Puppy Troubles

Some puppies are just little angels, and some will make you nuts! My friend has a lab puppy who is still going on the floor at 4 months old. It happens. So I’ll try to give useful advice on these “puppy troubles”, but realize I am not a professional trainer. I just have lots of experience with dogs, and I have lots of friends with dogs. Please, do take the time to read the “puppy basics” page for my standard procedure-you might find your answer there.

HOUSEBREAKING: First, ask yourself if you are being vigilant enough. This is a common problem. Just having the puppy nearby while you make dinner or surf the net isn’t usually enough if you are reading this page. You have to watch them, eyes on. Everyone is busy with family, work, and friends, but if you put some things “on hold” for a couple of weeks, you’ll be glad you did.

Really watch the puppy, and get them outside on a regular schedule, waiting until they relieve themselves. Don’t get in a hurry–puppies go often, and the more often they go outside and get rewarded, the more they will do it. Inside, as soon as you see that nose hunting a spot, get them outside right away. And make your affection and play after they potty outside a great big deal. The more pleasant it is for them to go outside to potty the more they will want to do it. 

Secondly, question your approach to the piddling puppy. Are you “too sweet” about it, or perhaps pleading instead of scolding? All but the most indifferent pups will recognize a pack leader who is scolding like they mean it. You might need to be more stern–but never hit or scream. If they are going on the floor in front of you, grab them up with a terrible noise and unhappy fuss! Get them outside, and calmly WAIT until they go where you want. Again, don’t hurry the process. Just wait for them to go and when they do, make the reward a happy and pleasant experience. The sharper the constrast between relieving themselves inside versus outside, the faster they will “get it”.

Some people use “puppy pads”, from necessity or tradition. I haven’t, so I don’t know the procedure. I am asking about it though, so I will update this page.

EXCITABLE BEHAVIOR: Things like jumping, destructive chewing, running wildly, charging the door, pouncing on people, or knocking things over are examples of excitable behaviors. It is not acceptable!! Many people think it’s funny and cute, at least until someone gets hurt. I never allow it–Danes are far too big to be jumping on people.

From Day One, my boys are taught to interact gently with people and to be calm, even when playing. I am very stern about jumping, lunging at toys, and such. My correction is swift and commanding. Puppies who are lacking in basic manners can get you and themselves hurt. Many a fight has been started at a dog park by a lack of manners.  www.sitstay.com has many free articles I have found useful in preventing and correcting problems.

First and foremost, is the puppy getting enough exercise? If they don’t get to run and play enough, all that energy is stored up and comes out sideways! The destructive chewing and manic running through the house is frustration and anxiety. Start by spending more time with outdoor play like retrieving balls and frisbees, rollerblading with them or even getting them to swim in a pool. Treadmills are good if you have one. You want to burn off all that energy before they walk on a leash or come inside with you.

Secondly, are you unintentionally encouraging excitability? If you meet someone, say when they come to the door, are you excited, your voice rising in pitch and tone? If you are excited, your puppy will be excited. Busy homes aren’t a problem, with lots of kids coming and going, and plenty of noises. It is when the emotion in the house, and in you, is constantly tense or unstable, you will have problems.

Dogs are the first to show stress, and they are excellent reflections of how people are feeling. A truely outstanding book called “Calming Signals” by Turid Rugaas shows and explains the body language dogs exhibit under stress. I highly recommend reading it.

If your house is calm, and the puppy is getting enough exercise, then look at how you correct the unwanted behaviors. Take jumping for example. Is your correction physically forcing them back, pulling at their collar, and aggressively yelling at them? This doesn’t work for two reasons: anger is an aggressive/excitable emotion, and only increases the puppy’s anxiousness. Also, they have to move back on their own for them to get the idea.

You want to teach your puppy to respect your space, more than breaking the habit of jumping. That is the underlying problem, and it is a basic lack of respect for you as a pack leader. So look more towards establishing and maintaining your dominant status at all times, not just when things are quiet. The “Dog Whisperer” on National Geographic Channel is an absolute marvel at this sort of thing. I highly recommend you watch him! 

Once you are unquestionably your pups’ pack leader, the correction you give will really count in his canine brain. For adult danes or rescues, everything you do should in some way display your status as pack leader from the moment they enter your home. This isn’t mean or petty, in fact, the stability of knowing how his or her new “pack” works has a calming affect. It is stable.

The small stuff is important. A dog watches everything we do. For example, who goes through the door first: the pack leader, ie You. Who decides when it is play time? You. Who is out front on a walk? You. Who decides when and if the dog sits on the couch? You. Who controls the food? You. Who gives and takes away toys? You…the person in charge is in charge of everything all the time in a dog’s mind. If you are in charge half the time, you’re not pack leader. Dogs are simple, cut and dry, really.

You don’t have to bully a dog to control them, you don’t have to yell. In fact, you don’t have to speak at all. The change in your emotions comes from chemical changes in your brain, and yes those noses can smell it. Their eyes read your body language at all times. So when you are calm but thoroughly displeased with a behavior, they see it and smell it. I think of it as some imaginary force field, and it is that “force field” that is correcting the unwanted behavior.

Anger, frustration, uncertainty, pleading are all ”unstable” emotions and only worsen the situation. A police officer or marine doesn’t have to scream and hit to make his or her point: they simply carry themselves with a body language and attitude of command.  And they are followed.

So check your emotions, and become aware of their effects on your dog. You might be surprised at what you find. For me, I can get both frustrated and angry if I have to repeatedly correct for a behavior like jumping or wildness, and responding in that moment is translated as aggressive. This will be reflected by fear or equal aggression in a dog. So I have to take a breath, and deliberately let it go before I correct.

For my Mom, it is the opposite: she will usually become frustrated and pleading, which a dog sees as a weak energy. So she has to step up into a commanding authority. As a Vietnam Vet, I know she can do it, and when she does, the nonsense comes to a screeching halt.

If you are still having problems, again, I always recommend a professional trainer with experience working with rescues. They are certain to have encountered deeply ingrained behaviors, and are a marvelous reference. I will also be working on individual pages for specific problems, as time permits. This is a rather new blog, so be patient! And leave comments, stories, or questions so I know what information to provide.