Puppies are the cutest beings ever and can make even the hardest person melt! But there are some behaviours that these adorable little puppers can exhibit which need to be looked out for. They can range from curiosity to aggression. Understanding puppy behaviour enables you to handle the situation better and use the right kind of training techniques to put your concerns at ease. Here are the top 7 dog behaviours you should be looking out for when you have a puppy at home.
Read puppy behaviour by their body language
Canine body language is not only a fascinating topic to study, but it’s also key to understanding how puppies communicate with each other and their pet parents. It can be used to identify moods and emotions, or even provide clues as to whether or not they are feeling well. This article will help teach you how to read puppy body language in order to get a better understanding of them!
Most pet owners confuse droopy eyes for sadness or boredom but it actually means the contrary. When your little pup gives you the droopy eye, they are only trying to say that they are happy in your company and are enjoying the petting session quite a bit. It’s their own cute way of saying they are feeling pleasure when you are petting them. However, if you find that they have constant droopy lower eyelids. redness and inflammation and excessive tearing - these might indicate that they have an eye infection, in which case, they should be taken to the vet for an examination.
At times, if your pup is averting his gaze or avoiding eye contact, it might mean that they are submitting to something or going through stress. Pups whose eyes are alert and wide open or staring hard at something might mean that they are up for the challenge and are trying to assert dominance.
What do their ears say?
Puppies have a variety of ear movements that show different emotions. When they are relaxed, their ears are often upright and slightly to the side. However, when they are excited, their ears go forward and back at the same time. When the ears move slightly forward but remain raised or erect, they may be alert or attentive. When the ears are flat, the dog may be feeling scared, uncertain or aggressive. But when the ears droop down and back against the head it can indicate a tired or sad pup.
Reading their mouth movements
If your pup is active and their mouth is partially open with their tongue wagging about outside, it indicates that they are playful, relaxed and happy. You might sometimes find your puppy grinning with their lips pulled apart and this might be a submissive grin; a tactic dogs use to shut off aggression from another individual, either human or canine. You might find them doing this when the pup is trying to interact with a new canine or human. It’s quite the opposite when you see them pulling their lips upward to show their canines, which clearly means that they are showing aggression and dominance over the other creature.
Puppy behaviour according to their posture
Fur, an indicator of puppy body language
Tail-wagging
Puppy Behaviour Stages
Teething Process
Social Behaviour
Adolescence
This is when you may face challenges when your pup is growing and showing independence and assertion. You may expect episodes where they disobey your command and runs off to explore newer territories. You may also have to reiterate ground rules inside the house to remind them of what they are supposed to obey. By the end of 6-8 months, they are more at ease with the role they play in the household. This is when they get comfortable and settled and you can pretty much understand your dog’s behaviour and their moods.
The ideal age for training is during 4-5 weeks when they are extremely enthusiastic and curious. They are more likely to obey your commands during training and are also eager to please you. You can use training treats for puppies that are made of natural ingredients and make the whole session more fun and interesting.
Also read : What are the best training treats for puppies?