Your Puppy Is a Baby: And That Changes Everything About How You Train Them

Your puppy is a baby. And while there are parallels that come in handy, they are not a human baby. The main thing that has helped me survive puppyhood and helped other owners I've worked with is keeping front of mind that your puppy is a baby. Like human babies, they are learning constantly while their bodies undergo drastic growth, change and development.

Progress Isn't Linear - And Neither Is Puppyhood

Progression in all aspects of our lives is not linear, and it would be naive to expect that of a puppy. Yes, we have been consistent with our toilet training, but at four months, when our puppies have another growth spurt, hormonal changes can make it difficult for them to hold on, and we see accidents in the house pop up again. Yes, we may have been consistent in our rest routines, but as teeth begin to erupt and baby teeth are lost, we may suddenly find our puppies needing to rest more, mouthing increasing and having them be generally a bit more unsettled in a routine that once suited them well. Sometimes with puppies, it may feel as though we have a Jekyll and Hyde trapped in a fur suit. In one moment, they are sweet and perfect, the next they are biting and taking things too far. But again, young puppies experience everything as a new learning opportunity, and it is very easy for them to become overstimulated. Bite inhibition and the ability to self-settle do not come naturally. They have to be taught.

The Biting Raptor Moment: Overstimulation Is Real

We expect our puppies to enjoy being patted. We lift them out of the crate, ready for a lovely greeting, only to have them turn into a biting raptor.

After a rest, a play session or any moment that raises their arousal, something as simple as patting can send our puppies overboard. More sensory input than their little minds can handle at that moment.

It's not that they don't enjoy patting and play. It's a reminder that in order to raise the settled, pleasant adult dog we're envisioning, we must first be our puppy's parent before we can be their friend.

Why Routine and Rest Matter More Than You Think

Sticking to some kind of structured rest schedule and toileting routine lays the foundation for a dog that can settle properly as an adult. When we create rest structure while a puppy is young we're imitating a natural canine sleep cycle. Stepping in to make the decision to rest for a puppy who cannot yet make that call themselves, with too many competing motivators in their environment.

Teaching Self-Regulation: Skills They Need Before Adulthood

Mouthing is not something a puppy will grow out of. They do not naturally walk calmly on a lead. They will not stop jumping up on specific people or in specific scenarios without being taught how to self-regulate.

In the same way we can't expect a child to just 'know' how to tie their shoelaces by the time they're a teenager, we need to oversee learning opportunities and build in the skills puppies need to become the adult dogs we want them to be.

This means having a set routine, but also having the observation skills and lateral thinking to notice: Does my puppy need to rest more today than they did yesterday? Are they worried about something in their environment I assumed wouldn't bother them? Do they need to go outside again, even though technically they 'should' be able to hold it by now?

Walking that line between structure and flexibility, between stepping in and stepping back is what makes us kind, responsible pet parents that our dogs can trust to keep them safe, while also giving them the right amount of agency to build confidence as they grow.

When we understand that our puppies need to learn how to self-settle, how to regulate their emotions, and how to respond to their environment, we can start to have a real plan.

And we can be prepared to adjust it.

There will be days, like with a baby, where they need more support and intervention from us. And days where they need less. Good pet ownership is developing an eye for when to add our input and when to remove it.

One of the most common panicked messages I receive from new puppy owners goes something like: 'My puppy was doing so well and now they're biting me constantly and won't settle. What did I do wrong?'

Almost always, the answer is: nothing. Their puppy has hit a developmental milestone, a growth spurt, a teething phase, a new fear period and needs more support in that window, not less.

The owners who navigate puppyhood most successfully aren't the ones with the most obedient puppies from day one. They're the ones who learn to read their puppy well enough

to adjust in the moment and who don't catastrophise the hard days as evidence that their puppy is broken or that they've failed.

Your puppy isn't broken. They're a baby. And you're doing better than you think.

To learn more about setting your puppy up for a settled, enjoyable adulthood, get in touch or explore our Puppy Preschool classes, designed to build exactly these foundations in a small-group environment with personalised guidance. If you're already seeing specific behaviour challenges, a private in-home consultation is a great place to start.

hello@northsidedogtraining.com.au

Love, Olivia & Bon x