Keep walking and continue subjecting them to the fear until they start to relax. Dogs learn best through positive reinforcement.įor example, if your dog barks or acts frightened when they see a bicycle, don’t yell or punish them. Remember, ignore undesirable behaviour and reward good behaviour. This will increase their confidence and shape the type of dog they become as they mature into an adult. Keep meeting new people and going to new places, and allow your puppy to experience things they’re not used to. It’s still crucial for your canine to explore their environment and be introduced to new things. While the prime time to socialise your puppy is when they are 8 to 16 weeks old, that doesn’t mean you should stop socialisation altogether. They’ll be less likely to look the other way if your puppy crosses any boundaries. Adult dogs will know your pup isn’t so young anymore. In addition to a newfound rebellious streak, you might notice a shift in the behaviour between your puppy and other dogs in your house. Puzzle toys, games of fetch or tug-of-war, and even agility courses are great ways for curbing boredom in rascal pups. You can help reduce mischievous behaviour by ensuring you provide your dog with plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Be consistent and repetitive with sessions, and above all else, don’t lose hope! Your puppy’s naughtiness isn’t personal, it’s just something that happens during the adolescent stage. Try not to get disheartened and continue working on your pup’s training. They may start regressing in terms of training, seemingly “forgetting” all the things you’ve previously taught them. It’s also common for puppies to get a bit rebellious and destructive during this stage of development. They will likely be energetic, playful, and much more independent. Your puppy is essentially a teenager at 6 months old, and their behaviour will be a lot different to when they were 8 weeks or even 16 weeks old. If you’re struggling to deal with a misbehaving puppy, speak to your vet for advice or consult a dog trainer. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to correct. Make sure you rectify any problem behaviour as soon as possible.ĭon’t be tempted to let it slide or presume it will go away once your dog reaches adulthood. Otherwise, you might find your puppy has a sudden case of forgetfulness, which might set their training process back.Īround this time, you might notice your puppy picking up some bad habits or new behavioural issues. Once your puppy has learned everything they need to know, you should continue training sessions to keep them on their toes. Teaching your dog to drop items on cue is also important, particularly if they get their paws onto something they’re not supposed to. This is handy during off-leash walks for when you need your pooch to return to you. If you haven’t already, consider teaching your puppy recall (i.e., come back when called). You can also start adding some tricks like roll over, crawl, and catch. Now is a good time to work on some basic commands such as sit, stay, and lay down. Your puppy’s brain is fully developed at this point, so they should understand the difference between wrong and right behaviour. Some pups might have the odd accident or two, but this shouldn’t be a regular occurrence.
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