Skenasdoodles Puppy Parenting 101

Young puppies need a great deal of sleep for healthy development.

Most puppies need between 18 and 20 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Some may sleep slightly more, especially at eight to twelve weeks of age.

Sleep supports brain development, learning, emotional stability, and physical growth.

An overtired puppy often looks like a badly b

Young puppies need a great deal of sleep for healthy development.

Most puppies need between 18 and 20 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Some may sleep slightly more, especially at eight to twelve weeks of age.

Sleep supports brain development, learning, emotional stability, and physical growth.

An overtired puppy often looks like a badly behaved puppy. They may become more mouthy. They may ignore cues. They may seem wild or unable to settle. They may have sudden bursts of frantic energy.

In many cases, they are not being difficult. They are simply exhausted.

It is important to build regular rest periods into your puppy’s day. After play, after training, and after exciting experiences, guide them to a calm space so they can sleep.

A well rested puppy learns better and copes better.

 Your puppy needs structure, sleep, consistency, and calm leadership.

They need to learn that you are predictable. They need to learn that you listen. They need to learn that they are safe with you.

Right now, they are not capable of making mature decisions. That responsibility sits with you.

When you guide them thoughtfully in these early m

 Your puppy needs structure, sleep, consistency, and calm leadership.

They need to learn that you are predictable. They need to learn that you listen. They need to learn that they are safe with you.

Right now, they are not capable of making mature decisions. That responsibility sits with you.

When you guide them thoughtfully in these early months, you are not just managing behaviour. You are building trust.

And trust is the foundation of a stable, confident adult dog.

Your puppy is a baby.

They are not old enough to make good decisions yet.

This is not a training failure. It is not stubbornness. It is not dominance. It is simply development.

A young puppy has an immature brain. They have very little impulse control. They do not yet know how to regulate their emotions. They rely on you to guide them, prote

Your puppy is a baby.

They are not old enough to make good decisions yet.

This is not a training failure. It is not stubbornness. It is not dominance. It is simply development.

A young puppy has an immature brain. They have very little impulse control. They do not yet know how to regulate their emotions. They rely on you to guide them, protect them, and help them feel safe.

Right now, your role is not just trainer. You are their teacher, their regulator, and their safe place.

 Puppies often find doing nothing very difficult because everything around them feels new and exciting. 

That is why small calm spaces are so important during training. When a puppy is in a smaller area there are fewer choices and fewer distractions, which helps them slow down and relax. This gives them the chance to practise settling, l

 Puppies often find doing nothing very difficult because everything around them feels new and exciting. 

That is why small calm spaces are so important during training. When a puppy is in a smaller area there are fewer choices and fewer distractions, which helps them slow down and relax. This gives them the chance to practise settling, learn how to unwind and begin regulating themselves. 


Over time puppies start to understand that it is okay to simply rest and be calm. 🐾

Train your puppy in short sessions rather than long ones. Instead of training for thirty minutes or an hour, aim for three or four sessions during the day that last about three to five minutes each. 

Puppies have short attention spans and learn better with quick, positive practice. 

Always set your puppy up to succeed and try to finish each

Train your puppy in short sessions rather than long ones. Instead of training for thirty minutes or an hour, aim for three or four sessions during the day that last about three to five minutes each. 

Puppies have short attention spans and learn better with quick, positive practice. 

Always set your puppy up to succeed and try to finish each session on a positive note. 

A great time to train is just before a meal when your puppy is a little hungry and more motivated to work for a tasty treat. 

 Those of you with puppies around 4-7 months

You may notice your previously confident puppy suddenly becoming hesitant or reactive.

They might:

🐾 Bark at the postman that they used to ignore

🐾 Pause at familiar doorways

🐾 Avoid people they happily greeted last week

This is the second fear period - a completely normal developmental stage wher

 Those of you with puppies around 4-7 months

You may notice your previously confident puppy suddenly becoming hesitant or reactive.

They might:

🐾 Bark at the postman that they used to ignore

🐾 Pause at familiar doorways

🐾 Avoid people they happily greeted last week

This is the second fear period - a completely normal developmental stage where puppies start making longer-term decisions about what feels safe in their world.

