First-time dog owner here, and I really love my puppy. He’s 12 weeks old, but he’s a handful! Crate training at night is going okay, but daytime is rough. I work from home, and it’s hard to focus. He’s good with his playpen, but he jumps a lot, and I worry he might hurt himself. Crate him during the day, and he cries non-stop. Plus, he bites everything, even with all the chew toys I’ve given him. I’ve tried every tip I’ve read, but nothing seems to work.
I know he’s still young, and it’ll probably get easier… but when?
I tried this tip from a trainer for my own 60 lb pup, and it really worked. When he jumps, turn your back and don’t give him any attention. They usually want you to react, so turning away helps teach them it doesn’t work. For chewing, try filling white bones with carrots. It kept my girl engaged as she tried to get them out. Also, pet stores have chew toys with strong smells. My big dog loves buffalo horns – they’re solid and don’t splinter. Good luck! Believe it or not, you’ll probably miss these puppy days later.
Consistency in training is everything. What breed is he? I’ve found a tired dog is a good dog. Start with basic commands like sit, stay, and recall. You can use food rewards, and just repeat it all consistently. Also, if he has all his shots, socializing him is super helpful.
I was overwhelmed with mine too and ended up trying an online dog training course. Not sure if I can recommend it here, but it really helped with positive reinforcement techniques. Also, I started using a prong collar – it’s made a world of difference. Now, my girl is an amazing dog, and I’m so proud of her!
Have you tried using the playpen during the day? My dog’s a jumper too, but he doesn’t jump out of his pen for some reason. Using treats helps – just don’t overdo it!
Depending on the dog, their behavior usually improves over 6 months to a year. But every dog’s different, of course.
Sometimes it’s around two years. Teething is painful for them, so they chew to relieve it. Freezing teething toys can help. Crate time during the day and night might be too much; they need some stimulation. Try freezing peanut butter or wet food on a lick mat. Puppy training classes are amazing, too. Two walks a day where they can sniff around helps a lot. These early days are tough, but it’s worth it in the long run.