Patience for Your Puppy or Dog | Pupford
18 Comments Filed under pup parenting
Having patience for your puppy or dog's behavior might be one of the most difficult things in the world... but in this episode, I'm going to explain why that patience is key to your happiness when raising a dog!
Too often with our dogs, we expect things to happen overnight. But, newsflash... they aren't robots!
Having patience for our dogs can not only help when it comes to training, but creating a better relationship with our dogs as well!
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OVERVIEW OF HAVING PATIENCE FOR YOUR DOG
After moving across the country with my 3 dogs I was taught a powerful lesson in patience. I expected my dog Sunny to be the fastest at learning to go potty in a new environment, turned out she was the slowest of all 3 dogs! I let myself get frustrated and impatient because I had expectations that didn't match reality.
She really wasn't doing anything wrong... just adjusting!
There are two very important things to remember...
1. Every dog is different.
2. Your expectations/timelines don't matter to your dog.
There are many times where we get frustrated because we think our dogs should be learning things faster than they are, but like people, dogs work at their own pace, and on their own time. So it is important to take a step back, and think if you are creating unrealistic timelines for your dog in your head. Working towards understanding our dog’s behaviors can also help us understand why they do the things they do!
When training, it is important to try to set your dog up for success, and that means moving at their pace! Take things day by day, hour by hour if needed. With time, patience, and training you will get there! But need a little extra motivation? Check out this blog post on Puppy Blues. Having a dog can be hard! But we always think that it is worth it!
Related Reading: 21 Dog Training Mistakes
RECAP OF HOW TO BE PATIENT WITH A PUPPY
So, learn from my mistakes and remember to be patient with your dog. Whether you're working on overcoming separation anxiety, biting, or leash pulling problems you will be better served to put in the training and be patient with your dog's progress.
Remember that all dogs are different in their progress AND that progress is not linear!
If you're needing some extra training help, be sure to sign up for 30 Day Perfect Pup. It's a 100% free (no credit card required) course that covers biting, leash walking, potty training and more. Sign up for free here!
Let me know in the comments how being patient has helped your dog's behavior.
Related Reading: My Dog Doesn't Want to Walk, What Should I Do?
18 comments
Leave a CommentThis is great! We’re working on keeping our puppy quiet while he’s in the crate overnight. He does fine up until he gets let out at 4:30am and then he can’t settle back down! We have left bones in there and have tried to sleep next to the crate for some time with no success. Any suggestions?
Hi! One of my favorite ways to handle door greetings/guests is environmental management. For example, when someone is at the door I will put my pup in his crate or behind a baby gate with a long-lasting chew, or I have treats nearby to help promote and reward calm behaviors. By utilizing environmental management, we prevent our pups from practicing unwanted behaviors while focusing on teaching them a replacement behavior. You can begin teaching your pup that someone at the door is a cue for an alternate behavior, something that is not getting all excited! We have a blog post about how to teach calm door greetings, “Hyper & Excited Dog When You Come Home? Try This”. Even though this article talks about what to do when you get home, you can apply the same techniques when guests come over!
Hi Abby! How old is your puppy? Sometimes it just takes time. Is there a reason he gets let out at 4:30am? Does he need to use the bathroom? You could potentially try extending that time. It is also helpful to keep in mind that puppies are most active at sunrise and sunset so this is a time when they would be likely to have a burst of energy.