What to do:

✔ Let them observe from a distance rather than forcing interaction

✔ Don’t push them toward something they’re unsure about to “prove they’re fine”

✔ Keep their routine predictable - this isn’t the time for big new experiences

✔ If possible, avoid scheduling grooming or vet visits during obvious fear spikes

✔ Stay calm and matter-of-fact - reward relaxed curiosity, not worried reactions

This phase usually lasts 2–3 weeks.

Even well-socialised puppies go through this. The difference is simply that they recover more quickly.

Also remember this often overlaps with teething discomfort. Physical discomfort lowers their tolerance, so you may see more irritability during this window.

Your job isn’t to force confidence.

It’s to prevent bad experiences while their brain is going through this stage.

It will pass 🐾♥️

Small breed puppies may be tiny, but their feelings and personalities are just as important as those of larger dogs. Because of their size, they can be more easily startled, physically vulnerable, and sometimes more vocal in how they communicate. Starting correctly from the beginning is key to building trust and preventing behaviour probl

Small breed puppies may be tiny, but their feelings and personalities are just as important as those of larger dogs. Because of their size, they can be more easily startled, physically vulnerable, and sometimes more vocal in how they communicate. Starting correctly from the beginning is key to building trust and preventing behaviour problems later on.

Do Approach Calmly and Thoughtfully:

Small puppies can feel intimidated if a hand suddenly comes down over the top of their head. In canine communication, movement from above can appear threatening.

Instead

🐾 Approach where they can clearly see you

🐾 Stroke their chest or under their chin rather than reaching straight for the top of their head

🐾Move slowly and calmly

This helps your puppy feel safe and secure rather than anxious.

Do Not Reach Over Their Head Without Warning:

Reaching across the top of any puppy’s head when they are unaware can startle them. Even a gentle puppy may react defensively if caught by surprise. This may result in flinching, backing away, or growling, not because they are aggressive, but because they feel uncertain.

Do Make Them Aware Before Picking Them Up:

Small breed dogs are picked up far more often than larger breeds, so it is important that this is handled correctly.

Before lifting your puppy:

🐾 Say their name gently

🐾 Ensure they can see you

🐾 Place your hands securely and calmly beneath them

If a puppy is suddenly lifted without warning, they may respond with fear or defensiveness. Consistent and gentle handling teaches them that being picked up is safe and pleasant.

NEVER Punish a Growl:

Small dogs can be more vocal in expressing themselves. A growl is always communication. It is not bad behaviour in itself.

If you speak to your puppy and they give a small growl when you go to pick them up, it does not automatically mean aggression. 

Often it simply means:

🐾 I am unsure

🐾 That surprised me

🐾 Give me a moment

If you know the interaction is positive and safe, calmly continue and offer reassurance. This helps your puppy learn that the situation is comfortable and trustworthy.

The way in which you respond to your puppy concretes their learning, stay calm and offer reassurance ♥️

Punishing a growl can create much bigger issues. It may teach your puppy to suppress their warning signal, which can result in snapping without the vocal warning in the future.

Final thoughts: 

Small breed puppies learn quickly when they can trust their environment. Every interaction shapes their understanding of the world.

Focus on

🐾 Calm and confident handling

🐾 Predictable routines

🐾 Gentle physical contact

🐾 Positive reinforcement

🐾 Respecting their communication signals

When trust is built early, puppies are far less likely to develop ongoing issues with fear, growling, or reactive behaviour.

Owning a small breed puppy brings great joy, but it also requires awareness and sensitivity. Because they are smaller, the world can feel much bigger to them. By being mindful of how you approach, touch, and handle them, you create the foundation for a secure and confident companion.

♥️ Start gently ♥️ Build trust early ♥️ Listen to what they are telling you ♥️

That is how you raise a small dog with balanced behaviour and a trusting nature👌🐾

 Many puppies that walked calmly past dogs at four months start barking or lunging around seven to nine months.

This is a normal part of adolescence.

Your puppy is not being stubborn and your training did not fail.

Their brain is still developing.

🧠 What Is Happening in the Brain

During adolescence impulse control temporarily drops.

Your puppy

 Many puppies that walked calmly past dogs at four months start barking or lunging around seven to nine months.

This is a normal part of adolescence.

Your puppy is not being stubborn and your training did not fail.

Their brain is still developing.

