5 Skills Easy to Teach Puppies but Harder in Adult Dogs
Many adult dogs display certain behavioural quirks such as pulling on the lead, jumping up at people, or guarding toys, which can be frustrating and challenging to correct. These problems often arise because these habits became established when they were pups and weren't corrected early on.
Puppy training offers a valuable window when shaping behaviour is easier and quicker. Puppies generally need only a few calm, consistent corrections to learn polite behaviours, which can prevent these issues from becoming entrenched in adulthood.
Unfortunately, many new dog owners delay correcting unwanted behaviours until later, mistakenly believing that training should start at a specific age or time, similar to children starting school. This delay often allows bad habits to become ingrained, making adult dog training more difficult and time-consuming.
Below are five commonly overlooked but crucial skills that are much easier to teach puppies than adult dogs, with practical advice to get started.
Jumping Up
Jumping up is a common and annoying behaviour that puppies often use to seek attention, particularly because they are physically smaller and less able to communicate in other ways. While it can be quite endearing initially, if left unchecked, this becomes difficult to stop, especially in larger breeds.
For example, breeds like the Great Dane puppies can cause significant issues if they jump up once adult size is reached.
Training puppies not to jump up requires ignoring the behaviour completely—no pushing away, no fussing, no shouting. Remain calm and say a firm but gentle “no.” Once they have all four paws on the floor, immediately praise and reward with treats or affection. This neutral response discourages jumping and encourages polite greetings.
Pushing Past You
Puppies eager to go outside may attempt to push past their owners at doors or entrances, showing poor manners that if left unchecked, might develop into dominance challenges.
To correct this, keep doors closed when your pup pushes through. Use your body gently to block their way or guide them back behind you. Calmly say “no” and do not proceed until the pup waits patiently. Consistency in this approach teaches respect and waiting behaviour early on.
Defensiveness About Toys
Resource guarding—such as growling or snapping when someone tries to take a toy—is a serious behaviour issue with safety concerns as dogs mature.
Teaching puppies to accept toy surrender commands is easier because their teeth and bite strength are less harmful. Early training establishes you as the pack leader and that possessions are temporary and controlled by you.
Rather than forcibly taking toys away, ask your pup to give the toy using clear, firm commands. Always reward cooperation with praise, treats, or an alternative toy. This approach builds trust and prevents aggressive guarding later.
Begging for Food
Puppies quickly learn to beg for food, and although it may be tempting to indulge, consistent refusal during puppyhood means the begging habit never develops into a long-term problem.
Early on, never feed your puppy from the table or allow them to scavenge, paw at your food, or crowd your laps while eating. Teach clear boundaries between their mealtimes and yours to prevent future difficulties.
Pulling on the Lead
Lead pulling is a very common puppy behaviour, initially caused by excitement and lack of understanding.
Preventing this requires patience and consistency. When your puppy pulls, stop walking immediately and wait calmly without yanking the lead. Move forward only when the lead slackens, reinforcing calm walking.
Training sessions may initially seem slow, with just a few steps covered at a time, but perseverance pays off by saving significant frustration long term.
Using positive reinforcement, short training periods, and gentle control equipment, like a front-clip harness, can help reinforce loose-lead walking habits.
Why Early Puppy Training Matters
Early puppy training forms the foundation for a well-behaved adult dog. The habits established in the first few months are easier to build upon and less likely to require difficult retraining.
Ignoring early behavioural issues often leads to more entrenched problems, which can be frustrating and sometimes costly to fix. Puppies learn best through consistent, calm, and positive reinforcement, so starting early with these overlooked skills ensures a more manageable, confident adult dog.
By investing just a little daily patience and guidance, UK dog owners can vastly improve their pup’s future behaviour and relationship chances.
Summary
- Jumping Up: Ignore and reward paws on floor.
- Pushing Past: Block and wait for polite behaviour.
- Toy Defensiveness: Teach give commands early with rewards.
- Begging: Set clear boundaries and refuse scraps.
- Lead Pulling: Stop, wait for slack, reward calm walks.
Starting these skills during puppyhood builds solid foundations that are much harder to establish later. Consistent and positive training helps your young dog grow into a happy, polite adult companion.
Good puppy training promotes responsible dog ownership and ensures your pet’s wellbeing for life.
