Your New Puppy: Dog Training and Dog Behavior Lessons to Help You Turn Your New Puppy into a Well-Behaved Dog

It’s been a great day. Your puppy has been an angel. And then out of nowhere, your puppy flips a switch.  The biting gets more intense. They stop responding to anything you say. They’re lunging, they’re frantic, and for a second, you actually wonder if something is wrong with them. Or with you. This is puppy witching hour. And it is so much more common than you think. It usually hits in the evening, right when you’re tired, and your patience is running low. And if your puppy had a full, active day, that might actually be exactly why it’s happening. This is not a sign that your puppy is aggressive, out of control, or that you’re doing something wrong. This is a normal developmental phase, and once you understand what’s driving it, you’ll know exactly what to do and what to skip. In this episode, I talk about: What puppy witching hour actually looks like and why it’s so disorienting Why overstimulation and exhaustion trigger this kind of frantic behavior The toddler tantrum connection and what it tells us about puppy emotional development Why this is NOT the moment to discipline, redirect, or try and teach your puppy anything What your puppy actually needs in these moments (hint: it’s not more exercise) How the habits you’re building outside of these episodes will make them less frequent over time Enjoying this podcast?  Please rate and review it wherever you listen.  This helps other puppy parents find it. Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #046: Puppy Biting and Why You Might Still be Struggling Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #078: Games to Play With a Nipping Puppy Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #060: Kids and Puppies YOUR Perfect Puppy: If you’re looking for ongoing guidance with situations like this, this episode is also a great example of the kind of real-life problem-solving we do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy, where I help you turn everyday chaos into manageable routines that work for your household.

The holiday season is a popular time to bring a new puppy into the family.  But how we do it can make a big difference in the well being of all involved.  Now before I totally burst your bubble, I’m not saying you shouldn’t get a puppy this time of year (though there are things to consider while making that decision).     What I’m going to talk about here is why you shouldn’t surprise someone (kids or adult) with the actual puppy on a specific day – Christmas morning, for example.  We think of it as a special magical moment where a puppy comes out of a box and our kids or family member is overwhelmed with joy.  But the reality is, this can be a stressful experience for a puppy who is also meeting their new family for the first time.  If you’re considering getting a puppy around the holidays, this episode will help you keep the time special while making sure it’s a joyful and stress free experience for both humans and puppies! Enjoy! In this episode I talk about: What to think about when giving a puppy as a gift. Why you shouldn’t plan a surprise with an actual puppy.  The importance of building trust with your puppy during the first few days home. The importance of preparing your family before bringing a puppy home. Alternative ways to make the holiday special without surprising someone with an actual puppy. Enjoying this podcast?  Please rate and review it wherever you listen.  This helps other puppy parents find it. Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #060: Kids and Puppies The 3 Phases to Bringing Your New Puppy Home – Video series Book a virtual session with Debbie YOUR New Puppy:  My signature new puppy course that has helped hundreds of new puppy parents raise their puppies into well-mannered, happy dogs.

Just about every dog is going to have some trouble with the hot weather.   For some dogs even a slight elevation in temperature will find them seeking out the shade and wanting shorter walks.  The heat itself can be tiring for a dog so it tends to shorten walks and activity.  This will result in us having to find creative ways to entertain our dog and burn some energy.  For this episode I reached right into my Enrichment Database (available with YOUR Perfect Puppy) to find some activities that are perfect for a hot day.   I have you covered if you want to play with water, sit in the shade with a frozen treat, or stay inside and avoid the heat altogether. Enjoy!  In this episode I talk about: Dogs that are sensitive to the heat. How to recognize heat stroke in a dog.  Different types of water activities to try with your pup. Different types of frozen treats to make for your pup. Indoor activities to avoid the heat all together. Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: Articles on heat stroke in dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/heat-stroke-in-dogs https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heatstroke-in-dogs/ Rover Round Robin:  A fun family recall game you can turn into hide and seek (request the step by step directions) YOUR New Puppy:  My signature new puppy course that has helped hundreds of new puppy parents raise their puppies.

How do you know if your kids are ready for a dog?  And if they are, how do you prepare them for bringing that new dog home? Well lucky for you (and me) Justine Schuurmans, the expert on families, kids, and dogs,  is going to answer those questions. Justine is the founder of The Family Dog and the creator of The Dial Method.  Her work with families has greatly impacted how I work with kids and puppies to this day.   The best part?  This is part one of a two part series.  Stay tuned for part two where she talks about what to do when the your kids and the dog aren’t BFFs like you planned. In this episode we talk about: Are your kids ready for a dog? Are you ready for a new dog?  How much can you depend on the kids help? Why younger kids shouldn’t be in charge of walking the dog.  Picking the right dog for your family’s lifestyle. How to prepare your kids for when the dog comes home. Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: The Family Dog resources:  This page includes the resources both Justine and I talked about inside the interview including the video that I think EVERY parent should watch along with the Pet, Pat, Pause flyer.  YNP Episode #002: Which Type of Dog is Right for You? YOUR Perfect Puppy’s course:  A 4 week course to build the foundation of you and your new puppy’s life together.  More about Justine: Justine is a former Nickelodeon and MTV producer and dog trainer for over 20 years, specializing in working with young families. Her mission is to help parents, kids and dogs understand each other better and live safely and happily together.  She’s the founder of The Family Dog, STOP THE 77 and the creator of The Dial Method.

