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Typical puppy misbehaviors and their causes – Part 1

Posted Fri, Apr 11, 2008, 7:55 am PDT
For many new dog owners, the behavior of their new puppy is a concern — what is normal and what isn't? To help you proud new pack leaders along, here are some typical puppy behaviors and their causes:

Chewing, mouthing, & nipping
"Inhibited biting" is common in puppies. This kind of play biting is done for many reasons — exercise, boredom relief, to soothe teething discomfort, calm hunger, and to explore the environment.

If a puppy is teething, provide safe toys or objects for chewing to help ease mouth pain. When the puppy begins play biting with humans, correcting the behavior immediately can prevent nipping problems later.

Marking
Marking objects with urine is a primal behavior, most often seen in dogs that have begun to mature sexually as a way to claim territory. You can curb this kind of activity by having your puppy spayed or neutered, and by practicing consistency in your housetraining correction technique.

Digging
Digging in the yard is a completely natural activity for dogs. Dogs dig to expend energy, relieve boredom, and as a way to keep cool in warm weather. Some breeds are genetically more inclined to dig than others. Consider giving your puppy his own place to dig in the backyard.

In my next blog, I will discuss two other common puppy behaviors: submissive or excited urination, and crying.

Showing 25 of 25 Comments

  • 1. kkp2914 - 2:12PM on 04/11/08

    why does my dog become intimidated and defensive when another dog greats her face to face? When another dog approaches her and greats her by sniffing first rather eye to eye she's ok with it.??

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  • 2. Apacapacas - 2:23PM on 04/11/08

    Because face-to-face greetings among dogs often preceded aggressive behavior. Sniffing each other is the polite way to greet other dogs. If you can, when you see a friendly dog approach your dog, have her turn around so that the other dog can sniff her first.

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  • 3. dana_lopez2002 - 3:30PM on 04/11/08

    I have two Lasha Apsos who will not let me comb their or cut their nails is there some type of technique that I can do?

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  • 4. Jim M - 7:51PM on 04/11/08

    Were they brushed and nail clipped as puppies? Maybe it wasn't a pleasant experience. In Puppy Class, they had us put the brushes, nail clippers etc on the floor so the puppies could sniff grooming tools before using them. We also gave them treats. We made it a relaxed, happy event. Not forced. We were told to affectionately pet and rub the toes and feet of the puppies every day, so they learn to trust you with their feet, and to roll them over on their backs and pet their feet, so they learn to trust you that way too. So if their feet ever have to be looked at by the vet, it is easier to roll them on their backs, if they are use to that as a pleasant experience. Our dog just rolls on her back and closes her eyes while we brush her hair on her stomach and legs. We tell her it is Spa time, and roll her over, to check for knots to be brushed or cut out ect. Make it a pleasant experience so they will learn to enjoy being brushed, it will be like massage time, social time together. With long hair, put conditioner on the hair after washing every other week, so the hair is easier to brush, so it pulls less, conditioner helps prevent knotting too, and keeps the hair softer. After brushing, or nail clipping, give them lots of praise, maybe a treat, so they know after grooming they will get extra praise and a treat. So they will remember that the next time.

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  • 5. Cav - 6:05AM on 04/12/08

    We are trying to teach our 11 month old Cavalier to defecate in 1 part of the yard- at the back along the fence. I take her there and treat her, saying "good outside", which she already understands. However, she insists on going back to the middle of the small lawn area. I don't want to correct her at that point as she is outside doing what she should do-outside. I hope this isn't too far off topic.

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  • 6. santoro8888 - 8:39AM on 04/12/08

    Maybe,you can take the droppings and put them where you want them and Hopefully,your pal will get the message?

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  • 7. mouse - 2:11PM on 04/12/08

    How do i get my dog to STOP going after feet,when a man walks by he goes after there feet. He is a small Jack Terrier and good all but he hates mnes feet?? help..

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  • 8. serendipitysis - 6:00PM on 04/12/08

    we are new parents to a toy apricot poodle. We've only had her home for a few days. She is 9 weeks old, and notice she seems to hump certain *soft* toys. Is this normal? Is it a behavior we should interrupt?

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  • 9. Jennifer - 7:06PM on 04/12/08

    I need help to relieve excessive barking from my g.shepard. He was never a barker until we moved about 6 mos ago. Now the neighbors are complaining. We have tried correction and at last resort a muzzle. Smart dog...barks almost just as loud with the muzzle. Unfort. the muzzle is rubbing and irritating his skin. If I could just control the barking...Please help...any ideas would be great!

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  • 10. Jennifer - 7:15PM on 04/12/08

    Just so everyone knows...the muzzle does not stay on all day...he gets breaks every hour.. and we are treating his skin irritation.. Don't want anyone to think we are neglecting him...he is almost 1 1/2.. Thanks again.

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  • 11. perthdog - 5:02AM on 04/13/08

    Try Tellington Touch for your nail clipping problems. Go to www.ttouch.com

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  • 12. hairpinecrest - 8:25PM on 04/13/08

    BOOGERS runs away and will not comme back to me when called, he is 8 yrs old and was 2 yrs when I got him. Had 5 homes and he ran away from them too. I thought I could train him. HA! Sees another dog goodby, I have taken a car to chase him, he goes so fast. Any suggestions ? He's nuttered. another Ha!

