Always use toys when playing with puppies, never your bare hands. This way you will have something big enough to guide into the puppy's mouth when he wants to bite and tug. Be careful when playing with young pups; don't tug hard enough to hurt them. They may be pretending to be fierce, but they are still babies.
While they are now much more resilient than they were just a few weeks ago, it's still important to continue to avoid things that could make them sick. On walks, keep to paved surfaces like sidewalks and parking lots. Stay off of grass or dirt trails where the urine or feces of unvaccinated dogs are harder to avoid.
If you catch your puppy misbehaving, try a loud noise such as clapping your hands or a loud "uh-uh" or a sharp “off”. Remember, reprimands need to occur while the behavior is happening, preferably just as it begins, and never after.
There is nothing wrong with cuddling and playing with your new puppy, but try to limit picking them up. Continually holding your dog can make them begin to feel as though they are human and can encourage behavior that causes dominance struggles within your home.
Owners report destructive chewing when the dog is anywhere between six and ten months of age. Different breeds and sizes of dogs hit this stage of development at different times. Severity of damage depends on the individual dog's level of pain tolerance.
DON'T: Physically Punish Biting
Physically punishing a natural reaction to biting is completely unnecessary and will traumatize your puppy. Biting and mouthing is not aggressive behavior. Instead, they are simply learning how to deal with the growth of its new teeth while acquainting itself with the world around it.
The DOGGIE DON'T® Device uses sound aversion to re-direct your dogs attention and to stop the unwanted behavior. The DOGGIE DON'T® Device makes a loud crackling sound- similar to a stun gun or TASER™.
Remember you are actually teaching two things; first, "don't move" and second, "don't move when I move". Initially give the puppy the 'sit' cue, say 'stay' (using a hand as a stop sign can be a good visual cue), take one step away, and then return to the puppy and reward it for not moving.
Generally, dogs dislike hugs, not being allowed to sniff, a lack of routine, and more. Even the most laid-back dog will hate some of the things we humans do—if they tolerate it, it's just because they love you or don't want to be dominant. Yes, certain things are unavoidable, like vet visits or grooming.
Fear of Going Up and Down Stairs
A dog who isn't exposed to steps as a young puppy may develop a fear of going up and down them when he encounters a stairway later in life. Some dogs can overcome this fear if you turn going up and down steps into a game.
Tips for Keeping Your Puppy Protected
The more vaccines given at once, the higher the risk of a vaccine reaction, especially in small breed dogs. Avoid taking your puppy to public places, especially places frequented by dogs. This includes dog parks and pet stores.
Dogs don't like being teased any more than people do. Children often don't understand this, and can unwittingly provoke a dog by barking at him, pulling his tail, or making loud noises. This can really upset our canine companions, and can lead to anxiety or aggression.
Not playing with your dog means they don't get the mental and physical stimulation they need to stay happy and healthy, so they'll start to show signs of distress . Secondly, if your pup isn't getting the playtime they need, they'll start to look for other ways to entertain themselves.
You, not your dog, should initiate the roughhousing, and your dog should stop when you indicate playtime is over. Teach your dog a command such as “game over” or “settle” so he learns to calm down after rough play. Make sure your dog knows that excessive mouthing or nipping is not acceptable.
Commonly used sounds for positive interrupters are that kissy face sound, clucking with your tongue on the roof of your mouth, words such as “treat”, “cookie” or “woohoo”, or even a snap of your fingers.
Contemporary experts urge against all uses of physical discipline. Tapping or bopping a dog on the nose can be misconstrued as playful behavior, and being too rough with your dog can actually trigger biting, reactive, or defensive behavior.
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.
Give your puppy an alternative item to chew
If they start nibbling at your fingers or toes while you're playing, offer a toy instead. Again, if they continue to nip, stop the play session immediately. If you've been training your puppy to sit, you might also redirect them by asking them to sit and rewarding with a toy.
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.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
Undesirable behavior exhibited by dogs between puppyhood and adolescence, such as destructive chewing, jumping on people, and play biting, is medically referred to as pediatric behavior problems. Though these behaviors may be perceived as a “normal” trait of a puppy, it is often not acceptable behavior for a pet.