Puppy Behavior Guidelines: How to Raise a Well-Behaved Dog?

1. Does Your Dog Bark at Every Little Sound?

When your dog hears a small noise and immediately starts barking, it’s just their little heart trying to alert you: “Something’s happening!”
But don’t be too quick to react!

How to Correct It:

• Ignore the Barking!
  When your dog barks, don’t give them attention right away. Let them learn that making noise won’t get your attention.

• Project Calm Authority!
  Say a firm “NO” when the barking starts. Use confident body language to apply gentle pressure.
  Your dog must understand: barking doesn’t lead to rewards. Wait until they calm down, then reward them with praise or a treat.

2. Does Your Dog Jump on You When You Come Home?

Your dog gets so excited they almost jump into your arms? That’s sweet—but maybe a little too much love? Don’t worry, training can fix this!

How to Correct It:

• Block, Don’t Pet!
  When your dog jumps, gently block them with your knee. Don’t pet them while they’re excited—wait for them to calm down first.

• Say “NO” and Stop Play!
  If your dog gets overly excited and jumps during playtime, immediately stop, say “NO”, and wait for them to calm down.
  Once they settle, reward them with calm affection.

3. Is Your Dog Food-Aggressive or Overprotective of Their Bowl?

Does your dog growl or even bite when you get near their food? They may be thinking: “This is my world—stay away!”

How to Correct It:

• Build Trust!
  During feeding time, help your dog understand that you’re the one in control of the food—not them. Establish leadership through calm confidence.

• Practice Taking the Food Away!
  If your dog growls, use a training leash (prong or slip lead) or wear gloves to safely remove the bowl. Wait until your dog calms down, then return the food.
  Through repeated training, your dog will learn: food is given by you—not something to guard or fight for.

4. Does Your Puppy Bite Your Hands or Clothes?

If your puppy keeps nibbling on your hands or tugging at your sleeves, it’s testing boundaries—trying to see how you’ll react.

How to Correct It:

• Stop, Correct, Ignore!
  Every time your puppy bites your hand, stop the interaction and give a firm verbal correction. Briefly ignore them—don’t treat it like play, or they’ll think biting is part of bonding.

• Make It Clear!
  Let your dog clearly know that biting people is not acceptable behavior.
  With consistent training and boundaries, your pup will grow into a well-behaved companion.