Puppy Behavior....what's normal and what's not!Some puppy behavior is just as irresistible as puppies themselves..... those tiny little play barks, wobbly legs and general puppy clumsiness, a 'shadow' that follows you everywhere. Who doesn't love all that? 
BUT there are also a whole range of puppy problem behaviors such as nipping and biting, chewing, peeing indoors, crying at night and many more.... most of these are perfectly normal too, but definitely less adorable! Then there are the things puppies do that worry their new momma and daddy - endless hiccups, sleeping puppies who twitch, whine and breath erratically, upset tummies, hysterics when left alone.... Cute as they are, puppies aren't perfect (well, who is?) and every new puppy owner has times when they wonder what on earth is going on in their pets' head... and whether everything is okay. I've seen (and heard) just about every type of puppy behavior there is, and have learned how to handle them. Sometimes you don't need to do anything except love the little furball - other times you need to correct his behavior in a way he'll understand, or get some professional help from a dog trainer or veterinarian. On this page you'll learn all about what's normal puppy behavior, and what's not - plus how to know when you need help. That way you'll get to enjoy the short-lived days of puppyhood more... and worry less. That's got to be a good thing! 'Normal' Puppy Behavior ExplainedAlthough we love our puppies like children, they're not children - they're baby dogs, and dogs do things that their human family members often doesn't understand!What's normal for a puppy and works perfectly well within his canine family, often isn't such a good fit once he's in his new forever home. So, just because a puppy behavior is 'normal' (or natural) it doesn't mean it's okay or that you shouldn't discourage it. For example, many common puppy behaviors such as biting/nipping, growling, chewing, whining when alone, submissive urination, jumping up to lick faces (to name but a few), are perfectly normal for a dog - but they can cause havoc in your home. Before I go into some of these puppy behavior issues in more detail, it's important to let you know that during your pup's first few days in his new home, his behavior will be quite different to what you may have seen before, or will see afterwards. Why? Because he's a tiny baby and leaving his momma and siblings to live in a strange house that's full of strange (in the nicest possible way of course!) people, pets, smells, sounds etc. is very scary and traumatic for him. Many puppies withdraw into themselves during the first few days and may sleep more than usual and/or lose their appetite.... they may even lull you into thinking that they are models of immaculate behavior. BUT, this is an adjustment period, and as soon as your pup starts to feel less homesick and more confident you will begin to see his real personality shine through. So be ready. You can learn more about what to expect during the first week or so with a new puppy on my Bringing Home A New Puppy page. There are a huge number of different dog breeds, and a potentially infinite combination of mix breed options. Each breed was designed with a specific purpose in mind and has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses. Certain puppy behaviors are more obvious in some breeds than others. For example, puppies from the herding breeds tend to be more stubborn about, and dedicated to, biting and nipping. Terriers that were originally bred to hunt vermin can be incredible 'diggers'. Greyhounds can't resist chasing small, fast moving animals (or objects).... and so on. The more you know about your puppy's heritage the easier it will be for you to understand his behavior and figure out how to reshape it in a way that will keep you both happy. or want to know how puppies grow and develop from birth to maturity, check out these pages... Common Puppy Behavior ProblemsIn young puppies, behavior is instinctive and it's motivated by their basic needs, which include sleep, food, water, attention and elimination.Your new pup is like a little sponge who is just waiting to soak up all that you have to teach him. He doesn't understand why he shouldn't 'potty' in the house or why you get upset when he uses your dining room table as a chew toy. So, it's up to you to teach him how to fit in with his new family and what the 'house rules' are. Puppies are creatures of habit, they love routine and learn best through experiencing 'cause-and-effect' in a consistent way. This means that once you choose a way to correct a certain behavior that you need to stick with it.. and so does everyone else in your family. Your puppy will get confused if there is inconsistency in the way he's disciplined or if mommy says 'no' and daddy says 'yes'! Also, puppies have very short attention spans. They need plenty of time to learn new behaviors (and to forget old ones), so don't expect overnight success with any behavior issues. It can weeks, of constant, consistent corrections for your little guy to learn what you expect and to obey instinctively. He may start to improve within a day or two, but if you stop correcting him or stop being consistent, he'll slide backwards. You have to give him time to make the correct behavior his new instinct (or habit). Here are some of the most common 'normal' puppy behaviors which can cause trouble or irritation at home: Barking is normal - it's how dogs communicate. When your puppy barks it's most often to get your attention, because he wants to tell you something - sadly, since we humans don't speak 'dog', it sometimes takes a while for us to get the message and even then something is often lost in translation! Perhaps your little one is bored or hungry, maybe he needs to go 'potty' or hears a stranger at the front door. Does he always get loud when he's been inside or in his crate for too long? Then perhaps an extra walk and a bit more playtime is the answer. Do you feed him at the same times every day, or is it a bit 'hit and miss'? Then perhaps his little tummy is grumbling. A bit of barking is normal puppy behavior, but excessive barking is not. Your puppy will probably bark, whine and howl when left alone in his crate to begin with. That's normal, and if you ignore it (see the tips and advice on my Crate Training A Puppy page for more on how/when to do this) he will soon learn that he can survive for short periods alone and that you always come back. However, if your puppy becomes totally hysterical when separated from you, or he doesn't improve and adjust to short periods alone within a few weeks, then it could be a sign of separation anxiety in your dog and a bit of extra help may be needed. Excessive dog barking, or barking for no apparent reason definitely needs to be discouraged. And in that sort of situation you need to find out why he's making such a fuss and treat the cause in order to cure the symptom! For older dogs who are stubborn about nuisance or excessive barking, a no bark collar can really help. You can choose from tonal, impulse or citronella spray correction designs so that there's one to suit every individual dog. To find out more, and see the most popular models on our Petsafe dog training collars page. One of the most common puppy behaviors that I get asked about is puppy biting. New owners seem to constantly be surprised by how often, and how actively, young puppies use their teeth! But when you realize that this is one of the main forms of communication between puppies in a litter it doesn't seem so surprising.