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  • 13. pghisa - 10:33PM on 04/13/08

    I have a female boxer/pitbull cross. Every time we do something new to our back yard, she will attempt to detroy it or urinate on it. We had also had bags and boxes of christmas ornaments on our livingroom floor and she urinated all over them.

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  • 14. ladywitchfire84 - 11:50AM on 04/16/08

    My 5 month old pom/pap mix will get into our cats litter box and eat the poop there or he will eat his own poop. How do I stop this behavior?

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  • 15. Beaglebob - 1:52PM on 04/16/08

    Hi. I have just adopted a 12 week old male and female Beagle puppy. I have had puppies before but never 2 at once. The little girl refuses to move on a leash. Any ideas? Should they have the run of the backyard? What is best way to potty train 2 at once? Thanks all.

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  • 16. Eugene S - 6:46AM on 04/17/08

    When we first got our Beagle puppy, she also did not like to be outside or go for walks. I would either drag her/ carry her a certain distance from the house and then we would "walk" back to the door. Eventually she got braver and now we love our walks/jogs/rollerblading time. The best way to increase the learning curve for our potty training was using treats. She picked it up a lot faster when she knew to expect treats if she went to the door and treats if she went potty outside.

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  • 17. Beaglebob - 6:22AM on 04/19/08

    Thanks Eugene, I'll try it.

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  • 18. terriharrah - 10:05PM on 04/25/08

    My puppy is constantly biting my hand and anything else she can find.She bites my clothes as I am walking around. She chew the carpets and I try to get her to chew on acceptable items that she has plenty of. She is 5 months old and a red short haired dashund. I have tried everything that all the experts recommend, but it has been no help. Can someone help me please?

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  • 19. chachi29 - 7:16AM on 04/29/08

    I recently experienced a situation in which my 9 month old dog urinated on my leg while I was chatting with friends at the park. Why did he do this? I want to understand to avoid being upset at my dog. He had never expressed such a thing and quite frankly, I kinda resent the fact. I have owned dogs in the past and not one has yet to do something like this. Please advise.

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  • 20. pingchad1 - 11:20AM on 05/04/08

    when do you know if biting in puppies is for natural reasons or for aggression?

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  • 21. alison3864 - 4:50AM on 05/10/08

    I have just bought two lab puppies into our h ome. One 9 weeks and one eight weeks old from different litters. They are both dogs and are mostly well behaved and respond to training. They have recently started fighting really aggressively with lots of teeth baring and biting and snarling. I realise that they are fighting for dominence but neither one of them is showing submission. The vet,s advice was to leave them to it as they have to sort out the pack leader. before their hormones kick in round about six months. After watching caesr milans programme he put two older dogs into the submissive positon when they were fighting which calms them down. I am worried that if i let them fight it out they will evenually start becoming aggressive to the family members. I would appreciate anyones advice or comments on our situation .

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  • 22. alison3864 - 4:53AM on 05/10/08

    I have just bought two lab puppies into our h ome. One 9 weeks and one eight weeks old from different litters. They are both dogs and are mostly well behaved and respond to training. They have recently started fighting really aggressively with lots of teeth baring and biting and snarling. I realise that they are fighting for dominence but neither one of them is showing submission. The vet,s advice was to leave them to it as they have to sort out the pack leader. before their hormones kick in round about six months. After watching caesr milans programme he put two older dogs into the submissive positon when they were fighting which calms them down. I am worried that if i let them fight it out they will evenually start becoming aggressive to the family members. I would appreciate anyones advice or comments on our situation .

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  • 23. Louise - 8:02AM on 06/17/08

    Pick a time and place for the dog to pee. There is no need to neuter a dog to stop marking on a walk. You just tell the dog not to sniff or pee unless told to. I let my dogs pee or poop in designated areas on our walk and not just anywhere. It is good disipline and my dogs are now used to that. My dogs are not neutered, I chose if they are bred or not, IF I felt they needed to be sterilized I would opt for a vasectomy or a partial spay leaving one ovary to continue better health that I believe not neutering has, contrary to the information those that push neutering have told you but the odd go up in many illness if an animals is neutered. In the newest issue of the AVMA they have an article on how joints and other problems are higher in neuthered animals.

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  • 24. jade_jordan12 - 4:08PM on 07/01/08

    my papertrained yorkiepoo has resorted back to urinating anywhere he pleases, even on my bed. He is around 10 months old. He just started this. He is neutered. Does anyone know why is is doing this?

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  • 25. erinvasconcellos - 1:35PM on 07/06/08

    Jade: If by 'papertrained', you mean he was trained to pee inside on a mat, etc. then I would suggest that you begin trying to train him to use the bathroom only outside at this point - he's still only 10 months old and I don't think it's too late. My in-laws have a yorkie whom they 'papertrained' and now that she is about 3 years old - she is completely ruined b/c she pees and poops anywhere in the house that she pleases! Just train your dog to pee outdoors where he's supposed to!!

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