The Puppy Rulebook

The Rules

Because we are human we tend to not understand our new puppies, or we interpret their behavior as we do that of other humans. This is called anthropomorphizing attributing human traits and emotions to our animals.

Animals do have emotions and feelings but they are not the same as we experience our emotions. If we can understand the patterns and rules that they live by, then we can better relate to them and teach them to abide by our codes.

So that you can better understand some of your puppy activities they are included in what is called The Puppy Rulebook This is a set of rules or natural behavior that a puppy is born to follow. By understanding the motivation behind some of the behavior patterns and response you can teach new methods or react to situations more rationally and in a way that your puppy will understand.

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE PUPPY RULES:

1. As a puppy, you must greet any other adult or higher ranking animalby licking around their face.
a. this may include jumping to reach the face
b. if you are really submissive grovel
c. groveling may be accompanied by submissive urination


2. Greet everyone when you meet them or your etiquette is out of order. Once this is done you may resume normal activity or get down to whatever needs to be done.

3. Toileting should be done outside of the areas you eat, drink, or sleep.

a. this may be an area you are taught to use
b. when in doubt, use an area or surface you are familiar with


4. At six to eight weeks of age you should learn social skills with your peers. This should include proper greeting etiquette such as:


a. greet strange dogs by approaching from the side or at an angle while touching the "calming" flap of skin near the hip
b. sniff and allow them to sniff you at the same time
c. circle around and repeat the procedure
d. break into play or mutual activity
e. attack or ritualistically threaten any dog that does not participate in this type of behavior
f. screaming littermates should teach you to stop and be gentle or play will end


5. You must follow a hierarchical order. Puppies are at the bottom until you grow older and wiser. You may be the top ranking puppy if you are bigger, more adventurous, or more vocal.

6. Top ranking dogs will usually:


a. carry their tails high
b. need to be greeted first
c. will eat first
d. will go through doors and gates first
e. lead the pack by being in front or the leader dog
f. reprimand you if your human gives you attention or food first or scold them for making sure you are in the proper rank order


7. Eye contact:


a. You must never hold the gaze of a top ranking animal since it is disrespectful or challenges them for their position
b. Humans do not understand this and will often try to get you to look at them. Look away because it is the proper thing to do.


8. Since you are a pack animal it is abnormal for you to be isolated. If you are prevented from reaching your family or pack by a door, gate, or other barrier, something is wrong! You may be rejected or your family may be dead. If you are left alone you may be hurt or killed. Proper response for help in these matters is to:


a. whine a little
b. whine a lot, and really loud
c. bark
d. scratch at the door


9. Your diet should be a good, consistent one. Once you finish nursing, your mom will regurgitate food to help your transition to solid food. Your human grandparents will usually help her by giving you gruel or puppy food. Rules about food:


a. Since you are competing for food with your littermates, eat as fast as you can and step in the food to make sure you have the advantage.
b. Make sure everyone knows that you enjoyed it by jumping all over them after you have stepped in it and eaten your fill.
c. Go potty immediately or within 5 to 15 minutes after eating.
d. If you are dominant you get to eat first. Growl and run others off if you have to


10. Dietary Notes: Food not purchased from pet stores, feed stores, or veterinarians is not very good for you since it contains more fillers, dyes, and sugars. Humans may purchase your food elsewhere because it is more convenient or because they think it is cheaper. Usually they pay more since those foods have fancy packaging, and gimmicks such as toys, audio tapes or coupons. You can live on it but:


a. Poor quality food will make you potty more and will make it harder for you to control your bowels and bladder. Housebreaking will probably take longer.
b. Stools will smell more and there will be many more piles to clean up. They may be loose instead of firm.
c. You will have to eat a whole lot more to obtain the nutrition you need.
d. The sugars and fillers will make you more hyperactive and unruly.


11. You should calm down when:


a. you are quietly stroked on the chest, behind the ears, or under the flap of skin near your hip area
b. you are in the room with the rest of the family pack, after initial ecstatic greeting, of course


12. Everything is either reinforcing or reprimanding.


a. Rewards are attention through sound, eye contact, posture, and physical contact.
b. Reprimands are attention through sound, eye contact, posture, and physical contact.
c. Note a & b are the same.
d. If you are trying to get attention, and you do, consider it reinforcing and continue or increase your intensity.


13. You will learn faster with short, quick lessons. If you are asked to repeat a successful performance while you are learning, misbehave or do not do it as well the next time.

14. It is your job as a puppy to:


a. instill joy in humans around you
b. get into everything
c. make toys out of everything
d. explore with your mouth
e. wonder at each new experience or encounter
f. go 100 miles per hour and then drop into an instant sleep to recharge so you can do it all over again