Your little fluff nugget is now a whopping 16 weeks old! At this stage, get ready for some more bouncy bursts of energy and a growing sense of independence.
Don't worry, though. We've got your back with all the expert insights, training tips, and product recommendations you need to handle these exciting developmental milestones with ease.
This week's focus:
Using other rewards if your pup isn't food motivated
The teething continues
Keeping your cues consistent
Mosquitoes and heartworm disease
Treat recipe: Homemade Fluffernutter Kisses
Veggies that you can share with your dog, and more
Picky Picky Picky
Is your pup just not all that impressed by treats during training? In most cases, this means that the treats just aren't good enough, so use high-value treats or practice somewhere where there are fewer distractions.
But in some cases, a puppy just isn't all that food-motivated — especially if they just ate a meal. Then it's time to get creative and incorporate real-life rewards that make their tail wag enthusiastically. Think about what your puppy wants in every moment and use that as a reward. This could be attention, toys, the door opening to go outside, and more!
Your puppy's adult teeth are starting to push their puppy teeth out, which can make them a bit uncomfortable. Chewing is your puppy's way of relieving the discomfort, and nipping will increase during this time. So be prepared with some durable chew toys, frozen treats, and a good dose of patience.
Have you caught your little one giving their potty pad the ol' slip and doing their business elsewhere? You're not alone in this battlefield of accidental oopsies. Sometimes it's because the pad is too small, too dirty, or just not in a convenient location.
Like Goldilocks, these things need to be "just right" for your puppy to be successful with potty pad training.
At 16 weeks, the critical socialization period is ending. But this doesn't mean that you can stop with positive socialization experiences!
There's still plenty you can work on going forward to maintain the positive experiences they've had and to work on negative associations they may have learned. Socialization just needs to be done at a slower pace and in a controlled and thoughtful manner to avoid increased fear.
Dogs are good at learning what words mean what, but it can get confusing when we humans use different words or iterations of words to mean the same thing!
Make sure everyone in your home is using the same cues when asking your puppy to do things. Don't say "come'ere" or "here" when your puppy has been trained to respond to "come." This will make learning much easier for your pup, and you'll be impressed with how quickly they learn when you're consistent!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! And we know how hard it is to prevent mosquito bites. So, be sure to discuss heartworm prevention (plus flea, tick, and intestinal worm preventatives) with your veterinarian. Heartworm is a costly disease to treat and is often deadly. And the disease is transferred from the bite of an infected mosquito. With rising temperatures worldwide, this disease is becoming even more common in more places.
At four months old, your puppy should be getting the hang of housetraining and having fewer accidents, if any at all... as long as you're setting them up for success with regular potty breaks and supervision. But if they're having regular accidents inside, then it's time to troubleshoot.
The first thing we want to do is make sure there isn't a medical reason for the accidents, such as a urinary tract infection. Once your vet has given your dog the all-clear, then you need to evaluate your potty training routine. If you have a toy breed, they do tend to take longer to potty train due to their tiny little bladders.
But often, most puppies who still have accidents as they mature require more frequent potty breaks, reinforcement for going in the designated area, and need to have previous accidents thoroughly cleaned. If not cleaned well, that scent will entice them back to go to the same spot again and again.
Want to whip up some yummy and healthy dog training treats at home? Picture this: a mouthwatering combination of (xylitol-free) peanut butter, pumpkin, and strawberry, lovingly baked into adorable little kisses.
Plus, each treat is only 2.5 calories, making this an excellent low-cal treat to use for puppy training!
Veggies can be a yummy and low-calorie treat. But not all veggies are safe for dogs to consume, and even some that are 'safe' can cause gastrointestinal upset if your dog consumes too much.
Learning what veggies and how much of each is safe is a good thing to know.
Many dogs are sickened and killed each year after eating poisonous mushrooms present in yards or along walking paths. Eating just one or two mushrooms could be a problem. Knowing the symptoms of mushroom toxicity is critical.
If you know your dog has eaten mushrooms, please contact your veterinarian right away. The sooner you bring your pup in, the sooner treatment can begin.
Make sure to not overdo it when it comes to treating your pup – incorporate low-calorie treats to make sure your puppy has a balanced diet while they grow.
