What to Expect When Raising a Puppy
Raising dogs is not easy. We sometimes expect
a puppy to turn into a well behaved, mature dog in an instant. Just like children, growing
up is a gradual process. We know our toddlers will take many years to become mature, well
adjusted adults. Although a dog’s lifespan is shorter, there is still a time frame
for growth and development. There is much to learn and attention spans are short. Patience
and keeping our expectations reasonable is the key. The more we understand of canine
behavior, the better our puppies will develop into the well mannered, obedient adults we
envision.
Many people acquiring a new puppy are horrified at the puppy’s
“misbehavior;” chewing their best pair of Reboks into a state of
non-recognition, destroying their Grandmother’s Oriental rug, leaving piles of
unidentifiable, body waste products and in general, causing untold chaos in their
unleashed enthusiasm for life. What many people don’t realize is that these things
that puppies do are absolutely normal. This is not misbehavior to a dog’s way of
thinking. They are not human and don’t have a clue how to live like a human being. It
is up to us to show them the way. Communication and patience is what it takes to educate
these wild beasts to co-exist with us, to take them from their near wildness into the
warmth our family homes.
But how do we communicate with an animal who can’t speak our language and we
can’t speak theirs? We do the best we can and learning some of their language and
teaching them some of ours is the only way we can connect with our beloved pets. If we do
not educate ourselves, our fantasizing of a lovely, well mannered dog, which is also happy
and spirited is not likely to come to fruition. If we know that our young pup is teething
and not at all aggressive, but instead is at a stage of assertiveness or that our once
willing and obedient puppy is now an adolescent and is testing the waters, we could save
ourselves a lot of frustration. By setting realistic expectations in keeping with a
dog’s normal developmental stages, we will make a rough road a lot smoother.
What to expect:
7 – 12 weeks
Your puppy’s ability to focus and attention span are short. He has very little
bladder and bowel control. He will need constant supervision. He needs to be encouraged
with positive reinforcement and he needs to bond with people and get accustomed to new
surroundings.
While he’s this young, he will tend to follow you closely and look to you for
security. He knows little or nothing of what you expect of his behavior. Your puppy will
be capable of learning simple, basic commands; sit, down, stay, come. You’ll need to
keep his lessons short and fun.
Socialize your new puppy to different people, friendly dogs who have been vaccinated and
that you know and various environments gradually, but steadily. Make sure each experience
is pleasant and that nothing frightens your puppy.
What to expect:
4 – 8 months
The pup is becoming much more self assured and is very busy. He won’t come when
called and won’t obey very well. He’ll be relentless in attention seeking
behavior, barking, stealing, and running off. He may seem deliberately vindictive but
he’s really just trying to be what he best knows how to be...a dog. He will need to
be shown that calm, obedient and gentle behavior is what will win your attention and
affection. Reward him for coming close to you and for good behavior. Leaving a leash on
him, but supervised will help you be able to reinforce your commands. He will also need
some good exercise and plenty of romping.
What to expect:
9-12 months
Your adolescent is now a sweet, compliant darling one minute and a defiant, independent
rouge the next. He has a constant struggle between his good sense which you have worked
all this time to instill and his sexual hormones which are beginning to course through his
body. He is going to be testing you on an ongoing basis, making you wonder if he
doesn’t have a serious personality disorder. This is the time to turn up the speed on
your obedience training. He’ll need refresher courses on what you have already taught
him. Increase exercise according to his breed and needs.
What to expect:
18 – 24 months
This is the time when your young adult dog might try to exhibit more protective or
territorial behavior than in previous stages. He needs to know, beyond a doubt that you
are the one taking care of him and he does not need to control you and your family. In a
dog pack, dogs need to know that they are working members and not the controlling member.
They would just as soon not be the controlling member, but if no one is taking on that
role clearly, then they know that someone has got to do it… and they will. This is
where we hear of a lot of aggression problems, resource guarding and over protectiveness.
Socialization must continue. That lesson is never over. Some dogs will never have much
desire to attempt to take control. Some others may be more up front in the line up and are
prepared for the job.
Be sure you research the breed you’re interested in and understand what job it was
bred to do. This has a huge bearing on temperament and will make or break your
relationship with your dog. Is the job it was bred to do and the personality which goes
along with it, in keeping with your lifestyle? If you have certain expectations of a dog,
a relaxed, unfettered, outgoing, friendly dog and you get a high maintenance protection
dog that requires more than the average amount of involvement, you will be in for the ride
of your life.
Finally, all thinking mammals learn best by the use of a motivational and reward system of
training. Punishment has little use in teaching anyone and if we don’t take the time
in understanding canine behavior and can’t identify their motives and developmental
stages, our expectations will be out of line with their capabilities. A bond will never be
fully realized and our relationship with our canine pals is the very most important tool
in training that we have and they don’t sell that in pet stores. Learn all you can,
be involved with your best friend and this will help you know what to expect and will keep
you both on a forward moving and happy course.
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