12/19/2024
DID YOU GET A PUPPY FOR CHRISTMAS?
So You Got a Puppy for Christmas… Or You’re About To?
First off, congrats! Your house is now 50% fluff, 50% chaos, and 100% adorable. But let’s talk about what happens *after* the bows, wrapping paper, and squeaky toys settle.
Here’s a conversation we get all the time:
"Hey, I’m calling because I have questions about my puppy. My puppy barks at everything, jumps on people, and the biting—ugh the biting has to stop. Can you help me?!”
Yes, we can help you. But here’s the deal:
puppy behavior is like building a house—you want to get the foundation right, or the whole thing might fall apart later. Today, I’m giving you tips to start off strong, help you understand the puppy development process, and *hopefully* save your sanity (and your socks).
Neuroplasticity: The Golden Learning Window
Your puppy’s brain is most "neuroplastic" between 8 and 16 weeks of age. Neuro-what? Neuroplasticity is your puppy’s brain’s ability to learn, adapt, and form new connections faster than at any other point in their life. Think of it like wet cement—whatever you put in it now (good or bad) is going to leave a lasting impression.
This is the best time to teach them what’s normal, what’s scary, and how to behave. Want your puppy to be calm around strangers? Start now. Don’t want them barking at every leaf that blows by? Teach it now. If you wait until they’re older, the cement hardens, and it’s much harder to reshape those behaviors.
This is why early, structured training during this window is so important. Use this time wisely, and you’ll have a dog who grows up to be confident, obedient, and a joy to live with. Ignore it, and you might just be one sock short of losing your mind.
2. Bringing the Puppy Home
Find a reputable breeder.
Not someone who thought, "Hey, this could be fun!” A good breeder knows their dogs, health tests, and ensures solid temperaments.
Don’t bring a puppy home before 6 weeks old—preferably 8 to 10 weeks. Puppies learn critical life skills from their mom and littermates during this time. Taking them too early can cause developmental gaps you’ll be dealing with for months.
Have the basics ready: quality food, chew-safe toys, and a game plan for mental and physical stimulation. And here’s a big one: Start training within 2-3 days of bringing them home. I promise, waiting “a few weeks” only makes it harder.
3. Vaccines (Just Do It)*
Your puppy needs vaccines—by a licensed vet, not your cousin’s neighbor who bought a kit online. Home vaccines aren’t high enough quality, and you’ll end up paying more when the vet has to redo them. *Just vaccinate, and vaccinate on time.*
4. The Teething Phase (A.K.A. “Why Are You Chewing My Hand?!”)
Puppy teeth are *tiny daggers* that I’m convinced were forged in the underworld. Here’s the deal:
- Puppies start teething around 16 weeks and won’t finish until about 7 months.
- They lose their baby teeth between 16-22 weeks, but those roots are still forming and teeth are hardening.
How to Survive It:
✅ Make sure they have appropriate toys to chew on.
✅ Don’t let them chew on you and then *redirect* them to a toy. Otherwise, they’ll think, “Bite the human = I get a toy!” Instead, prevent it entirely by setting up controlled playtime with chew toys.
Fun fact:
I’ve trained dogs to bite people on command, so “bitey” doesn’t scare me. Yet my dogs don’t chew me or my stuff—because I always provide the right kind of mental and physical stimulation.
5. Spaying/Neutering (Timing is Everything)
Listen up, because this is a big one:
Stop “fixing” your dogs at 4, 5, or 6 months old. It’s too young.
Males: Wait until they’re sexually mature—around 1 year or when their testicles have fully descended.
Females: Ideally, wait until they’ve gone through two heat cycles, but at a bare minimum, one.
Why? Fixing them too early removes crucial hormones they need for proper growth, health, and temperament. Trust me—I see *over 1,500 dogs a year*, and I’d say 50-60% of temperament issues come from being spayed/neutered too young.
6. Obedience: Nothing in Life is Free
Teach your puppy early that everything good in life—food, toys, playtime, and even affection—must be earned through calm, obedient behavior. It’s called structure:
- Jumping? Nope. Sit first.
- Barking? Teach a quiet cue and reward calm behavior.
- Being wild? Make them “work” for attention, not demand it.
Dogs thrive on structure, and the earlier you teach it, the fewer problems you’ll have. Nothing in life is free—except oxygen. Everything else requires manners.
Conclusion (The Call You’ll Never Have to Make)
If you understand your puppy’s development process and start off right, you’ll never have to call me saying,
Russ, training is my last resort before I get rid of this flipping dog.**”
I get it—puppies can make you want to pull your hair out. But understanding how they grow, preparing for each stage, and preventing bad habits now will save you *dozens* of gray hairs down the road.
If you’re struggling or just want to get it right from the start, Maligator Kennels is here to help. Don’t wait for chaos to set in—call now, and let’s turn your puppy into the dog of your dreams.