ALL puppies bite/nip/mouth when they're young, but some breeds and personality-types are more prone to it than others. The word 'biting' can be a bit misleading because young puppies rarely bite aggressively, intentionally or with the intent to cause pain. Nipping or 'mouthing' is more accurate. Of course those tiny little puppy teeth hurt, and hurt more than you might think, but they are not being used with that aim in mind and a puppy who's nipping like this is NOT being aggressive or 'bad'... he's simply following his instincts. Although it's very common, this puppy behaviour needs to be stopped while your puppy is still young (and small). A 10lb puppy nipping playfully at your hand hurts but it's not serious, but if that puppy is still doing it when she weighs 50lb it's a whole different ball game! You can learn all about why puppies bite (and why it plays an important role in their development), and how to discourage it in a way that your little guy will understand on my Puppy Biting page.
When it comes to problem puppy behavior, this is a 'biggie'! But just as all puppies bite, all puppies chew!
Some breeds tend to go at it with a bit more intensity and persistence than others and these are often the breeds that use their mouths for the work they were designed to do. As with nipping, this includes herding breeds and terriers and also gun or hunting dogs such as Retrievers. Chewing is a basic need for your puppy, he doesn't know why he needs to do it - he just knows that he does! Chewing actually strengthens his jaws, helps to keep tartar and plaque from building up on his teeth, minimizes the pain of teething and is a great stress reliever - but this is news to your pup. Because chewing is a puppy behavior that is necessary to her health, your aim isn't to stop her chewing (that would be impossible) but to teach her what she's allowed to chew on and what she off limits. All the help you need to keep your pup's teeth busy while saving your home and possessions from destruction are on my Puppy Chewing page. Housebreaking your puppy is one of the first, and biggest, tasks that you face as a new puppy parent. It's much easier, and quicker, to potty train a puppy if you have a step-by-step guide to follow... and you understand how your puppy's little brain works and how he learns. Dogs are den animals and their inborn instincts are to keep their den clean, so normal puppy behavior means that your little guy will try not to eliminate where he sleeps. This is why crate training a puppy is the quickest and simplest method of housebreaking.... it works WITH your puppy's natural inclinations rather than against them. Obviously your home is much bigger than a crate, so you need to help your puppy to understand that your home is his den and that it's not OK to 'potty' indoors. This can take several weeks of dedicated supervision and training... but it's totally worth the time and effort! Once your pup gets into the habit of eliminating outdoors and his bladder/bowel control life will become much easier for everyone. Housebreaking problems are often given as a reason for a pup or dog being surrendered to a shelter or pound.... very sad, and totally avoidable. Although not directly related to puppy potty training, there is another elimination-related puppy behavior problem that I get many questions about... it's called coprophagia, more commonly known as poop-eating! Disgusting as it sounds, many puppies eat their own stools from time to time, it's a habit started when they are still with their siblings and occasionally a dog will continue this into adulthood. You can find out exactly why your little one likes to indulge in this puppy behavior, and how to stop him, on my "Why does my puppy eat poop?" page. Guarding food, toys, treats and so on is another normal puppy behavior - after all, many puppies have anywhere between 4 and 8 brothers and sisters, so it's understandable that they feel the need to fight to keep 'their' stuff.
But although this behavior is understandable it can be dangerous and needs to be dealt with firmly, and while your pup is still small and eager to please. The desire to guard or protect 'his' people and property is going to come naturally to your puppy as well. Guardian breeds such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chows etc. have more developed protective instincts, but ANY adult dog will usually protect what his family if they are threatened. The desire to protect home and family usually doesn't develop until a puppy reaches adolescence (the age this happens depends on the size/breed of dog), and no pup should ever be encouraged to bark, growl or to be aggressive or defensive. What is necessary will come naturally, and regular socialization (see my How To Socialize Your Puppy page for lots of tips and advice on this) and training will make sure your little guy learns only the appropriate behavior. Guarding food and possessions however, is just as common in young puppies as in older pups or adult dogs. Dogs (even puppies) often realize that the adults in the home are in charge and in their minds children are their siblings and equal in status. That's why a puppy or dog may be fine with adults, but 'bossy' or dominant around a child. To make sure that your puppy realizes that every human (regardless of age/size) is higher up in the pecking order than he is, be sure to involve your kids in feeding, playing and training sessions. Dogs respect those who are in charge of the resources of life, and food is a biggie, so having your children share responsibility for feeding, training etc. will reinforce their superior position. As well as teaching basic obedience commands and manners at home, taking your puppy to training classes will help him to learn to respect, trust and obey you instinctively. It will strengthen the bond between you and help you to learn to handle any puppy behavior problems that arise. Visit these other pages to learn more about puppy behavior and training....
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