Bad Puppy Behaviors and How to Fix Them
When inviting a new furry family member into your home, you might experience firsthand the feeling of “love is blind.” It's easy to forgive and forget puppies' "bad" behavior when we look into their innocent eyes. But let's not forget to incorporate puppy behavior training into their daily routine!
Indeed, puppy behavior training might not be the first thing you want to start when you finally arrive home with your pup. But soon, you’ll notice that these little sweethearts are full of energy and can exhibit undesirable puppy behaviors that must be corrected. Let’s take a look at what you need to know!
Why You Should Include Puppy Behavior Training
Puppy behavior training is not only to prevent lost socks, chewed shoes, and muddy paws in your freshly cleaned house. It’s also meant to prevent you from aggressive puppy behavior that isn’t so cute when they’re older.
Think about barking all day, jumping on people, biting when they feel nervous or threatened, or more extreme aggressive behavior. But luckily, puppies are intelligent and learn quickly. Therefore, starting to train early is the best time. This is so that you’re creating structure and consistency at home and teaching them that there are rules.
Typical “Bad Puppy” Behavior
There are many causes for “bad” puppy behavior. It’s essential to know what to look out for! With this in mind, here are some of the most typical causes of "bad" puppy behavior:
- Absence of structure
- Not enough mental stimulation
- Not enough exercise
- Health problems
- Genetic issues
- Inconsistent environment
- Fear
- Changes in diet or routine
- And more
To continue the joy, knowing how to handle this behavior is crucial.
How to Remedy Aggressive Puppy Behavior and More
Here are our tips and tricks for new puppy parents to remedy aggressive puppy behavior.
1. Establish a Routine
A routine will help your puppy understand what’s expected of them. Set consistent times for feeding, play, and potty breaks. This will help your puppy learn when it’s time to relax and when it’s time to be active.
2. Prevent Separation Anxiety
Being able to take a well-trained dog anywhere you go is great. But things can get pretty wild quickly when you leave the house without your pup. Separation anxiety is a common issue with puppies.
To train them to keep calm when you leave the house, you can start by leaving them alone for 10 minutes and come back. You can increase the time when they realize you’re not gone forever, and you gain their trust.
Tip: Leave the TV or radio on when you are gone with a chewing toy to keep them busy.
3. Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool for training puppies because dogs want to please you. Praise your puppy when they exhibit good behavior and give them yummy, nutritious treats as a reward.
You can teach them to lie down, sit, stay, and more to help them learn what behaviors are desirable and what behaviors are not.
If you want some help, visit our Health Services – and while you’re at it, check out our delicious, nutritious freeze-dried treats.
4. Consistency
Consistency is critical when it comes to correcting puppy behavior. Everyone in the household should be on the same page about training. If one person allows the puppy to jump on them while another discourages it, the puppy will become confused and frustrated.
5. Redirecting Behavior
When your puppy exhibits undesirable behavior, it is essential to redirect it. For example, avoid becoming angry if your puppy is chewing your new pair of sneakers.
Instead, hold something desirable like a chew toy. Then look them in the eye and clearly say, “Drop it.” Show them they will get something in return when they let go of your shoes.
6. Socialize Your Pup
Socialization is vital to help your puppy adjust to new environments and situations. Introduce your puppy to new people, places, animals, sounds, and experiences. This will help them become more confident and less anxious, which can lead to fear-aggression or unrelenting barking.
Professional Puppy Support from Get Joy
At Get Joy, we would love for everyone to experience joyful puppy time as best as possible. We’re here to support a sustainable, JOY-ful life with your furry friend. That’s why we provide many helpful services, dog wellness resources, and an on-demand virtual vet service for behavior and training.
For more info, you can browse our website.
