Guess what? Your little fuzzball has hit the 14-week mark! It's like watching a tiny tornado grow into a slightly less tiny tornado.
At this stage, you can expect your adorable troublemaker to become more curious, adventurous, and, well, let's just say, "expressive" with their vocal talents. Don't worry, though – we have some tips and tricks up our sleeves to help you navigate this phase with a smile (and maybe a pair of noise-canceling headphones).
Let's dive into the wonderful world of puppyhood at 14 weeks together, shall we?
This week's focus:
Different types of barking
Say it, don't spray it, when correcting a behavior
How your body language can affect your puppy
Teaching your puppy the "leave it" cue
What your puppy's poo can tell you about their health, and more.
Bark Bark ... Bark Bark Bark
If your puppy has found their voice, you're likely wondering how to get the barking to stop. There are various types of barking, and knowing why your puppy is barking in the first place means you'll know best how to respond and train.
It's also important to remember that barking is normal dog behavior! But there is a lot you can do to address demand barking or reduce alert barking. Some barking may be a sign of distress, so it's important never to punish barking – that'd be like punishing people for talking.
Using a spray bottle to stop unwanted behaviors, like barking, might work in the moment, but it has some pretty serious potential consequences. For one, it creates a negative association with you.
The last thing you want is for your puppy to be afraid of you.Plus, it's not teaching your puppy what to do instead of barking!
Long-term, you'll always have to rely on grabbing a spray bottle to make the barking stop, rather than your dog knowing what choice to make instead.
Did you know that how you act and move can affect your communication with your puppy? Things like direct eye contact, leaning over, and hugging can make lots of dogs uncomfortable or frightened. Learn how to put a dog at ease so you can coach others when they meet your puppy.
Your puppy's increased curiosity can get them into trouble if they start foraging on countertops. Counter surfing can have deadly consequences if they get into something toxic.
Dogs are foragers by nature! Keep your counters clean to remove any temptations and provide appropriate foraging activities using snuffle mats or interactive feeders for mealtimes. For large-breed puppies, you may even consider completely blocking access to the kitchen with gates or putting them in their crate or puppy playpen when you aren't around to supervise.
Practicing Leave It with your puppy is a great way to build some impulse control and patience on their part. Start easy because this one is hard for puppies, but they get the hang of it quickly when you set them up for success.
If you slowly introduce nail trimming to your puppy, it will be much less scary for them when they need a mani-pedi. Don't even trim their nails the first time you bring out the nail clippers or electric nail grinders. Just aim to create a positive association with seeing them and, if they're ready, gently touch their paw with them or get them used to the sound. Pair this with lots of yummy high-value treats and calm praise.
Being handled is a big part of at-home care, like nail trims or going to the groomer and vet clinic. Use our free socialization app to keep track of what handling socialization you've practiced and what your puppy needs extra work on.
Since your puppy is nearing the end of their vaccine series and you won't see your veterinarian as often, be sure to have a list of questions for when you see them next, like when to schedule a spay/neuter, when to transition to adult food, etc.
One thing to keep on hand is the phone number and location of your nearest emergency hospital. Ask your vet for a hospital they recommend or you can look up one near you.
Your puppy's poops can clue you into many things, such as their health or what mischief they may have gotten into. Get into the habit of regularly checking their poo so you know what their normal is. This will help you recognize when things become abnormal.
When training is fun, the better your puppy will learn and the more likely you'll be to practice! We love the Puppy Ping Pong game to practice coming-when-called. All you need is at least 2 people to play (but you can have as many people as you want!).
Grapes are healthy for us, but not so much for our pets. Grapes, raisins, and currants, alone or in other products, can have toxic effects when consumed by dogs. Symptoms can occur within 6 hours of eating and may take up to 24 hours to be noticeable.
While the cause of the toxicity is unknown, what is known is that there does not seem to be a connection between the amount consumed and the severity of toxicity. Learning what fruits and veggies are safe can benefit both your dog and you.
Puppies will chew and tug on anything, which includes electric cords. Tugging on electrical cords can cause heavy lamps or other objects to fall and injure your puppy. But even worse is if they chew the cord and get electrocuted. Pets should be prevented from chewing cables by using management (teach your dog "leave it") and pet-proofing your home.
If you catch your dog chewing on a cord, interrupt immediately, check their mouth for any signs of injury, and redirect them to an appropriate chew toy or other activity. Be sure to provide them with appropriate chew toys, mental enrichment, and enough physical exercise in order to make them less likely to seek out dangerous options like cords. Be sure to use safety measures like cord covers or making any cords inaccessible to a curious pup.
We've reviewed products for safety, efficacy, and durability. What we recommend is veterinary and behavior-approved.
Dog Body Language Resources
Learning how to read dog body language is mastering a completely different way of communication. It takes practice! Invest in some good visual resources to get started with the basics.
There are different types of nail clippers to pick from. Do you go with scissor style? Guillotine? Or start with the grinding tool and skip clippers altogether?
Make your puppy's well-being a priority by avoiding common safety hazards and training mistakes. Our 101Essential Tips book series comes in paperback and digital, and features bite-sized, easy-to-follow expert advice. Prevent problems before they happen.
