How to Stop Bad Behavior in Puppies Before it Starts
Puppies bring a lot of joy to our lives, but they can also bring a lot of stress. Hyperactivity, chewing, going to the bathroom in the house, and biting can stress out any new or experienced puppy owner. A lot of unwanted behaviors that puppies display can be stopped before they start. Training, exercise, and mental stimulation can work wonders in young dogs as long as it’s done in a positive way. We have several puppy training classes at our Deep River, CT dog training facility. We also have a Puppy Play and Train Day Camp for those busy new puppy owners. In those classes, we work on setting your puppy up for success, but that success also depends on you as an owner. This week we’re going to talk about how to stop bad behavior in puppies before it starts.
Early training can stop bad behavior in puppies before it starts.
At The Perfect Pup, we focus on positive and rewards-based training. This teaches your puppies that good things will happen when they do what you ask. You may wonder how teaching your puppy to come, lie down, or sit can curb behaviors like jumping or chewing but it all comes down to the mental stimulation and exercise the training provides. A tired and mentally stimulated puppy is less likely to misbehave. Try out teaching them a new command each week and continue to practice the old ones.
Prevent your puppy from learning bad behaviors.
Puppy proofing your house is an easy way to avoid unwanted behavior. Put anything that the puppy is likely to chew out of harm’s reach. Puppies should also get supervision both in your home and outside in the yard. It is easier to prevent bad behaviors from being learned by a young dog than it is to correct them.
Reward desired behaviors in puppies.
If your puppy is quietly lying down and not causing havoc, this is the time to praise and pet them. This also applies to when they are walking on a leash or interacting with other people. A puppy will listen to you more if you tell them what you want to do. For example, sit is better than saying don’t jump and heel is better than don’t pull. This is why learning these basic commands early in life is so important for puppies.
Use playtime to enforce good behavior not bad.
Though puppies that are tired out from play tend to be better behaved, remember that some behaviors may inadvertently cause unwanted behavior. Play that involves behavior such as biting, or chasing may encourage a puppy to bite and run away with their owner’s belongings as adults. Competitive games can develop a puppy’s confidence but remember that you have to stay in control of the situation. Teaching a puppy to stop pulling or running away when told can help control their behavior as adults. Play is always important, but the owner must be the one calling the shots with positive rewards and training.