Are you dealing with “normal puppy behavior,” or early warning signs of a bigger problem?
Some of the most common puppy behaviors, like fear reactions, growling over a toy or food, and mouthiness, can look harmless. But the way they’re handled early can be the difference between a phase and a serious problem, like reactivity or resource guarding that escalates into a bite.
In this episode, I’m joined by multi-certified dog trainer Ruth Hegarty of Creature Good Dog Training to break down five puppy-raising mistakes you’ll want to catch early. This is not about perfection. It’s about awareness.
BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
• The early fear signs that can turn into adult reactivity
• Why letting mouthy behavior slide can create bigger problems later
• How to spot early resource guarding before it escalates
• The difference between playful chaos and reinforced hyper behavior
• Why waiting too long to socialize may backfire, even if you’re trying to keep your puppy safe
If you’ve been wondering whether something is “normal,” or whether you’re doing it right, this episode will help you zoom out and make smarter early decisions.
CONNECT WITH RUTH
Website | https://creaturegooddogtraining.com (Includes blog, resources, online Club)
Reactive Dog Owners Facebook Group
If this episode helped you, text it to a new puppy parent you know. Sometimes the best prevention is just getting the right information early.
I was a guest on the That’s Good Parenting podcast talking about how to bring a pet into a busy family without turning your house into chaos. Listen here: petparenthotline.com/thatsgoodparenting
Expert Pet Advice for busy pet parents!
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Pet care gets crazy when you're facing behavior issues, rising costs, and confusing pet advice. You need real pet parenting solutions, pet behavior help, and pet budgeting tips you can use every day.
Each week you'll hear pet parenting advice plus expert guidance on dog and cat behavior, dog training, nutrition, stress-free vet visits, and routines that make life easier. We'll help you manage puppy biting, cat aggression, separation anxiety and cat anxiety, emergency vet decisions, and show you how to stay ahead of issues that create stress for pets and their pet parents.
No fluff, no guilt, just practical pet care advice and pet cost hacks to save money, avoid pet parent guilt, and enjoy life with pets.
Follow to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying your pets again.
Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com
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