🧠 What Is Happening in the Brain

During adolescence impulse control temporarily drops.

Your puppy now struggles to do two things at once:

🐾 Walk forward and Process exciting things in the environment

🐾 When they see another dog the brain becomes overloaded and reactions can happen.

🐾 This is when barking, lunging, or freezing appears.

🐕 Why the Lead Can Make It Worse

Dogs naturally want to make choices.

When they see another dog they may want to approach or move away.

On lead those choices disappear.

That trapped feeling adds frustration on top of excitement and can trigger reactive behavior.

Off lead the same dog might walk past calmly because they still have options.

📏 Distance Is Your Most Powerful Tool

Give your dog more space from triggers.

Ten feet is often too close.

Try fifty feet or more.

At the right distance your dog can notice the other dog and stay calm.

Ways to create space on walks:

Cross the street early

Turn around before getting close

Choose quieter routes

Step off the path

🧠 Calm Experiences Build the Right Pattern

Dogs learn through repetition.

Every calm experience strengthens the calm response.

Your goal during adolescence is to build many calm exposures.

One hundred calm experiences at a safe distance helps your dog learn the right habit.

Repeated reactions at close range can reinforce the wrong one

⏳ This Stage Is Temporary

The extra distance your dog needs right now will not last forever.

As your dog matures their impulse control improves.

The space you create now protects their brain while it develops.

You are not avoiding other dogs forever.

You are helping your puppy learn calm behavior for the future.

🐾 Remember

Create space

Reward calm behavior

Protect your puppy’s developing brain

With patience most adolescent puppies grow out of this stage and become much easier to walk.

 The mistakes

🐾 Inviting lots of visitors

🐾 Taking the puppy to busy places immediately

🐾 Constant handling and stimulation

Why it’s wrong

🐾 The puppy has just experienced major separation stress (leaving mother, littermates, breeder environment).

🐾 Too much stimulation can lead to overwhelm, fear responses, or stress diarrhea.

🐾 The puppy

 The mistakes

🐾 Inviting lots of visitors

🐾 Taking the puppy to busy places immediately

🐾 Constant handling and stimulation

Why it’s wrong

🐾 The puppy has just experienced major separation stress (leaving mother, littermates, breeder environment).

🐾 Too much stimulation can lead to overwhelm, fear responses, or stress diarrhea.

🐾 The puppy needs time to decompress and feel safe in the new environment.

How it should be done

🐾 Keep the first 3 days quiet and predictable. Don’t even go to the vets, your puppy has already had a vet check! 

🐾 No visitors, immediate household members only for three-five days

🐾 Allow the puppy to explore the home slowly and at their own pace. Too much floor space can be stressful and make early toilet training very difficult 

These are babies and must be treated as such - if you push too hard too soon you may create behaviour issues and lack of trust!

 Getting it wrong: More exercise creates a calm dog.

What actually helps: Exercise builds fitness, not relaxation. Mental activities like sniffing and problem solving help a dog settle. A short sniff session can do more than a long run.

Getting it wrong: A tired dog is a well behaved dog.

What actually helps: Physical tiredness fades quic

 Getting it wrong: More exercise creates a calm dog.

What actually helps: Exercise builds fitness, not relaxation. Mental activities like sniffing and problem solving help a dog settle. A short sniff session can do more than a long run.

Getting it wrong: A tired dog is a well behaved dog.

What actually helps: Physical tiredness fades quickly. Mental effort lasts longer and leads to a more settled dog. Focus on engaging the brain.

Getting it wrong: Older dogs are naturally calm.

What actually helps: Age does not replace enrichment. Older dogs still need activities that keep their minds active and stress levels low.

Getting it wrong: Some dogs are just born calm.

What actually helps: Calm behaviour is learned. With consistent, rewarded practice, any dog can learn to settle.

🐾🐾🐾

Try this today:

Scatter some food in the grass and let your dog sniff it out for 5 to 10 minutes.

What progress looks like:

Small changes matter. Look for your dog choosing to lie down, relaxing sooner, or settling more easily.

Keep in mind:

Short daily sessions work better than occasional long ones. Too much high energy play can leave some dogs more wired, not calmer.

♥️ Calm is not something you drain out of a dog.

It is something you teach ♥️