Why Does My Puppy Do That?!: Common Puppy Behaviour Problems Answered!

By Hannah Burton

Having a new puppy is an exciting and highly anticipated time. However, sometimes it can feel like your puppy is trying to communicate with you in a completely foreign language, leaving you tearing your hair out trying to understand what on earth is going on!

Though it can be difficult to understand your puppy at times, taking a step back and thinking about the motivation behind their behaviour can help you become a more understanding and sympathetic guardian. We have compiled a list of some of the most common puppy behaviour questions we receive from guardians, alongside some of the most common reasons these behaviours occur.

Before reading this article, it is important to remember that while we have listed the motivations we see most often, these are not the only reasons these behaviours can occur. If you are struggling with any behaviour on this list, or any other puppy behaviour problems, working with a qualified reward-based trainer or behaviour professional can help you better understand your individual puppy.

A note on punishment

Remember how I said that it can feel like your puppy is trying to communicate with you in a foreign language?

Unfortunately for your puppy, this goes both ways.

This is one of many reasons we do not advise punishing puppies for displaying normal puppy behaviours.

Punishment can often feel confusing, frightening or unpredictable to a young dog, and may simply teach them to avoid performing behaviours in front of you rather than helping them truly learn.

Instead, we should focus on teaching and reinforcing the behaviours we do want to see, whilst helping puppies navigate the world in a safe and positive way.

Why does my puppy…

…bark so much?

Unfortunately, there are many different reasons puppies bark, so this can be a tricky question to answer. If your puppy is barking regularly, one of the best things you can do is look at what triggers the barking and what happens afterwards.

For example, imagine your puppy Fido starts barking every time the doorbell rings. The barking continues until the person either enters the house or leaves the doorway, after which Fido greets them with friendly and excited body language.

In this situation, it may be reasonable to suggest that Fido has learned that the doorbell predicts visitors and becomes excited as a result. However, even within this example, the underlying emotion could still be very different. If Fido instead showed nervous or uncomfortable body language around visitors, the barking may be linked to worry or uncertainty rather than excitement, which would require an entirely different approach.

If your puppy is barking, one of the most useful things you can do is teach them an alternative behaviour instead. In our example above, you might teach Fido that the sound of the doorbell means “go and find your toy” or “go to your bed”.

Over time, Fido begins to focus on the alternative behaviour instead, helping to reduce the barking while also giving him something appropriate to do.

…bite my hands and feet?

Like barking, understanding why puppies nip and bite often requires us to look at the bigger picture first.

For puppies, nipping and biting behaviour is completely normal. Puppies begin playing with their littermates from a very young age and spend weeks roughhousing and interacting using their mouths before they ever come home to us. In your puppy’s eyes, nipping and biting is perfectly normal social behaviour — it is how they have learned to interact with the world around them.

Many guardians are also surprised to learn that puppies often become significantly mouthier when they are overtired or overstimulated, rather than under-exercised. This is why rest and sleep are such an important part of puppy development.

Instead of focusing on stopping the behaviour through punishment, try teaching your puppy what you would like them to do instead. Encourage them to play with appropriate toys, especially longer toys that keep hands safely away from sharp puppy teeth, and provide plenty of suitable chews.

Having regular rest periods is also incredibly important. Many puppies struggle to switch off independently, so creating a calm rest space such as a crate, puppy pen or puppy-proofed room can really help. Physical barriers such as baby gates can also help prevent rehearsal of unwanted biting behaviour when puppies are overtired.

I have previously written a blog post discussing the dos and don’ts of puppy nipping and biting in more detail. If you would like further guidance, please click here.

…jump up all the time?

It is very normal for puppies to jump up at people. When you first bring your puppy home, you are essentially a

giant towering human to them! Puppies naturally want to be close to our faces because this is where a huge amount of social and communicative information comes from.

Equally, if your puppy jumps up when greeting you, they are often simply excited to see you.

Teaching four paws on the floor can be one of the more challenging parts of puppy training, but it is absolutely worthwhile in the long term. What feels cute with an eight-week-old puppy may feel very different once they are a large adult dog!

It is also important not to punish jumping up using outdated methods such as kneeing dogs in the chest or using rattle cans. Techniques like this can create conflict or uncertainty around approaching people and may negatively impact future training, including recall and confidence around humans.

…dig up my garden or furniture?

Digging is an incredibly natural behaviour for many dogs. For some breeds, such as Dachshunds, Beagles and Jack Russell Terriers, digging behaviours can be particularly instinctive due to their historical breeding purpose.

Though digging behaviour has not been extensively studied in dogs specifically, it is thought to be naturally rewarding and stress-relieving for many dogs.

