Surviving The Puppy Stage
🐶 Surviving (and Thriving in) the Puppy Phase
Bringing home a puppy is exciting, but let’s be honest, it also feels like a full-time job. I can relate to just how tiring it is right now as we have Mav the 4 month old puppy foster with us at the moment! I may have taken a cheeky nap here and there when he's been napping too!
Between the nipping, constantly keeping my eyes on him for toilet training, sleepless nights, and the crazy energy bursts, it’s easy to wonder if you’re doing it right and if it will ever get any easier!
I promise you, every new puppy parent has those “What have I done?!” and "I can't do this" thoughts.
It's a good job they're cute right?
But the good news is with support and simple, realistic puppy training, you can raise a puppy who grows into a calm, confident, well-behaved dog. And you can actually enjoy the process too.
💡 Why Puppies Behave Like... Well...Puppies
Your puppy isn’t intentionally trying to be “naughty” and test you! They’re learning how to live in a human world, and that’s a big ask! They don't know anything yet!
Biting, jumping, barking, chewing, zoomies at witching hour are all normal puppy behaviours. The key is teaching them how we roll in this house, and setting up their environment so they can make good choices and not pee on the carpet, steal your socks, use your hair as a tug toy!
A few small adjustments can make a big difference:
Provide rest: Puppies need around 18–20 hours of sleep a day. Over-tired pups are more likely to bite and zoom. Use crates and pens to encourage them to sleep. Sometimes a forced nap is needed! (I mean I wish I was given a forced nap sometimes!)
Reward what you like: Notice calm moments, quiet moments, and gentle play and let your puppy know you love it! Give them that feedback through treats, gentles and praise.
Manage the environment: Baby gates, playpens, and long lines help prevent chaos before it starts. You can't create a bad habit if you never have the opportunity to learn how fun running away and being a terror is right?
Play everywhere: 2–3 minutes at a time of play and exposure sessions is all you need to show your puppy that you are worth being around.
You don’t need to entertain your puppy for hours each day or spend hours and hours each day puppy training. You need a plan and consistency. And that's exactly what we love to help you with!
Our foster Mav hasn't formally learnt anything yet other than YES means come and get a reward from me and the house routine. But I have successfully got his attention away from birds, other dogs and people just by using that YES marker. An excellent foundation for us to build some behaviours on now!
🧭 You won't get everything right
There’s no such thing as a “perfect puppy.” What matters most is building trust and a relationship from the start. You won't do everything perfectly and neither do I. So give yourself some grace to make mistakes and learn along the way.
When you focus on understanding why your puppy does something instead of just trying to stop it, everything changes. You’ll start to see training as teamwork, not micro managing every little move they make.
That teamwork is exactly what we focus on in my Puppy Class. Helping you and your puppy learn valuable skills in a fun, supportive environment.
🌿 Join the Next Puppy School in Kilbirnie, Wellington (Starting November 21!)
If you’ve got a puppy under 5 months old and want to:
✅ Feel confident handling the biting, jumping, and chaos
✅ Build focus and listening skills from the start
✅ Learn how to prevent future problem behaviours
✅ Set your pup up for a lifetime of adventures with you
…then you’ll love our Puppy Classes starting November 21 in Wellington.
You’ll get:
🐾 5 weeks of small-group training
🐾 Practical exercises for home and outdoors
🐾 Guidance from a professional trainer who’s been in your shoes and currently in your shoes!
🐾 A fun, relaxed environment where you can ask questions, get personalised feedback and practice some skills in a safe space.
👉 Our class is already half full so book your place now!
Book Your Puppy School Space By Filling In This Form Below →
💬 Final Thought
Every small training moment builds the foundation for the adult dog they’ll become. What foundations are you building with your puppy?
