Does your puppy have some unusual habits that makes you wonder if their behavior is normal? Maybe your puppy squirms when you hold them, breaks your skin when playbiting, or tries to eat items whole? Let’s help you understand “Is my puppy’s behavior normal?” by comparing some atypical and typical puppy behaviors. Beyond the Dog Houston has addressed thousands of puppies with problem behaviors. We use scientifically proven training methods, backed by over 20 years of hands-on experience. You can also check out our Beyond the Dog TikTok page if you want to learn more about puppy behaviors.
What are atypical behaviors?
Atypical behaviors are puppy behaviors that may seem harmless, but can grow into serious behavioral issues when they get older. Fortunately, you can prevent this by addressing these behaviors early. Atypical behaviors include:
Playbiting that breaks the skin: Puppies love to bite during play; it’s a habit that likely started as a young puppy with their littermates, and can continue when they come home with you. However, some puppies bite too hard because they lack bite inhibition. They didn’t learn this important skill because they were either removed from their litter too early, weren’t properly socialized, or were kept in inappropriate conditions. Fortunately, you can teach your puppy to playbite appropriately through training. For some starting tips, we have published a blog on “Teaching your puppy not to bite using positive reinforcement“.
Aggressive behavior when being handled: It is not normal for a puppy to snap, growl and become aggressive when you pick them up or handle them, such as taking off their collar and leash. This behavior will likely get worse if unaddressed and as the puppy gets older. Fortunately, you can treat aggressive behavior through behavior modification training.
It’s not unusual if your puppy tries to squirm out of your grasp when you pick them up, or be mouthy. You can teach your puppy to be calm when handled through body handling exercises. Making the mistake of overlooking puppy body handling exercises could lead to touch sensitivity issues and potentially aggressive behavior in an adult dog. Our co-founder, Sean Savage has published a TikTok video on body handling exercises so that your puppy can learn that good things happen when they are handled by pairing treats or kibble with any handling. This will prepare them for vet exams, grooming appointments, and day to day handling by you.
Ingesting whole objects at once: It’s not unusual for a puppy to be mouthy; it’s their way to discover the world around them. If left unattended they may even chew up your blankets, balls, shoes and other household items. For more help, you can view our blog on “How to puppy proof you home”. It’s not normal for a puppy to ingest a whole item at once. This can be a sign of resource guarding. We recommend you check out our co-founder, Dr. Kristin Ectherling-Savage’s blog on “resource guarding in your puppy”.
It takes a long time to recover from a scary event: Does your puppy take a long time to recover from a scary event? It’s not normal for a puppy to take a long time to recover from a scary experience such as loud noises, seeing unfamiliar people or pets, or a smoke alarm going off.
Often having accidents in the crate: It’s normal for a puppy to have occasional accidents in the crate during crate training. Puppies still need to establish a routine with appropriate potty breaks after eating and drinking. However, if your puppy is often having accidents, we recommend checking with your veterinarian for any health issues such as a urinary tract infection, or a behavior consultant for any behavioral issues.
We are here to help
Beyond the Dog Houston offers personalized one-on-one training sessions, including training at your home and neighborhood, board-and-train programs, and virtual training programs. We recommend you check out our puppy training blog or our TikTok channel.
We use scientifically proven training methods, backed by over 20 years of hands-on experience. Beyond the Dog Houston is led by our co-founders, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and Sean Savage, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).
