1. Chewing
It may remind you of an infant the way dogs like to put everything in their mouth to investigate it. Chewing is a big part of development for a puppy—it strengthens their jaws and helps in a lot of other ways from teething to relieving stress. Make sure you begin by showing puppy what they can and cannot chew in your home and reinforcing “good” chewing.
2. Zooming Around
The American Kennel Club refers to the sudden darting run puppies engage in as “zoomies.” It’s natural for puppies to take off like they’ve been startled then look back at you as if they’re inviting you to follow. You can encourage this fun exercise and let that puppy get her hyper energy out.
3. Clumsiness
Puppies are wobbly on those new legs and it’s perfectly ok. Cute even. They tend to flop because their joints and muscles are soft and growing. You’ll notice this stuffed animal-like floppiness when they sit or lie down.
4. Whine a Lot
Even if you only leave for a moment, your puppy is likely to get noisy about your exit. Puppies need time to adjust to being alone. After all, they’ve likely been with their litter of brothers and sisters since they were born. When they come home to you, they’ve usually never experienced going solo. Take it slow and reassure them, but build in time for them to be alone. This barking or crying will pass as they age and adjust to their new world.
5. Move or Bark in their Sleep
When your puppy makes tiny barks and twitches a bit when they sleep, this is an indication of doggy dreams. Enjoy this stage. Even though adult dogs dream, you probably won’t notice it. Puppies take lots of naps and they need to!
Puppies need training as soon as they have all their shots. At A Ruff Day Bark Club, we offer expert-led classes at flexible times to fit your schedule. Get more info and check out our full schedule of training classes.