Between 6 and 8 weeks old, any pup will already be showing signs of his individual temperament in the way he behaves with his litter-mates and reacts to other people. Experts say that the absolutely best time to use one of these puppy 'pop quizzes' is at 7 weeks old, but 7 to 8 weeks is still fine.
Stage 2: Transitional Period (2 – 4 weeks)
Puppy teeth start coming through and their eyes will begin to open. This is also the age where your puppy's personality begins to develop. Puppies will interact with their litter mates, wag their tails, stand, walk a little and bark.
Although accurate temperament testing is not possible at a very young age, you can get a general assessment of your pup's personality. Does he seem interested in play? Does he sniff or nudge your hand when you hold it out and welcome your touch? Is he comfortable around people or does he cower when you approach?
Recent research shows that a dog's personality does indeed change as he ages, especially his attraction to novel experiences, the desire to explore, and the urge to run around (think puppy zoomies – they certainly don't happen as often with senior dogs as they do with puppies).
Approximately 35% of owners and trainers voted 8-9 months as the toughest age citing new challenging behaviors associated with their puppy's now larger size such as pulling on the leash or counter-surfing.
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age. Your puppy will not grow out of these behaviours. On the contrary, it is more likely that these behaviours will worsen if not addressed early on.
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months). During this time, they'll often test their owners, seeing what they can get away with. Being firm and consistent with your training will help establish boundaries.
The easiest way to spot a dominant pet is through body language: a pup that holds their head high with a rigid tail and alert ears likely has a dominant personality. Other signs of dominant dog behavior include: Resistance to voice commands. Aggressive response to eye contact or verbal correction.
Besides stealing and playing keep-away, common puppy behavior problems include lack of house-training, hyperactivity, nipping, chewing, eating feces and getting sick in the car. Lack of house-training usually stems from giving the puppy too much freedom too quickly.
Most puppies start to calm down as they approach their maturity age, which is usually around 12 months, but for larger breeds it can be more likely to occur between 18 months and 2 years.
Self-assured and a natural-born leader, the confident puppy is comfortable with their surroundings…and with others! They're hardly ever shy—working in teams is how they thrive throughout their life span. Having a confident puppy has numerous upsides, but sometimes, confident puppies can take it a little too far.
The most common aggressive puppy behaviour warning signs include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominant body language/play, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and persistent biting/mouthing.
Signs of a confident dog include a wagging tail, wiggly body, eagerness to greet other people and dogs, and a relaxed mouth with their tongue hanging out or a grin expression. While some dogs may naturally adopt these behaviors, others may have to work up to being this comfortable around others.
Good breeders or caregivers will evaluate the litter for temperament and potential between 7-8 weeks of age, and be able to match you and the puppy based on the evaluation results *and* their observations of the puppy over time.
Typically puppies tend to bond quicker as they have fewer attachments and history with other owners than adult dogs. On average, if you've got a puppy from a breeder, it could take 3 weeks- 3 months to bond with your dog.
Between six and eight months, many puppies have a "lanky" and awkward look that is quite adorable.
For a dog who is acting out of fear or frustration (for example, a dog who is barking and lunging on leash), using the word 'no' to stop the behavior without helping to alleviate their fear or frustration will often lead to an escalation in behavior, such as growling, air snapping, or biting.
Similar to personality, temperament is the underlying nature of your puppy or dog. Since every dog is different, learning the key points of your puppy's character will help you determine the most effective way to raise it. When you bring your new puppy home, be sure to take the time to observe its innate personality.
When dogs roll over and expose their bellies while awake, they are usually doing so to show complete trust and relaxation in your presence. This position can also be a sign of submission, it's a dog's way of showing that they're not a threat!
The pups should be well-rounded and have a healthy, shiny coat. They shouldn't be too skinny or too fat. Examine the pup physically and check it doesn't have an under- or over-shot jaw. Its eyes, ears and genitalia should be clear with no discharge or inflammation.
No matter how cute your little rascal is, puppy-wrangling can be absolutely exhausting. While it's true that adopting a puppy can bring a much-needed source of joy and unconditional love into your life, it can also bring stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and frustration (often called the “puppy blues”).
The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
Spoiling a dog means giving him anything he wants including making excuses or ignoring bad behaviors. 'He doesn't really know what he is doing' or 'he didn't mean to do that' or 'but she so enjoys it' are all phrases we as dog trainers have heard.
And puppies are especially crazy during the Witching Hours: roughly between 5-8pm every night. It's 100% normal and common.