The Seasons of Puppyhood Why experiencing behavioral changes in your puppy is normal. Paula Bergeron - Grafton, NH
P
uppies: just the word conjures up images of adorable antics enacted by little fuzzy, milkbreathed creatures who fill our lives with innocence and love. In the real world, however, puppies can also be leaky, loud, razor-toothed, energetic, destructive trouble makers who can exhaust our last ounce of patience. What can be frustrating is that just when we think we have a routine in place that keeps our homes safe and our puppies satisfied, a whole new set of behaviors emerge and the old routine gets tossed out on its head. Here are some comments I commonly hear from frustrated puppy owners during the first 1 1/2 years of their lives. “Why is my puppy suddenly barking at EVERYTHING?” “He used to always come when I called and now just looks
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at me and then runs away.” “I think he just wants to make me mad” “She was such a sweet puppy but now she won’t stop jumping and biting me.” “My dog stares straight at me and barks and barks like he is demanding something.” “My pup is suddenly afraid of everything.” “My puppy used to play well with other dogs but now is lunging and barking whenever we go on walks.” What most of us are not aware of is that the changes we see in our puppies are not only normal but are a necessary and predictable part of their physical, emotional, and behavioral growth. These changes have been identified as Stages of Puppy Behavioral Development and can help us understand what to expect and how to handle the needs of our growing puppies.
