LAST week my little puppy was walking on a leash like a perfectly trained adult dog. He also came when called and dropped items from his mouth when asked. This week is another story.
When the leash goes on he runs to the end and bucks and rears like a wild pony. Instead of coming when called, he crouches down and begins to stalk me like a hyena. When he has something in his mouth he isn't supposed to have, he bolts across the room when I say "leave it."
Oh the joy of raising a puppy.
All of this obstinate behaviour from my 15-week-old puppy is a perfectly normal part of a puppy's development.
Having raised a number of dogs of my own through my life, as well as having numerous puppies in my puppy classes, I am fully prepared for this stage.
But most new dog owners aren't. With bright-eyed expectation, new puppy owners see their furkid as a perfect creation that can do no wrong. This is because it's the honeymoon period and just like that word implies, everything is full of squishy love and smelling like roses!
Then it changes, almost overnight. You wonder if your puppy is crazy because you heard from other dog owners how great it is to have a puppy.
The first two weeks Raider was in my home he played the quiet unobtrusive puppy, doing what was asked and willingly learning new things as he observed the dynamics of the pack and figured out where he was to fit in. After two weeks (and the honeymoon) he has now established a relationship with my other adult dogs Piper and Zumi as well as myself. He now knows that he is safe within the pack, meaning I won't kick him out. And outside of healthy forms of canine discipline, Zumi and Piper won't hurt him in any way. With that feeling of security within the pack he now figures it's time to see what behaviours we will tolerate from him and what we won't.
This is not something that will go away overnight. The next six months or more of his life will be all about testing the boundaries that I set for him. Each day will be different. That feeling of security he has gained has also given him the idea that he is King Kaka.
Knowing that his behaviour is a phase of his maturity gives me a level of understanding when dealing with his temper tantrums.
This too shall pass. It doesn't mean that I completely ignore all misbehaving with a wink and a nod, but it does mean that I will pick and choose the battles that I take on over time.
Using the leash walk as an example, most people dealing with a bucking bronco at the end of the leash would simply let the puppy off leash or not leash them at all to avoid the issue of leash temper tantrums. That is the worst thing to do as it does nothing to teach proper leash skills and avoiding an issue does not deal with the underlying problem that is creating it. Instead, I will continue to leash walk Raider and when he has his temper tantrum I will stand there, like a tree, holding the leash in my hand and allow him to act out as much as he wants regardless of the raised judgmental eyebrows of onlookers. Eventually he will stop. When he does, and chooses a more appropriate behaviour, such as sitting or calmly standing in place without straining on the leash, I will verbally praise him and I will start to walk again.
If he acts out a second time, I will again stop walking and silently wait it out. Once he calms down completely and begins to walk respectfully on the leash I will praise him again, even give him a treat, then begin the walk and, if it is appropriate, I will allow him off leash.
Raising a puppy is like life. It's about the journey, not the destination. So pick your battles, live in the moment and take it one day at a time.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for over 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
