Woof woof, puppy parents! Can you believe your puppy is already 3 months old? Time sure flies when you're having fun (and trying to keep up with a wiggly, bitey pup). Don't worry, though – we're here to help you navigate this exciting (and sometimes exhausting) chapter of puppyhood.
This week's focus:
Learning to speak your puppy's language
Baby shark week is every week in a puppy household. Learn how to stop the nipping.
Training the "touch" cue
How to teach your puppy to use a doorbell or bells when they have to go potty, and more.
Is Doggie Daycare Right for Your Puppy?
Whether you work outside the home or just need a break from your little fur tornado, dog daycare can be a lifesaver (yours AND your pup's). But there are a few things to think about before signing up your puppy for daycare, from the vaccination requirements needed to keep them safe and proper management to ensure they learn good play and socialization habits.
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So, let us know what you're struggling with or if you have a question about a dog product or puppy milestone. Ask Us!
How to Speak Your Dog's Language
Communicating with a different species is quite a feat! Your puppy is learning how to read your body language and starting to understand what those different sounds you make mean. You can make it easier for your puppy by using clear, precise, and consistent communication techniques, like using a marker word and not repeating (that's one of the hardest human habits to break!).
Is your puppy getting extra nippy? That's pretty normal for this age, as teething usually starts between 3 to 4 months old. By 6 months old, all 42 of their adult teeth should be in and teething pain should subside.
As a puppy, it's hard for them to resist making everything a tug toy, and those sharp puppy teeth hurt when they decide to chomp on your hands and arms. And ankles! Why the ankles?
Pro tip: Interrupt and redirect
Don't get mad – calmly interrupt your puppy and give them an appropriate toy or chew to gnaw on instead. You may need to put them in their puppy playpen or crate to help them focus on not making you their chew toy instead.
An easy, fun, and useful trick to teach your pup is to boop their nose to your hand. You can use this as an alternative to "come" and it's a great foundational skill for loose leash walking!
Teach Your Pup How to Use a Doorbell or Potty Bells
One way to make potty training easier is to teach your puppy how to let you know they need to go outside to do their business. Training them to use doorbells is easier than you might think! It just requires creating a predictable pattern of how to get the door to open. At the link below, you'll see one of our office pups use his doorbell. He's now 3 years old and still uses it!
Tired of standing outside in the cold or dark, waiting for your puppy to go potty? The world can be a distracting place, so having a reminder cue for your pup can make potty breaks much faster.
Track your puppy's socialization with our free Pupstanding app. It's an easy way to ensure you're keeping up with needed socialization experiences during your puppy's critical socialization period.
Your puppy's digestive system is continuing to develop. Their intestinal tract processes food VERY quickly (and sometimes not completely). As puppies age, the rate at which food moves through the gastrointestinal tract starts to slow down. At the 12-week mark, most puppies are pooping about 4 times per day.
Your puppy is also starting to have better control over their bladders. They still have another month before their bladder is fully developed, so accidents can still happen.
If you need to change your dog's food, it's best to stick with the same protein (meat) that they were fed at the shelter or breeder. Avoid an upset puppy tummy by slowly changing their food over a week's time.
Make your puppy's well-being a priority by avoiding common safety hazards and training mistakes. Our 101Essential Tips book series comes in paperback and digital, and features bite-sized, easy-to-follow expert advice. Prevent problems before they happen.
Turn Blow Drying Your Hair Time into a Fun Socialization Game for Your Pup
Getting your puppy used to the sound of a blow dryer will make future bathing and grooming a breeze! Check out pup Finnegan practicing proactive exposure training with his mom's blow dryer. Note: Make sure to use the cool temperature setting when blowing on your pup and avoid blowing air directly at their face or ears.
Bones can be dangerous for puppies as well as adult dogs. Believe it or not, they are just too hard for their teeth and can easily break them. It happens often. Bone splinters can also cause a choking hazard and intestinal trauma, as well as gastrointestinal issues.
Puppies are curious and will attempt to sample things in their new world. Like many things, slug bait is highly toxic to dogs and, if left untreated, can have fatal consequences. A very small amount, less than 1 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight, is all it takes to cause toxic effects. The video below is hard to watch, but it demonstrates how hard veterinary teams work to save our pets when they're in distress.
We've reviewed products for safety, efficacy, and durability. What we recommend is veterinary and behavior-approved.
Cover for the Crate for Better Sleep
Using a crate cover can make it easier for your puppy to relax and fall asleep, and even encourage sleeping longer in the mornings. Choose the correct crate cover size and style to reduce the risk of your puppy pulling it through and chewing or eating it.
A top pick by many dog trainers for mental enrichment during mealtime is the West Paw Toppl. With a large opening to prevent frustration and being able to use it for wet "stuffed" food or dry kibble (just screw two different sizes together), this is a great interactive feeder option for puppies to start with.
If your puppy's crate is large because they'll eventually be a large dog, it will help with their potty training to block off a portion of that crate space. That way they don't learn they can potty in one corner and sleep in the other. It's easy to make your own crate divider, if your crate didn't come with one.
In the photo below, a box and metal divider are used. The full-sized crate bed is folded up for extra padding.
