Raising Puppies: How Early Habits Shape Lifelong Behaviors

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting and heartwarming experience – but in all honesty, it can be overwhelming. Despite the cute puppy eyes and big floppy paws, a new puppy is a big commitment and they require more than just play time and cuddle sessions!

How you raise a puppy in the early months will shape their behavior, attitude, and outlook on the world for the rest of their lives. Whether you’re raising the perfect family pet, a future adventurer, or a dog with a job – a well-raised puppy grows into a well-adjusted adult! Our furry friend’s future starts with you.

The importance of good puppy raising

So what is puppy raising, and why is it so important?

Let’s extend our telescope and look closer. Our future best friend has learning capabilities related to a sponge. They soak up every sight, sound, taste, and interaction in their early walks of life. Puppy raising is a process of guiding the youngster through their most crucial developmental stages. Typically starting at eight weeks old when the puppy is ready to graduate from the “Mom’s number 1 fan” stage, all the way to 18 months, where they will graduate to “young adult” status. During this time, puppies learn how to interact in their environments, start to build trust with their new humans, and they begin to understand what manners and boundaries are. Every moment and every action will play a role in shaping your puppy for the future.

Tips for raising your puppy

That brings us to our next question – how do you ensure you’re raising the “perfect” puppy? Although it’s a simple question, it bears a not so simple answer.

I think it’s easy to say that there is no such thing as “perfection”, specifically not in the world of our canine companions. The first rule of thumb is to not expect perfection. There are, however, many different training exercises, brain games, and socialization opportunities we can give our puppies to help them be successful.

Below is a list with details on some tips and tricks used commonly and often by pet owners and trainers alike to help raise and build a successful and confident partnership between human and dog!

Start training early. As previously mentioned, puppies are sponges and learn quickly at an early age. Commands such as sit, come, and leave it can be helpful to start with. Keep your training sessions short, positive, and consistent. Always have a reward ready for your puppy rather it be food, toys, or simply praise.
Mannerisms: Puppies can pick up bad habits as quickly as the good ones, it’s important to discourage unwanted behaviors like nipping or jumping. Redirect the negative behaviors and reward the positive behaviors.
Get in a routine. Structure is something a dog thrives on. A predictable schedule helps reduce anxiety and build good habits for a puppy!
Socialization is key. Exposing your puppy to a variety of environments, dogs, people, and experiences will help them confidently walk through life with less anxiety and fear of the “unknown”. In the service dog industry this is among the most important aspects of dog training. Service dogs have to be prepared to experience many different settings in the world considering that they go most places a pet dog would not be allowed. Socializing your puppy can be a little more specific to your lifestyle.
Keep your puppy engaged! Keeping your puppy both mentally and physically engaged helps them burn off energy that can otherwise be channeled into destructive or negative behaviors. A tired puppy is a good puppy. Engaging with your puppy is also a great way to build a bond that will last a lifetime!

In conclusion

Raising a puppy isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Though the hardships are inevitable, you’re building more than just obedience, you’re building the foundation for a life full of love and companionship. Every effort, every consistent routine, every moment of training adds up to a lasting impact.

Puppy raising is your chance to shape not only your dog’s future, but the kind of companion and family member they’ll become. It’s not about raising the “perfect” dog, it’s about raising the right dog for your life. And that starts with you!