Myth: A puppy who is doing the zoomies or who will not stop biting is ‘naughty’.

Truth: An over-exhausted puppy is often angsty leading to more biting, barking and unwanted behaviour. An over-stimulated puppy can find it hard to settle down and can develop a habit of over-arousal if this happens too often.

It may seem excessive but young puppies (3 months and under) really do need between 18-20 hours of sleep while older puppies (up to 6 months) can usually get away with 16-18 hours. This may seem like A LOT of sleep but is necessary because a huge amount of energy is being used as all the new experiences are being processed.

Sleep is essential for building a life-style of calmness, confidence and connection.

A well-rested puppy is far less prone to excessive biting and barking. They are better able to regulate their emotions meaning over-stimulation or stress is less likely and they find it easier to settle when asked to. As they are content, they are less prone to unwanted behaviours such as chewing the furniture and are more responsive to you and to any training they have. All this leads to a positive situation where the humans also have fewer reasons for frustrations supporting the relationship.

Hopefully, by now you are convinced of the importance of building calm into your puppy’s life! This is done by providing your puppy with a safe, quiet place for them to rest. A good solution would be a crate or puppy pen where they can settle amongst their toys, blanket or whatever can provide them with comfort. It is a good idea to teach all the family to not disturb the puppy while they are in this place, so they learn that their expected response is to settle and rest. Initially, some training may be needed for them to associate this space with good things rather than isolation or being left out.

Following routines such as play or training followed by a toilet break which leads into something calming, such as gentle stroking, giving them a chew or something to lick in their crate before taking a nap is helpful and will support calmness and confidence in your puppy. Following routines also makes it easier to avoid over-stimulation or over-tiredness which can be stressful for everyone!

So, having a well-rested puppy is a great goal to work towards and may be an important key if you are struggling with your puppy.

If you need further help or tailored suggestion to help achieve this or handle any other issue you are having with your puppy, get in touch using the contact form.