What happened to that sleepy sweet animal that I picked up a couple of days ago?
Do not worry – you are not the only one that is thinking that right now. It takes anything from a couple of days to a month for your pup to settle in. That’s when you see the true colors of your new addition coming out. Remember, with age, the dog also goes through different phases. So you’ll need to learn how to adapt and communicate effectively with your dog.
No, you don’t need an exorcist.
So what do you need to do?
Physical stimulation
Most puppies do have a fair amount of energy to run out. It can get frustrating for the owner and pup, who often want to go in different directions, even more so when it’s on a short tight leash. For some pups, can be more effective to able to run out that puppy zoomies before embarking on a structured and focused walk.
Be constructive about it, run around with the intention of getting your puppy to chase/follow you. This sets the foundation for teaching your dog to follow your lead and pay attention to where you are going. Long training lines like our Follow My Lead leash, can be very fun for owners with young puppies.
Don’t be shy about asking for help
Life outside of your puppy can get quite hectic. It is totally acceptable to put up your hand to ask for help. Don’t be guilted into thinking that you need to do everything. There are awesome dog walkers and daycares that can bring some alternative fun and structure into your dog’s life. It really doesn’t hurt to teach your dog how to be handled by different people.
Pay attention to what your dog’s personality is like. If it is shy - following a calm, structured pack walk would be more beneficial than sending it to a doggy daycare that is boisterous and has dogs constantly playing and barking. If your dog is a social butterfly, look for a daycare that does allow supervised playtime (along with downtime, to ensure that the dogs also learn how to be calm around each other).
Rest time is also important for young pups. Dogs that are not put into their crate or pen to settle down during certain times in the day, tend to be overstimulated. This makes learning difficult for a young dog. Do not underestimate the power of proper rest – it gives the young padawan the ability to better focus.
Mental stimulation. Do not underestimate the power of making your dog focus and think! Short training sessions are useful to get your dog to learn how to work for things.
Make your dog earn its meals. Sniffing their food out, doggy puzzles, and kong toys are creative ways to make mealtime more interesting. Having good chews that your dogs are interested in is also a great way to give some mental stimulation and help through the teething phase. You will be surprised at how much brainpower is required for a young pup to figure out how to hold a weirdly shaped deer antler chew. The people at Happy Hounds have sourced a great collection of natural chews that can keep a pup entertained.
Building mini obstacle courses at home or getting things for your dog to balance on can be good for both mental and physical stimulation. The guys at Fido’s Pawpose have great ideas on creating fun activities that you can do to bond with your puppy in the comfort of your own home.
There are so many creative ideas on how to keep your dog mentally stimulated. Google is a great source of information!
So no, your dog isn’t possessed.
It just needs mental, physical stimulation to fulfill its doggy needs. And probably some chews to work through the teething phase.