Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!!!
Many people get a new puppy for Christmas and with that new puppy come questions: “Is it normal for my puppy to ______________?
Just fill in the blank with anything from chewing, digging, whining, barking, and much more. To help answer that question, I’m going to list some “normal” puppy behaviors as well as behaviors that would be classified as “abnormal.”

Normal Puppy Behavior
Mouthing or chewing
Cautious but curious, removing objects from cabinets, trash, closets
Being active and energetic, “talking” or vocalizing during play
Avoiding direct eye contact except briefly
Easily distracted, short attention span
Wants to play with everything and anything
Pawing, batting at or pouncing on toys or people
Barking, whining and mild crying
Rolling over on back
Jumping up on people
Wants to be near you, following you, touching you while resting
Chewing on whatever is in sight, furniture, clothes, books & more
Sleep patterns: may be frequent, at odd times & may twitch during sleep
Rolling in smelly objects, such as rabbit droppings
Having to urinate every time he drinks, wakes up, plays or goes outside

Abnormal Puppy Behavior
Serious biting, snapping or attempting to bite people (and other pets)
Growling and/or serious aggression (not while playing)
Overly shy or fearful, may hide in corner, under furniture or in crate
Maintaining eye contact in an intimidating manner
Unable to concentrate or focus attention, even very briefly
Overly possessive of food, toys or bed
Attacking people or pets in a non-playful or threatening manner
Cowering and cringing
“Clingyness” – afraid to let owner out of sight

If your new puppy exhibits behaviors that concern you, call a professional trainer in your area for some advice. If you don’t know a trainer, please feel free to call to call or email me anytime with your questions.