So, your adorable little bundle of fur has just chewed up your favorite pair of shoes or left you a “surprise” on your living room carpet. We’ve all been there! Puppy parenthood can be exhausting, especially when it comes to dealing with bad behavior. As someone who’s raised three rambunctious puppies (and survived to tell the tale), I know firsthand how challenging it can be to discipline a puppy effectively.
In this guide I’ll share everything you need to know about puppy discipline – from what works to what absolutely doesn’t. Remember the goal isn’t to punish your pup but to guide them toward becoming a well-behaved adult dog!
Understanding Puppy Behavior First
Before we jump into discipline techniques it’s important to understand why puppies misbehave in the first place
Remember, your puppy isn’t being “bad” on purpose – they’re just being a puppy! With this understanding, let’s look at the right approaches to discipline.
Effective Ways to Discipline Your Puppy
1. Positive Reinforcement
The most effective way to train a puppy is through positive reinforcement. This means rewarding good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior.
- Give treats, praise, or affection when your puppy does something right
- Use high-value treats for training sessions (something your puppy really loves!)
- Be consistent with rewards to reinforce desired behaviors
- Timing matters – reward immediately after the good behavior
For example, if your puppy sits quietly while visitors arrive instead of jumping up, immediately praise them and offer a treat. They’ll soon learn that sitting calmly earns rewards!
2. Redirecting Unwanted Behavior
When you catch your puppy in the act of misbehaving, redirection is key:
- Try distracting your pup with a toy, your attention, or a dog chew
- If you’re out on a walk, try pulling the lead and walking in another direction
- Cease interaction if the behavior continues
- If your pooch is being naughty (perhaps biting or jumping at you), firmly say ‘no’ or ‘ouch’ and then withdraw attention from them
For instance, if your puppy starts chewing on furniture, don’t just scold them – replace the furniture with an appropriate chew toy and praise them when they chew on it instead.
3. Ignoring Bad Behavior (When Appropriate)
For attention-seeking behaviors like barking or jumping up, ignoring can be effective:
- Turn your back or leave the room when your puppy jumps up
- Don’t make eye contact, speak to, or touch your puppy when they’re misbehaving
- Wait until they calm down before giving attention
- Be patient – it might get worse before it gets better!
4. Time-outs
Time-outs can be effective for puppies who need a moment to reset:
- Remove your puppy from whatever is causing the behavior
- Place them in a designated quiet area for 10-30 seconds
- Keep time-outs brief – puppies have short attention spans
- Return your puppy to normal activities once they’ve calmed down
A laundry room or puppy-proofed bathroom works well for time-outs. Just make sure it’s not the same place where you keep their crate, as you don’t want them to associate their safe space with punishment.
5. Consistency and Routine
Puppies thrive on routine and clear boundaries:
- Create a consistent daily schedule for meals, walks, play, and training
- Ensure all family members enforce the same rules
- Use the same commands and cues every time
- Be patient – training takes time and repetition!
What NOT To Do When Disciplining Your Puppy
Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what NOT to do:
1. Never Use Physical Punishment
Physical punishment is harmful and counterproductive:
- Never hit, kick, or physically harm your puppy
- Avoid harsh collar corrections or aggressive handling
- Don’t use intimidation tactics like staring down or growling
- Physical punishment leads to fear and aggression, not obedience
2. Avoid Yelling or Scaring Your Puppy
Loud, angry reactions don’t teach your puppy what to do instead:
- Avoid screaming or yelling at your puppy
- Don’t use fear-based training techniques
- Skip punishment devices like shock collars
- Remember that a scared puppy isn’t learning – they’re just afraid
3. Don’t Punish After the Fact
Puppies can’t connect delayed punishment with past behavior:
- Never discipline for something that happened hours ago
- If you didn’t catch them in the act, it’s too late for correction
- That “guilty look” isn’t guilt – it’s a response to your angry tone
- Focus on preventing future incidents instead
Addressing Specific Puppy Behavior Problems
How to Stop Puppy Biting and Nipping
Puppy biting is normal but needs to be redirected:
- Say “ouch” in a high-pitched voice when your puppy bites
- Cease interaction immediately after a bite
- Offer an appropriate chew toy instead
- Praise gentle play and appropriate chewing
Housetraining Accidents
Accidents happen during housetraining:
- Take your puppy out frequently (every 1-2 hours)
- After meals, naps, and play sessions
- Clean accidents thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner
- Never rub your puppy’s nose in accidents
- Reward successful outdoor elimination with treats and praise
Excessive Barking
For problem barkers:
- Identify the trigger for barking (boredom, fear, etc.)
- Address the underlying cause
- Teach a “quiet” command using treats
- Ignore attention-seeking barking
- Reward quiet behavior
Creating a Positive Training Environment
The environment you create has a huge impact on your puppy’s behavior:
- Mental stimulation: Provide puzzle toys and training games
- Physical exercise: Ensure your puppy gets enough activity for their breed and age
- Socialization: Expose your puppy to different people, animals, and environments
- Safe space: Give your puppy a crate or quiet area to retreat to when overwhelmed
Using Crate Training as a Discipline Tool
Crate training can be an effective part of your discipline strategy:
- The crate should be a positive, safe space – never a punishment
- Use the crate for naptime, bedtime, and brief periods when you can’t supervise
- Make the crate comfortable with bedding and safe toys
- Never leave your puppy crated for too long (no more than 1 hour per month of age)
A properly crate-trained puppy will view their crate as a den – a safe place to rest and relax.