If your puppy enjoys digging, it can help to provide them with a more appropriate outlet for the behaviour. If you have outdoor space available, a designated digging area or sandpit can work brilliantly. Hiding toys, treats or chews in the sand can help encourage your puppy to use it.

If you catch your puppy digging somewhere inappropriate, calmly redirecting them onto their digging area is often much more effective than punishment.

For those without gardens, indoor alternatives can work too. Ball pits, cardboard boxes filled with paper, or enrichment boxes with hidden treats can all provide safe digging-style outlets.

…play tug with their lead?

Sometimes puppies seem determined to do the exact thing that drives us mad — and lead tugging is often one of those behaviours!

Even if you think you are telling your puppy off by saying “stop!” and pulling back on the lead, this can actually become part of the game from your puppy’s perspective and make the behaviour even more exciting.

One of the first steps is to make the game boring. Holding the lead still and calmly waiting for your puppy to let go can help reduce reinforcement for the behaviour.

If your puppy already knows a “drop” cue, you can use this too, though ideally sparingly so they do not learn a behaviour chain of “grab lead → drop lead → earn reward”.

It is also important to think about why your puppy may be tugging the lead in the first place. Some puppies simply enjoy the game, whilst others may chew or tug because they feel frustrated, overstimulated or worried.

Providing alternative outlets can help significantly. Bringing along a tug toy for appropriate games, or offering something appropriate to carry or chew during walks, can help redirect the behaviour more successfully.

…pick things up off the street?

Dogs are natural scavengers, and puppies explore the world in much the same way toddlers do — by putting things in their mouths!

Many puppy guardians find that early walks involve constantly swapping leaves, tissues, cigarette butts and mystery objects out of tiny puppy mouths.

As puppies mature, this often improves naturally. However, highly reinforcing items such as food remains or chicken bones can still be incredibly tempting due to those strong scavenging instincts.

Teaching strong “leave” and “drop” cues can be very helpful, alongside rewarding your puppy generously for disengaging from items voluntarily.

Importantly, avoid forcibly removing items from your puppy’s mouth where possible. Repeatedly grabbing items away can increase frustration, conflict, or even contribute to resource guarding behaviours developing over time. Instead, calmly trading for something more valuable is often the safest and most effective approach.

I have previously written blog posts discussing what to do if your dog continually picks things up off the street and why swapping is preferable to forcibly removing items. If you are interested in reading further, please click here.

…never seem to get tired?!

It is incredibly common for puppy guardians to feel like their puppy has endless energy!

However, puppies who struggle to settle are not always under-exercised. In fact, many puppies are actually overtired or overstimulated.

Firstly, it is important to look at your puppy’s overall routine and lifestyle. Puppies need appropriate sleep, downtime and opportunities to decompress just as much as they need exercise and training.

Nutrition may also play a role for some dogs, particularly if a diet does not suit them well individually. If you have concerns about your puppy’s diet or energy levels, speaking with your vet or a suitably qualified professional can help.

It is equally important to avoid the temptation to “run your puppy tired”. Repetitive ball throwing can significantly increase adrenaline and arousal levels, often resulting in puppies appearing even more hyperactive afterwards. Additionally, repetitive high-impact exercise may place unnecessary strain on developing joints.

Instead, aim for a balance of physical exercise, enrichment and mental stimulation. Long, sniffy walks can be incredibly tiring for puppies because sniffing itself is mentally exhausting. Puzzle toys, enrichment activities and scent games can also help engage your puppy’s brain in calmer ways.

Creating a predictable daily routine can also help many puppies settle more effectively. Scheduled rest periods, quiet time and calm areas such as pens or relaxation spaces can encourage puppies to learn how to switch off.

…chew my furniture?

Coming home to find chewed furniture can understandably test anyone’s patience!

As discussed earlier, puppies naturally explore the world using their mouths. While this behaviour often improves with age, there are several common reasons puppies may continue chewing household items.

One of the most common reasons is teething. Teething can be uncomfortable and painful, and puppies will often seek out harder surfaces to help relieve discomfort, particularly during the later stages of teething.

Providing a variety of safe and appropriate chews can help significantly. Some puppies prefer harder chews, whilst others prefer softer or cooler textures. Freezeable toys, safe puppy chews, soft toys and enrichment items can all help redirect chewing behaviour appropriately.

Boredom, frustration or difficulty settling can also contribute to chewing behaviour. Ensuring your puppy has enough enrichment, rest and appropriate outlets for natural behaviours can help reduce unwanted chewing around the home.

All puppies are individuals, and behaviours can occur for many different reasons. If you are struggling with your puppy’s behaviour, working with a qualified positive reinforcement trainer or behaviour professional can help you better understand your puppy and create a training plan tailored to them.

If you would like support with your puppy’s training or behaviour, feel free to get in touch with Wanderdog.