Reinforcing the Wrong Behavior
One of the most common mistakes made in dog training is to accidentally reinforce undesired behaviors. You may not even think of it as rewarding or reinforcement.
It says that by the time your puppy is 7 weeks old it should be exposed to the following situations: Been in 7 different, safe locations. Eaten from 7 different containers. Met at least 7 different people.
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.
Don't punish your dog by rubbing his nose in his accident. This can create an anxiety issue or break the bond between pet and owner. Clean up the mess and redirect your dog outside.
If you catch your dog or cat engaging in an incorrect behavior, try a loud noise such as clapping your hands or a loud “no”. Remember, reprimands need to occur while the behavior is happening, preferably just as it begins, and never after.
Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, just clean it up. Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking them to the spot and scolding them or any other punishment will only make them afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Punishment will do more harm than good.
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age.
From 6 -12 Months
While your puppy may now look like a full-grown adult dog, he's still a puppy. At this age you might see a burst of puppy energy and continued boundary testing. That's why it's important to make sure your puppy still gets plenty of structured play and exercise.
Give dogs a way of “opting in” to social contact by using the “3-second rule” of petting. Pet for no more than three seconds, then stop. Does the dog nudge you or move into you to say keep going? Then go ahead and resume.
Clothier examines these 7 key points of the dog/human relationship: creativity, consistency, communication, congruency, condition, clarity and confidence.
Move your fist up and down in a very slow motion so he moves his head up and down watching the motion and then give him the treat. Repeat a few times. Next, practice without the treat in your fist and give him a treat from your other hand. He will learn that the fist is the signal for “yes.”
A bad dog trainer: It makes you and your dog feel inadequate, incompetent, or dumb during class rather than fostering a positive learning environment for all people and dog breeds. Yells or shouts a lot which creates a tense and uncomfortable learning environment.
Generally, most puppies will start to settle between 6 - 12 months, but as mentioned above there are a few other factors that can impact puppy energy levels. Some might say that female dogs are calmer dogs due to the fact they mature quicker than males, however a more impactful factor to consider would be their breed.
And puppies are especially crazy during the Witching Hours: roughly between 5-8pm every night. It's 100% normal and common.
Between six and eight months, many puppies have a "lanky" and awkward look that is quite adorable.
When Puppies Mature and Settle Down. Puppies typically develop the emotional maturity and temperament of an adult dog between twelve and eighteen months of age, although they may continue to occasionally exhibit puppy behavior like chewing and nipping until they're about two years old.
Never rub a dog's nose in urine or feces, or punish a dog for an “accident.” This will teach your dog to fear you, and he may hide when he has to “go.” It is not instinctive for dogs to relieve themselves outside; it is only natural for them to not go where they sleep.
The problem with punishing a dog for urinating in the house is that it doesn't help to solve the problem, it may make your dog fearful, and it can even make the problem worse. If there might be a medical issue, it's important to see a vet first.