Bringing a new puppy into your home should be an exciting and joyful experience! However, it's also a time of great responsibility, and uncertainty can lead new owners to make avoidable mistakes that are hard to undo. Puppies are like sponges—they absorb everything around them, both good and bad. Oftentimes, new owners do not consider how their actions can lead to behavioral issues, or causing dangerous situations later on in their puppy’s life.
Here are five common mistakes that new puppy parents often make, and tips on how to avoid them.
1. Over-Using or Improperly Using Your Puppy’s Name
It might seem natural to shout your puppy's name when they're doing something wrong, but this can lead to them associating you saying their name with negative consequences. If you are often using their name in a harsh tone when scolding or correcting your puppy, they will begin to associate their name with something bad, making them less likely to want to listen to their name being called when you’re trying to get their attention.
On another hand, using your puppy’s name too often without associating it with something good can lead to your puppy not placing much importance when they hear their name.
If someone said your name 75 times per day but only actually did something for you a handful of those times, how long would it take you to be less interested in what that person wanted? Probably fairly quickly!
What to do instead: Only use your puppy’s name in positive situations—when calling them for play, giving them treats, or praising them. Your puppy will start to associate hearing their name with something good happening, and are much more likely to give you their attention when they hear their name. When correcting a bad behavior, use a neutral cue like "no" or sound like "ah-ah," followed by redirection to a positive action.
Tip: Make sure you only scold your puppy when you catch them in the act of doing something wrong, and redirect them to what you’d like them to do instead. If you only yell at your puppy but don’t show them what they should be doing, or yell at them when the wrong behavior was done in the past, it can lead to your puppy becoming confused and shut down.
2. Chasing Your Puppy When They Don’t Come to You
When your puppy runs off or runs away when you want them to come to you, your first instinct might be to chase after them. This turns into a game in their mind, teaching them that running away is fun, or that they can prolong doing something fun (like playing in the yard instead of coming inside) if they can avoid you until you give up.
What to do instead: It is best to completely avoid a situation where your puppy can learn that they are able to successfully run away from you. Tethering your dog to you, or keeping them on a dragline* removes the possibility of puppies being able to run away. If your puppy doesn’t listen and continues to move away from you, you can step on their line or give their leash a tug and reel them in gently while calling to them, and reward them when they start to move towards you. Never, ever chase your puppy, as it can teach your puppy that running away gets them what they want.
A Life Saving Game: When puppies are young, YOU are the most interesting and important thing in their lives. As they age, they will find importance in novel stimuli like other dogs, people, and just about anything or everything around them. Teaching them this simple game while they are young can prove to be very useful once they are finding importance in other exciting things.
With your puppy on a long line, in a safe, wide open area, try running in the opposite direction of your puppy. Making a high-pitched exciting call like “PUPPY PUPPY PUPPY!” as you run can help get their excitement levels up and increase their likelihood of chasing you. Avoid using their name for this exercise, unless they already have a solid recall attached to their name. Once they are chasing you, turn around and crouch down, showering them with treats and praise. After they are understanding the game, incorporate lightly touching/grabbing their collar once they come to you to get them used to being touched/grabbed in case of emergencies where they would not have a leash.
This exercise can save a dog’s life! If your dog slips out the door and decides to do zoomies in an urban area, you have this game up your sleeve. Pair this game with high value treats and continue playing every so often when your dog is older so they remain excited about the game.
3. Under or Over Socializing
Socialization is one of the most critical stages in a puppy’s development. Failing to expose them to different environments, people, and other animals during their early months can lead to fearfulness and anxiety later in life. On the flip side, over-socializing—pushing your puppy into overwhelming situations—can also lead to stress and reactive behavior.
What to do instead: Everyone has likely heard that you need to have your dog meet all sorts of dogs, people, and animals while they’re young. But did you know that training neutrality around all sorts of people, places, and animals can be even more beneficial than having your dog meet everyone?
That’s right!
Teaching your dog to be calm, or to have fun with YOU while around unfamiliar people, places, and things can actually lead them to be a more confident, better socialized dog!
Instead of having them meet every person or animal you see, teach them that giving you attention, or calmly existing in these places is extremely rewarding.
If your puppy is a social butterfly, try having them sit and look at you before releasing them to say hi to new people, and reward them for breaking away to check in with you.
If they are more shy, keep any overwhelming situations brief and at a far enough distance that the stimulus is less overwhelming for your puppy.
Take it slow, use high value treats, and never push your puppy into situations that could trigger them to fight, flight, or freeze. This reaction can become dangerous as they age and is harder to work through once they make it a habit.
Tip: Avoid places that allow dogs to run up and interact with your dog in an uncontrolled way, like dog parks. It is best to meet with dogs whose personalities you know. Not all dogs' personalities will mesh, and that’s okay! It is also very normal and appropriate for an older dog to correct rowdy puppies when they are playing inappropriately. These corrections will help the puppy learn what is and isn’t acceptable behavior when meeting new dogs.
4. Not Exposing Them to Environmental Sounds
Puppies who aren’t exposed to everyday noises can develop sound sensitivity, which may lead to sensitivity or even severe sound phobias later on. Common sounds like vacuums, thunderstorms, or fireworks can become anxiety triggers if not properly introduced.
What to do instead: Slowly introduce your puppy to a variety of household and environmental sounds in a controlled and positive manner. Play sound recordings of thunderstorms or fireworks at a low volume while giving them treats or during playtime, or let them observe you vacuuming without pushing the vacuum too close to them. Reward them for staying calm and gradually increase the volume bit by bit over time.
5. Over Exercising
While exercise is essential for your puppy's physical and mental development, over-exercising can be harmful, especially for young puppies whose bones and joints are still developing. Long walks or intense play sessions can put too much strain on their growing bodies, leading to issues like joint damage.
What to do instead: Keep exercise sessions short and age-appropriate. For young puppies, short play sessions in the yard, basic obedience training, and mental stimulation through puzzle toys are excellent ways to burn energy without overdoing it. A good rule to use is 5 minutes of walking or playtime per month of age, once or twice per day. Always consult with your vet to determine the right amount of exercise for your puppy's breed and age.
Avoid allowing your puppy to jump down from furniture, run up and down the steps, and any repetitive, hard stopping motions for the first year. All have a higher risk of doing long term damage to your puppy’s growing bodies. Large breed puppies are at an increased risk for exercise related injuries.
Raising a puppy is a wonderful experience, but it's important to avoid common pitfalls that can lead to long-term behavioral or health issues. By staying patient, removing the ability to make wrong choices, redirecting by using positive reinforcement, and gradually introducing your puppy to the world around them, you’ll set the foundation for a well-adjusted and happy dog!
