09/02/2026
I hear āTheyāre just a puppy!ā all the time when a pup rushes my dogs or ignores their owner. I get itātheyāre learning! But remember: What you permit, you promote.
As a trainer, I see so many owners give their puppies ātoo much, too soon.ā Giving a puppy total off-lead freedom before they have the foundations of recall is like asking a toddler to navigate a busy city aloneāitās a lot of responsibility!
Setting them up for success looks like:
Management: Using a long line so they can explore safely without practicing āself-rewardingā behaviors (like ignoring you to go play).
Engagement/motivation: So they are motivated to come back to you even around distractions.
Respecting Space: Teaching your pup that they canāt greet every dog or person they see.
The goal isnāt to be a āfun killerāāitās to ensure your puppy grows into a confident, reliable adult dog who can actually enjoy more freedom later in life because they have the skills to handle it.
If youāre struggling with those early months, donāt wait for them to āgrow out of itāāthey wonāt! Letās get to work instead. š«¶
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