What to Expect from Your Puppy

Whether or not you’re a first time puppy parent or a veteran, you probably have some expectations for your new bundle of fur. The problem is that not every puppy can live up to the expectations we set. It is important to consider the age and personality of your individual puppy before you set expectations. A lot of the stress of puppy parenting occurs because we demand too much from our puppies—and in doing so we set them up to fail. A common expectation that we put on puppies is to respond to us every time we ask; and we demand that they perform a perfect sit, down, stay come and heel.

[vr]A lot of the stress of puppy parenting occurs because we demand too much from our puppies—and in doing so we set them up to fail.[/vr]

Expectations like these are unrealistic for the average adult dog, so how can we hope for a 8-20 week old puppy to achieve them? Some parents expect their puppies to be able to settle down on their own; that he will get enough exercise by running free in the backyard, and he will outgrow whatever bad behaviors he exhibits while young. Unfortunately, these common misconceptions result in many dogs being dropped off at shelters. Most puppies will not settle down without help and will only rest when they become completely exhausted.

What Puppies Need

Puppies need to explore new things every day and the backyard cannot provide the mental stimulation required for a puppy to grow into a well socialized adult. Most importantly, puppies will grow into the behaviors they have learned—both good and bad. It is important to have realistic expectations to enjoy the benefits of a well-raised puppy. In making realistic expectations you need to consider your puppy’s age and individual personality. Every week your puppy changes and so should your expectations for his mental and physical stimulation requirements.

Interested in learning more about puppy behavior and training? In our Puppy Training Group Class we, as trainers, have no pre-set expectations for your puppy- Instead we hope to see improvement every week from both puppies and parents. We’ll give you the skills you need