When to Seek Professional Help
Sometimes, you might need extra support with puppy discipline:
- Persistent aggression or fear-based behaviors
- Difficulty with basic training despite consistent efforts
- Behaviors that put your puppy or others at risk
- Signs of anxiety or possible behavioral disorders
Don’t hesitate to consult with a professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist if you’re struggling!
FAQs About Puppy Discipline
Q: How long does it take to discipline a puppy?
A: Training is an ongoing process that continues throughout your dog’s life, but most puppies show significant improvement within 2-3 months of consistent training.
Q: Is it ever too late to start disciplining my puppy?
A: No! While it’s easier to start when they’re young, dogs of any age can learn new behaviors with patience and consistency.
Q: What if my puppy seems scared when I try to discipline them?
A: If your puppy seems fearful, your approach may be too harsh. Focus on positive reinforcement and consult a professional trainer for guidance.
Q: Should I use a spray bottle to discipline my puppy?
A: Spray bottles can create fear and anxiety. It’s better to use positive reinforcement and redirection instead.
Conclusion: Patience is Key!
Disciplining a puppy takes time, consistency, and a whole lot of patience. Remember, your goal isn’t to punish bad behavior but to guide your puppy toward making good choices. By focusing on positive reinforcement, clear boundaries, and appropriate redirection, you’ll help your puppy grow into a well-behaved adult dog.
The journey might be challenging at times (and may involve a few chewed shoes along the way), but the bond you’ll develop with your well-trained dog will be worth every moment of effort.
Have you tried any of these techniques with your puppy? What worked best for you? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Remember, every puppy is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. Be flexible in your approach and always prioritize your puppy’s well-being and emotional health.
How can I prevent problems?
Supervise the puppy at all times that it is not confined to ensure that the puppy does not get itself into mischief, or cause damage to itself or the home. Of primary importance is that keeping the puppy engaged in desirable behaviors (chew toys, feeding toys, stuffed toy, training exercises) and tiring it out sufficiently so that it rests or sleeps, then undesirable behaviors are effectively prevented. Leaving a remote leash attached is all that is usually needed to prevent or interrupt inappropriate behavior such as garbage raiding, chewing on household items, house-soiling, or wandering off into rooms or areas that are out of bounds. If the leash is attached to a head halter you can quickly correct other problems that might arise, such as nipping, play biting, and jumping up. When the puppy cannot be supervised, confinement (discussed above) will be necessary. See handout “House Training Your Puppy”, for guidance in training your puppy to eliminate in the proper location.
How do I prevent my puppy from doing damage or getting into mischief?
The first step is to establish a daily routine that answers all your puppys needs such as walks and exercise, social bonding, play and training, feeding, and sleeping (see handout “Using Enrichment, Predictability, and Scheduling to Train your Dog”). The rule of thumb for dog training is set the dog up for success. Supervise the puppy at all times until it has learned what it is allowed to chew, and where it is supposed to eliminate. Keeping the puppy on a 10-foot lightweight leash is an excellent way to keep it in sight, and to train it not to wander off. This is particularly helpful with a highly investigative puppy or for a very busy household.
At any time that the puppy cannot be supervised, such as during the night or when you need to go out, house it in a secure area. An escape-proof crate, a dog run, or a collapsible pen is simple, highly effective, and most important, safe (see handouts “Crate Training Your Dog – An Overview”; “How to Crate Train Your Dog”; and “Reasons to Crate Train Your Dog”). The puppy could also be confined to a room that has been carefully dog-proofed. When selecting your dogs confinement area it is useful to consider a number of factors. The dog will adapt fastest to the new area if it is associated with rewards. Have the puppy enter the area for all its treats, toys, and perhaps food and water. The area should have some warm, dry, comfortable bedding, and avoid placing the puppy in the area when you are angry or reprimanding the puppy (although it can, and should, be used to prevent problems). Housing the puppy in isolated areas where there is minimal human contact, such as in a laundry room or basement, should be avoided. In fact, often the best area is a kitchen (so that this can also be the dogs feeding area) or a bedroom (so that it becomes the dogs sleeping area). Each time the puppy needs to be confined, it should first be well-exercised and given an opportunity to eliminate. Another consideration in selecting the type of confinement area is how long you may need to leave the dog alone. You must provide an area for elimination anytime the puppy will be left alone for longer than it can control its elimination. A room or collapsible pen with a paper-covered area would be needed if the puppy is being left alone for prolonged periods. A cage or crate could be used for owners that do not have to leave their puppies confined for longer than two or three hours (for instructions on crate training your puppy, see handout “How to Crate Train Your Dog”).