Friday 10 July 2015

What to expect when you're expecting (a puppy)

During my time running puppy classes, 1:1 puppy training and off lead socialisation sessions I have seen hundreds of puppies of different breeds. Regardless of the breed of dog or circumstances of the owner, there are some 'FAQs' that always come up. 

Surprisingly, the most common questions I get asked are problematic to the owners, but completely normal puppy behaviour. I thought this blog may enlighten new puppy owners (or puppy owners to-be) about the reality of puppy ownership and set a few things straight so that you can get through the first few months of your puppy's life without constantly worrying whether your dog is 'normal'.

So here we go, the uncensored top ten truths of puppy ownership ......

1. You will get bitten - and it hurts!

Be prepared to wear long sleeves and trousers to either protect yourself from a ninja biting puppy or
to cover up the cuts created by the needle sharp teeth in your precious puppy's gob. Puppies use their mouths to explore new things, soothe their teething pains and elicit play. Therefore it is important that you offer them plenty of opportunities to bite and chew appropriate items - toys, kongs, cardboard boxes etc. and don't encourage them to play roughly with your hands or feet. Always have a toy to hand when you are interacting with your puppy to redirect them if they come towards you with the intent to nibble.

2. Your house and other items will be chewed or eaten

As mentioned above, puppies need to bite and chew. They also need entertaining with appropriate items otherwise your favourite Jimmy Choos could become the next target. It is your job to puppy proof your house and garden and keep precious or dangerous items out of reach of your puppy. As far as your puppy is concerned, if it finds it, it's his so be meticulously tidy, cordon off areas and shut doors or keep your puppy behind a gate or in a crate when you're not there to supervise.

3. You will get jumped up at

Your face and eyes are the most expressive part of your body but just so happen to be the furthest away from the floor. In an attempt to elicit some social contact, your pup will jump up to get closer to your face and to grab at hands. Running and being excitable can also encourage jumping up and biting which is a perfectly normal play behaviour in puppies. If your puppy is jumping up at you, celebrate the fact that they trust you and want to play and work on teaching them a more appropriate greeting, or putting jumping up on cue.

4. Raising a puppy is a full time job


Everyone dreams of relaxing on the sofa with a puppy on their lap snoozing but that is seldom the reality! A busy puppy is a good sign as it shows they are healthy, active and confident. If you have to work, make arrangements for someone to check in on your puppy regularly and put time aside everyday to play with and train your puppy (play and training are not mutually exclusive). Put as much, if not more, effort into training 'off switch' behaviours (settle with a chew, handling, mat work, crate training) as you do 'on switch' (playing with a toy, recall). Being able to relax is a vital life skill
and should be taught from day one.

5. Your sleep will be disturbed

Toilet training can be tricky but if you are consistent and get your dog in the right place at the right time, accidents in the home will be minimal. Your puppy will only have a small bladder and little bladder control to begin with so night time pees are a high probability. Trundling down in your nightie to let your dog out for a pee at 2am may not be your idea of fun but if you don't want to wake up to puddles in the morning, it just has to be done.

6. Your garden may be dug up

Digging is a very normal and natural dog behaviour. It is a fun activity for dogs and some dogs are highly motivated to dig. Providing an appropriate area to dig such as a sandpit filled with sand, shingle or soil can be a huge reward and enrichment for a young pup. You can bury toys and food to make it a fun game.

 7. You will be 'trained' to perfection if you're not careful

Humans are creatures of habit and fall into routines without even being aware that we are doing it. This means that you will be unwittingly giving your puppy cues and signals regarding what is about to happen and you can easily encourage patterns of behaviour that are undesirable. An example of this is when your puppy 'steals' an item (which you shouldn't have left out - see point 2!) and then goads you into a chase game. Your dog then thinks "Ah ha, I can get her attention by taking the tea towel in when she's watching tv!". Providing plenty of brain games, and training your puppy to relax with a chew will prevent your dog from having to find their own entertainment.


8. You will be disgusted by some of their favourite activities

Yes, eating poo is a natural behaviour! There's even a scientific term for it - coprophagia. Most pups go through a phase of being interested in eating their own poo. By managing toilet visits, calling them away for a piece of food and picking up after them immediately most pups lose interest in recycling their waste. Cat poo however is another matter and a canine delicacy!

As well as eating poo, they'll also roll in it. There are various theories behind why they do this including masking their own scent or taking the scent back to the den to communicate with others but it could just be that it smells great to them and rolling in it is enjoyable. Again, management is the key but if you miss the moment, just laugh and enjoy and think of the grooming training you'll be able to practice later on!

9. Your social life will change

Whilst your puppy is settling in, it's important that they aren't left alone for too long and you teach them to relax when they are along gradually. This may mean no nights out in the short term but it's not all doom and gloom as dogs are an excellent social facilitator and you'll get to know all of the local dogs and their owners before you know it so prepare for a new group of friends!

10. Everyone will try to give you advice

The dog training industry is unregulated and there is a huge difference in the quality of puppy socialisation and training classes available. Don't just got to the closest class to you. Call around, ask questions and go to watch some classes to find the best fit for you and your dog. Once you find an ethical, qualified, experienced behaviourist or trainer that you trust listen to them and do what they advise as they are the expert! Find out more here if you're not sure how to find a professional you trust.


All of these 'puppy truths' can be worked through with a bit of planning, prevention, patience and positive reinforcement of alternative behaviours. Being a family pet is a tricky job as most humans are consistently inconsistent! This means it is hard for the puppy to figure out what is expected of it and sometimes it can end up in the doghouse for simply doing what comes naturally. So please, relax and enjoy your puppy knowing that the 'crazy puppy' whirlwind does end after a few months but that the relationship you have with your dog will last their lifetime so nurture it as best you can. If you don't think you can handle what's written in this blog, then perhaps you should reconsider your choice of companion animal.