Pups form habits that will continue throughout life
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Pawsability by Anna Patfield
In the past it was considered that training puppies should not start until they reached six months of age.
Who knows where this concept arose, but it was most likely steeped in the depths of the old form of traditional training where punishment was frequently used.
Nowadays, however, we know better. We know that puppy brains develop at an exponential rate when they are young and that at 16 weeks their brains are 90 per cent grown. Is it any wonder that our puppies are super inquisitive?
What’s this? What’s that? I’ll put that in my mouth and chew it. I’ll run away with it. I’ll steal this sock. I’ll run around the room at 100 miles an hour….
Every time a puppy investigates some new corner of the garden or room in the house, connections are formed in the brain. If we allow these behaviours to repeat, then the connections and behaviours strengthen.
We can play with our very young puppies and get them to run to us. We can give them a wee treat to get our stolen sock back. We can teach them to sit and be polite and patient, waiting for their food or waiting for us to open the gate. All of this early learning creates deeply formed behaviours and habits that will continue for life.
However, what about biting and nipping and jumping at us or chewing our shoe laces or attacking the hoover? Again, these behaviours are very simple to stop when the puppy is very young.
The easiest way to stop a puppy forming unwanted habits is to ensure that they never happen in the first place.
Stop a puppy stealing socks and slippers or tea-towels by never leaving them lying about in puppy reach; stop a puppy chewing shoe laces by not wearing shoes with laces or keeping the laces tucked in; keep the puppy out of the way when actually vacuum cleaning.
Choosing appropriate toys and keeping them low down can help to prevent nipping, biting and jumping.
Separately, we can carry our distinct training exercises to help our puppies get used to all these things in our lives (desensitisation exercises). And, over time we can relax our rigorous management.
Of course, some puppies are hyper-excited and need extra help to get them through their early weeks. So please don’t struggle on alone. Just get in touch with anna@pawsability.co.uk for help on how to get your puppy off to the best early start.
Anna Patfield, Ardgay, is a dog behaviourist and trainer.
