Puppy Shenanigans: 4 Behaviors You Didn’t See Coming (And How to Handle Them!)
When you first bring your pup home, everything feels absolutely perfect. Those tiny paws, the soft snuggles, and those adorable little tail wags—it’s the start of a beautiful new chapter.
At least… until it isn’t.
One minute, you’re settling onto the couch for a calm evening, and the next, your living room has turned into a race track for zoomies. Those cute baby teeth? Suddenly they’re shark fangs nipping at your toes. And those precious paws? Now, they’re busy turning your flower beds into their personal excavation site.
Most of the time, these puppy antics are all part of the fun. But other times, you’ll want to be armed with ways to redirect the behaviors and create some calm in your home.
Let’s get into the top 4 puppy shenanigans you’re likely to experience, and how to keep them cute without overwhelming your life!
1. Nipping at Toes—Ouch!
Pups LOVE feet. What may be stinky and gross to you is a treasure trove of smells for them. Plus, they move around all day… a perfect target for chasing practice!
But their toe obsession is only cute until they start nipping at your feet. Tripping over them all day doesn’t help either!
So how can you get your pup to be less intrigued by your feet?
Practice sitting around the house in bare feet, and let your pup sniff.
Then, as soon as their attention switches elsewhere, reward them with a treat.
Next, start upping the temptation with movement, and then walking, always giving your pup a treat when they look away from your toes.
Your pup will start to learn that you like it when they DON’T lick and nip your feet, and they’ll change their behavior to make you happy!
2. Chewing on Furniture
Pups can go through a serious teething phase. It’s hard not to take it personally, but I promise they aren’t trying to ruin your new couch. Their teeth just hurt—and gnawing on anything hard helps!
The best thing you can do is give your pup things they can chew.
But stay away from those dental chews (hello stinky farts!).
We like to opt for bully sticks, raw bones, and chew toys with different textures instead.
But what if your pup doesn’t let up on the chewing, even with alternatives?
Time to get proactive. Keep your pup in a crate or playpen when you can’t supervise so they can’t be sneaky and chew when you’re folding laundry.
3. Zoomies Right Before Bed
If your Instagram feed is anything like mine, you know “the zoomies” are just about one of the cutest darn things your pup can do.
(If you aren’t familiar, zoomies are when your pup starts running around faster than their legs can carry them, looking like the happiest little pup alive.)
But when they start zooming at 11 p.m.… right when you’re about to find out who wins the season finale of Alone… all you’ll want to do is scream, “Go to bed!!”
You have three lines of defense to guard your sacred evening quiet time:
Routines. Believe it or not, most of the time night zoomies happen because your pup is overtired and doesn’t know what to do with themselves. Having a routine with a clear bedtime, plenty of scheduled naps, and dinner well before bedtime will help keep the midnight zoomies at bay.
Training. Another way to help your dog when they’re tired? Teach them an alternative behavior. The “Sit on the Dog” exercise is the best (and easiest!) way to help your pup find their off switch. This blog post goes into how to help your pup find their inner calm and choose relaxation over zoomies when they get sleepy.
Exercise during the day. Sometimes the zoomies simply mean your pup didn’t get all their wiggles out during the day. Make sure you exercise their body and mind with training, playtime, and puppy enrichment toys throughout the day!
4. Digging Up Your Yard
You can’t really blame pups for wanting to dig… it’s fun! But it’s not so fun for you when they’re destroying your yard.
Instead of spending time trying to train your dog not to dig, try giving them a designated spot. You can fill a kiddie pool with water or sand or even give your pup their very own sandbox!
Not all pups have a strong urge to dig, but if yours does, it’ll make everyone happier if you can give them a safe (and contained) spot to dig.
In conclusion…
Puppyhood is filled with surprises—some sweet, some a little chaotic—but with the right approach, you can handle every bit of it.
These puppy shenanigans might catch you off guard, but with a little patience and some positive reinforcement, your pup will learn the ropes in no time.
Remember, every challenge is just an opportunity to bond with your puppy and guide them as they grow into the perfect companion. You’ve got this!
