Bringing home a new family member is an exciting time in one's life - but it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Just like people, pets have unique personalities and temperaments that can manifest in different behaviors. In this blog, we will discuss normal puppy and kitten behaviors and how to identify bad behaviors so that you can intervene early and set them up for success as the grown into adulthood.
When does a pet's personality start to show?
While it varies from pet to pet, you can start to see glimmers of a pet's personality as early as a few weeks of age. However, it's important to keep in mind that young pet's are most impressionable between four and sixteen weeks, and people/pets, places, and things they encounter during this time can have significant effects on a pet's social development. During this time, it is important to encourage your pet to make positive associations with their surroundings and other people and pets they encounter, as these experiences will have lasting effects on your pet's temperament.
My pet was so calm as a puppy/ kitten...what happened?!?!
Being a puppy or kitten can be very taxing - between eating, playing, and sleeping, they are kept quite busy! Activities like eating and playing can easily tucker young pets out, and building stamina is something that come with time and age. For this reason, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a young pet is really just "calm" or if they are simply too tired to start causing trouble - their true personality and behaviors will gradually reveal itself over time!
What is considered "normal" puppy/ kitten behavior?
Some behaviors that can be considered normal and expected in young puppies and kittens (2-4 months of age) may include:
Mouthing/ chewing
Jumping
Housebreaking issues/ accidents
Tugging
Barking/ vocalizing
As your pet acclimates to being in your household and being a member of the family, they may start to learn what behaviors are and aren't acceptable through verbal corrections and social cues from members of your household. However, there are times where less desirable behaviors, like mouthing or chewing, can turn into more problematic behaviors over time. For example, mouthing might not seem like such a big deal when your pet is small, but can turn into a serious biting problem as the get bigger.
Examples of bad behaviors that should be nipped in the bud
It is important to think about how pets communicate with us and explore their world. They can't speak to us (though wouldn't it be nice?) and use their words to communicate, so often they will attempt to communicate by vocalizing or using their mouths. If they want attention, they might seek it out by barking, whining, or even nipping at you to elicit a response.
So how can you tell the difference between naughty puppy/ kitten behaviors and real behavioral issues? Here are a few things to look for that might warrant immediate training intervention:
-Bad behavior accompanied by signs of aggression: Mouthing is not uncommon while playing, and it is normal for pets to growl, posture, and show teeth. However, while playing, a pet's body language should remain loose and wiggly. Signs of aggression may include flat/ laid back ears, hair standing up, rigid body posture, half-moon eyes (similar to a "side eye" in which the whites of the eyes are visible), showing teeth, or growling. These are all signs that your pet is no longer acting playful and is feeling fearful or defensive and may exhibit signs of aggression in defense.
-Behavior that endangers family members: Biting or scratching can be concerning, especially if there are children in the home. If your pet is leaving marks on your skin, it is recommended that you start setting boundaries with your pet and discouraging these behaviors. Additionally, pets who jump or do not respect physical boundaries should be corrected, especially if their jumping poses a fall risk to small children or elderly family members.
-The behavior does not seem to be improving with corrections: If you are finding that your pet is being stubborn to your verbal corrections to naughty behaviors, it may be time to consult your veterinarian or a trainer, both of which can help you get to the bottom of the behaviors and how to best tackle them. We do not recommend using physical punishment or correction in response to bad behaviors - this is not an effective method in correcting undesirable behaviors, but has been proven to create more problems, including anxiety, fearfulness, and aggression.
What are some things I can try at home to deter my pet from engaging in bad behaviors?
We are big fans of positive reinforcement and redirection - offer lots of praise and reward when your pet is engaging in positive behaviors, and try to redirect your pet's attention into more acceptable behavior when they are acting up.
For example, when your pet successfully potties outside or in the litterbox, offer lots of praise in the forms or verbal affirmation, physical affection, and treats - experiment to see what motivates your pet the most!
If your pet is being mouthy and trying to chew on your fingers or hands, keep some toys handy and offer your pet a toy to chew on instead. Praise your pet when they take the toy and give them a safe, acceptable outlet to get the gnawing out of their system.
If your pet is jumping up or getting too carried away during play, use basic obedience cues to ground your pet and allow them a moment to calm down. This requires some prior training, but getting your pet to sit or lay down and focus on you can help keep things from getting too out of hand.
If you are noticing concerning behaviors in your pet, at any stage of life, do not hesitate to reach out for help by contacting us at 972-347-6100.
Click here to schedule an appointment. https://connect.allydvm.com/practice/prosper_trail/appointment_request
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