How to deal with unwanted behaviors in puppies

Teaching your puppy to sit, come, or lie down may not seem related to behavioral problems, but it is. Positive reward-based training teaches your puppy that good things happen when they do what you ask, strengthens your bond, and provides mental stimulation that will help tire them out, making them less likely to misbehave. Try introducing a new command each week and continue to practice the old ones. A great way to get started is by consulting a qualified dog trainer.

A tired puppy is a good puppy. If you’re gone for long hours, and your puppy’s walk consists of a quick dash into the backyard, your puppy might not be getting enough exercise. They may channel extra energy into bad behavior for dogs, like chewing shoes or dragging you on the leash. Puppies generally have more energy than adult dogs and require more exercise. Also, your puppy’s breed influences the level of physical activity they need. If you have questions about how much exercise your puppy needs, talk to your vet.

It’s important to puppy-proof your house. This includes putting away shoes and toys and picking houseplants up off the floor. Supervise the puppy, even in your fenced-in yard, so they don’t even start to engage in bad dog behavior. It’s easier to prevent them from learning bad habits than it is to correct bad dog behavior.

If your puppy is lying quietly instead of jumping or barking, praise and pet them. If your puppy walks on a leash beside you, tell them what a good puppy they are. If you tell your puppy what you want them to do instead of what you don’t want them to do, they’ll understand better (for example, saying “sit” rather than “don’t jump,” or “heel” rather than “don’t pull”).

It’s a good idea to have everyone follow the same rules when it comes to setting standards for dog behavior. If you don’t feed the puppy from the table but someone else slips them treats, the puppy will learn to beg at the table. If you ignore your puppy when they jump on you but others pet them when they do, they’ll continue jumping on people.