There are many aspects to consider when raising a puppy, so we wanted to detail some of the most important elements, from the perspective of our founder, Lennox Armstrong, an International Dog Trainer School (IDTS) certified dog behavior specialist. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series, and in it we address these 3 puppy topics in Part 1: Social, Crates & Sleep.
Common Terms When Discussing Puppies
Nature and nurture: puppies are born with what they’re born with; the nurturing is up to us.
By definition, a puppy is up to four and a half months old. After that, a dog is a young dog.
Raising a Puppy: Social Needs
The first five months of a dog’s life is formative. The first fear phase lasts until a puppy is sixteen weeks.
Whether or not a parent is with a puppy during that time has a lasting impact. As puppies fall asleep, they are cognizant of whether or not a parent is with them. When they wake up, they are cognizant of whether or not a parent is with them. It’s the last thing on their mind when they fall asleep and first thing when they wake up. If a parent isn’t with them, they call out. When they do, a parent shows up.
Leaving a puppy home alone can cause trauma.
The youngest age a dog can be left home alone for any amount of time is 5 months. At 5 months, a dog might be able to be left home alone for a short period of time.
A daycare facility with puppy “playschool” for socialization and training, with a large number of puppies, is disconcerting for many reasons. Let your puppy be home with a parent, where they feel safe and secure. Think of it as maternity or paternity leave.
If you’re going to be unavailable to be with your puppy, provide your puppy with a parental figure. A parental figure can be a puppy sitter. A puppy sitter arrives before you leave and is with your puppy until you return.
Are Crates A Good Idea?
Crates are too small of a space for a dog to be closed in. Closing a dog in a crate has a negative and lasting impact on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Give your dog freedom to move.
A large enough pen or gated in a large enough area is ok as long as you are with your puppy.
At night, have your puppy in the bedroom with you. During the day, it’s best if you can remain in the pen or gated area with your puppy. If you step out of the pen or gated area while your puppy is sleeping is ok as long as you return when your puppy wakes up. Your puppy might fall back to sleep when you return. They sometimes just need to know they’re not alone. They might want some physical contact. If they don’t fall back to sleep, take them to the toilet.
When there’s a barrier between you and your puppy, it causes separation stress which can lead to issues such as Separation Anxiety. Be with your puppy as you would be for a baby.
A puppy sitter can be for when you are home and too busy to be the one with your puppy.
Don’t tether your puppy. Instead, pay attention when your puppy wakes up. They either fall back to sleep or they don’t. If not, take them to the toilet.
Raising a Puppy: Sleep Needs
Many people ask if there’s something wrong with their puppy because their puppy sleeps a lot. Twenty hours a day is the ballpark number of hours of sleep for puppies. When your puppy is nodding off, let your puppy sleep. They need sleep. Sleep is essential.
The quality of sleep will be best when a parent or parental figure is with the puppy when the puppy falls asleep, while the puppy is sleeping, and when the puppy wakes up. For the puppy to have the option for physical contact is ideal, being with the warmth of a person and the soothing sound of a rhythmic heart.
When they wake up they need someone’s attention.
Puppy sitters spend much of the time sitting with your puppy while your puppy sleeps, and a few minutes taking your puppy to the toilet when nature calls.
About the Author:
Lennox Armstrong is an International Dog Trainer School (IDTS) certified Dog Trainer, Calming Signals and Dog Behavior Specialist through the Nordic Education Centre for Ethical Dog Training. His primary professional focus is educating himself and others about how to take care of canines.
