When your pup is around 5-6 month old, then you have probably witnessed what we call “The puppy craze!” Your precious little pup will be calm and sleepy one minute, and will suddenly flip a switch to level insanity. Your pup will run around the living room in circles, bounce up and down on furniture and act more or less like a wacko for a good 5 minutes. Don’t sweat it, your pup is not possessed. The puppy craze is normal and healthy. It provides a quick energy release as a response to all of the puppy energy that is bottled up inside. But that little burst of excitement doesn’t constitute the day’s exercise. By 6 months, you should be taking your pup on long walks, running in the park or playing fetch at least once every day. As your baby grows up into adolescence, it is extremely crucial to provide exercise and stimulation on a daily basis. Behavioral problems such as chewing, digging and barking often begin to occur at this age (roughly 6-10 months) and the most effective way to stem these negative behaviors is by providing adequate physical and mental stimulation. If you don’t have time to take your pup to the park or on long walks, consider enrolling in puppy day care so he can get that energy released while you are working. Remember, a tired pup is a good pup!
Mental Stimulation is Key:
Keeping your puppy mentally stimulated will also cut down on problem behaviors. Stick to a daily training regimen and try to buy challenging/interactive toys for your pup to play with.
4 ways to keep your puppy occupied and out of trouble:
- Exercise: And lots of it! A tired pup is a good pup. It’s that simple.
- Interactive toys: Dogs are problem solvers and interactive play toys will help curb bad behavior.
- Explore new settings: Now that your pup has all of his puppy vaccinations, make sure to visit new neighborhoods and dog parks.
- Training: Keep up the routine. Carve out 15 minutes a day to work on new commands and puppy training basics.
Bringing a new family addition into the home is extremely exciting! Becoming a new puppy parent comes with a ton of new joys, challenges and responsibilities. PupBox was created to help new puppy parents like yourself, by providing all of the toys, treats, accessories and training information you need, when you need it. CLICK HERE to learn more about PupBox.
And remember, puppyhood is fast and is gone before you know it. Make sure to savor the time when your pup is young, and take lots of pictures along the way!
