Episode 9: How To Set Your Puppy Up For Success

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Let’s Go for a Walk. Today we are going to discuss why it is so important to set expectations for your new puppy from day one.

If I am completely honest, when I get puppy clients, it is often because the puppies are exhibiting preventable behaviors. These include things like constantly bothering the older dog, trying to steal food off the counter, grabbing socks or tissues, or simply acting as if they are “unhinged.” Many of these are very typical puppy behaviors, and all of them are preventable.

One of the biggest mistakes people make with a new puppy is giving them the same amount of freedom that their adult dog has. It is easy to do. You get through the puppy stage with your adult dog, bring home a new puppy, and realize that it takes effort and planning to manage their space. You have to decide how to set things up so the puppy’s needs are met without allowing them to roam freely and get into trouble. That is what we will talk about today.

When you bring a puppy home, the first step is to decide what boundaries you are going to set. If you do not want them to chew the couch, do not let them. Obviously, no one has the time to follow a puppy around constantly asking, “Where is the puppy now?” So the solution is simple: your puppy does not need full access to the house.

I am not saying to crate your puppy twenty-three hours a day. That is not necessary. However, I do recommend getting a crate. Puppies are like small children. In new and exciting environments they often do not sleep, even though they need a lot of sleep to grow and remain in a good mood. If everything is up to them, they will often stay awake instead of settling. A crate gives them a place to nap, settle, and decompress, and it gives you a way to separate them when needed.

The second thing to get is an exercise pen. Baby gates work as well. Puppies do not need full access to every room. These tools make your life easier because they create physical boundaries so you do not have to constantly supervise.

Another recommendation is to get a light four-foot leash to put on your puppy indoors. Many people call this a drag lead because it simply drags behind the puppy. You can use this to practice things like place or mat work while you are eating dinner or cooking. You can tether the puppy near a small bed and give them an activity like a Kong. All of this dramatically reduces chaos and allows you to shape behavior.

Once you have these tools in place, the next step is actually setting expectations. You do not need to have all your expectations figured out before the puppy arrives, although it is great if you do. You will learn very quickly what behaviors your puppy naturally gravitates toward. Watch them on their drag lead for the first day while making sure they get plenty of naps. Notice whether they chew specific areas of the house, try to go to the bathroom under the dining table every thirty minutes, or interact a certain way with other pets. These observations tell you what to pay attention to.

Once you see what your puppy tends to do, the question becomes: what do I want to prevent?

The worst thing you can do is allow your puppy complete freedom and then explode in frustration when they do something wrong. For example, if your puppy steals a sock and begins running around with it, they may already have learned that getting the sock makes you chase them. Chasing and prying objects out of their mouth is one of the most common ways resource guarding begins. Only intervene forcefully if the puppy has something dangerous or ingestible. Otherwise, use it as a training opportunity with a high-value reinforcer to teach “drop it,” and do not make it dramatic.

After you identify the behaviors you want to prevent, make sure your puppy cannot rehearse them. If the puppy pesters your older dog or cat, put them on a drag leash or behind an exercise pen. If they get frustrated because they cannot move freely, that is okay. You can use the moment to teach the expectations you want them to carry into adulthood. Over time, they will learn there is no point in trying because the behavior does not work.

Managing the environment is only half the equation. You also need to teach the puppy what to do instead. This is where training comes in. Most pet dogs do not need a huge amount of obedience training, but they need enough to allow you to communicate expectations.

Practicing mat work in the kitchen is useful. Practicing a down-stay on a bed while the other dog chews a bone across the room is useful. Start slow and build systematically. With consistency and maturity, these habits will solidify and persist for life.

That is all for today. If you enjoyed this episode or found it useful, please like and subscribe to my channel. If you are a puppy owner, comment below and tell us what has helped you. Thank you so much and have a great day.