puppy routine is a great way to stay on track for when toilet time may be on the horizon. For example, puppies will often need to use the toilet soon after eating, so when mealtime is over, keep a close eye out for signs like extensive sniffing and circling and use this time to practice their toilet training.
To help you tackle toilet training successfully, check out our article, How to toilet train your puppy, for all the tips and tricks you’ll need.
Aggression may be a little easier to brush off as puppies, but it’s a behaviour that should be tackled as early as possible to avoid developing into a long-term problem. Aggression in older dogs is often harder to control and to train.
Puppy aggression can come from a number of triggers, whether that’s:
All puppies and dogs will have boundaries, and as a pawrent we should always be mindful of this and be sure not to put pups in scenarios where aggression is the last resort.
Shouting or angrily disciplining your puppy can not only cause issues with fear and anxiety but can disrupt their training and development. Puppies and dogs can’t piece together where your aggression is stemming from, and aren’t able to link it to so-called bad behaviour. Plus, growling and aggression is a natural response and should never be disciplined, just approached with the right training and positive reinforcement.
Separation anxiety is a common problem in puppies, especially in the training phase. Separation anxiety often displays troublesome behaviour such as whining, howling, and chewing when left alone.
Separation anxiety often arises during crate training and house training, and can be tackled with a strategic approach - especially when explored from an early age.
When tackling separation anxiety, slow and gradual is key. Meaning you expose your pup to their crate or to being on their own, little by little.
Try introducing them to these slowly, extending how long they’re in the crate or on their own each time. Always reward the wanted response, making sure each scenario is a positive experience. After a while, they’ll learn that they’re safe on their own, and that you’ll eventually come back.
If you’re looking for more guidance around combating separation anxiety, explore our article, ‘Tips for avoiding Separation Anxiety in your puppy’.
The best way to combat some of these common behaviours is with lots of love, patience, training and of course positive reinforcement. And what better way to make every experience positive than with lots of puppy-friendly treats? Our Meaty Treats are perfect for those above 12 weeks. For those with meat intolerances and allergies, try our Peanut Butter Probiotic Nutty Treats for a vegan alternative.
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