It can be counter intuitive but when your puppy has a potty accident, we shouldn’t punish them. You may feel that you need to do something to let them know “this is wrong”.   Or maybe you know that you’re not supposed to punish your puppy’s potty accidents but you’re not sure why. In general, I discourage using punishment as a form of teaching your puppy anything.  But this question comes up a lot around potty training.  In Episode #10: (Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy), I talk about what to do when your puppy has an accident.  Punishment is never part of it.   In this episode, I’m going to talk about why that is.  In this episode I talk about: Why I get this question around potty training. What I mean by “punishment”.  What we are supposed to do with potty accidents. Why dogs learn better when told what to do (instead of what not to do). How puppies don’t know going potty inside is wrong (yet!). Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: YNP #010:  Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy YNP #039:  The Most Common Potty Accidents YNP #079:  Are You Still Struggling With Potty Training? Playtime Paws Academy:  A membership for dog and humans no matter where you are in your training journey.

Is your dog trying to dominate you?  The short answer is no, they are not.   And though that might not come as a surprise to you, what isn’t always clear is why it’s not true.   Especially because this theory that dogs want to dominate us or some dogs are more “dominate” than others still comes up a lot in dog training.  That’s why I want to talk about where this dominance and alpha theory came from, how it’s been debunked, and why it still persists even though we now know better.  I believe this information is important because helps us better understand our dog and how they see the world so we can better communicate with them and teach them how we want them to behave in our human world.   As always, the resources I talk about in this episode are listed all below.  In this episode I talk about: Where the dominance and alpha theory came from.  How we now know that there’s no such thing as an “alpha” dog in a natural wolf pack. Why dominance and alpha theory is still (incorrectly) used. What is actually happening when we think we see a “dominate” or “submissive” dog. Why I think it’s so important to understand the difference. Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: International Wolf Center: An article by the organization that conducted the ordinal study on why they no longer use the term “alpha”. Dave Mech (pronounced “meesh”): An article and video by the scientist that wrote the book that made the “alpha” theory popular on why it’s no longer accurate.  YNP #038: The One Thing You Need to Know About Dog Behavior. YNP #040: How to be Your Dog’s Pack Leader Playtime Paws Academy:  A membership for dog and humans no matter where you are in your training journey.

Teaching your dog to wear a muzzle might not be something that you have thought of.  Muzzles have a bad rap and a lot of times we think of them as a last resort type of tool.   Where muzzles can benefit us and our pups in a lot of ways. Muzzle training our dog entails exposing our dogs to wearing a muzzle in a positive, stress-free way (see resources below on how to do this).   That way when we find ourselves in a situation where one may be necessary our dog already knows the drill.   And when we take away that bad stigma and don’t hesitate to use one, it can bring all stress levels down making everything go smoother.   Plus, there’s reasons that have nothing to do with biting or aggression.  As always, the resources I talk about in this episode are listed all below.  In this episode I talk about: Why every dog should be exposed to a muzzle regardless of their temperament.  Specific situations where we can reduce the stress of all involved by exposing our dog to a muzzle first.  Reasons to muzzle train that have nothing to do with aggression. Reasons to use a muzzle while working on behavior modification. Reasons not to hesitate to muzzle train your reactive dog. Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: American Kennel Club: Dog Muzzles: When, Why, and How to Correctly Use Them Vet.Cornell.edu : Muzzle Choices Michael Shikashio: A video on how to Accumulate your dog to a muzzle (this is the guy to follow for ANY muzzle or aggressive dog content). Michael Shikashio: How to find the right fit for your dog. Playtime Paws Academy:  A membership for dog and humans no matter where you are in your training journey.

Is your dog trying to dominate you?  The short answer is no, they are not.   And though that might not come as a surprise to you, what isn’t always clear is why it’s not true.   Especially because this theory that dogs want to dominate us or some dogs are more “dominate” than others still comes up a lot in dog training.  That’s why I want to talk about where this dominance and alpha theory came from, how it’s been debunked, and why it still persists even though we now know better.  I believe this information is important because helps us better understand our dog and how they see the world so we can better communicate with them and teach them how we want them to behave in our human world.   As always, the resources I talk about in this episode are listed all below.  In this episode I talk about: Where the dominance and alpha theory came from.  How we now know that there’s no such thing as an “alpha” dog in a natural wolf pack. Why dominance and alpha theory is still (incorrectly) used. What is actually happening when we think we see a “dominate” or “submissive” dog. Why I think it’s so important to understand the difference. Press play and enjoy! Other resources mentioned and related to this episode: International Wolf Center: An article by the organization that conducted the ordinal study on why they no longer use the term “alpha”. Dave Mech (pronounced “meesh”): An article and video by the scientist that wrote the book that made the “alpha” theory popular on why it’s no longer accurate.  YNP #038: The One Thing You Need to Know About Dog Behavior. YNP #040: How to be Your Dog’s Pack Leader Playtime Paws Academy:  A membership for dog and humans no matter where you are in your training journey.