Practice Makes Permanent: Why You Must Stop Your Puppy Rehearsing Bad Behaviour
- Off-leash obedience
- Nov 10
- 3 min read
We’ve all seen it. A tiny, adorable, 5kg puppy scrambles at its owner's legs, paws flailing, until it’s scooped up for a cuddle. The owner laughs, guests coo, and the puppy learns a powerful lesson: jumping up gets affection and attention.
Fast forward six months. That "cute" puppy is now a 30kg adolescent, launching itself at every person who walks through the door. It’s no longer cute; it’s a liability.
This is the single most common trap new owners fall into. At Off-leash Obedience, we see the results every day. The root of the problem? The dog was allowed to practise being naughty.
Your Dog Is Always Learning (Especially When You're Not Training)
A dog’s brain is simple in one key respect: behaviours that get reinforced get repeated.
When your puppy jumps up and receives any form of engagement a pat, a push away, eye contact, or even a stern "no!" you have, in that puppy's mind, reinforced the behaviour. You have accidentally taught it that jumping is the button to press for human interaction.
Every time your puppy performs an unwanted behaviour and isn't corrected or redirected, that behaviour becomes stronger. This is called behavioural rehearsal. Whether it’s jumping on guests, nipping at your trousers, or barking at the postman, every 'free' repetition makes the habit harder to break.
The golden rule of puppy-raising is not "positive reinforcement." It is preventing the reinforcement of bad habits.
Management is Your Most Powerful Tool
So, how do you stop a puppy from accidentally learning these things? You manage their environment.
One of the most effective, simple, and underutilised tools is the house line.
This is simply a lightweight lead that you leave on your puppy (under 100% supervision) while indoors. This is not a tie-out. It is a tool of management that gives you immediate control.
Guest arrives? You can step on the line or take hold of it before the puppy has a chance to jump, preventing the bad habit from ever being practised.
Puppy chewing the sofa? You can calmly pick up the line and redirect them to a toy, without the drama of a chase or a shout.
Puppy bothering the cat? A house line stops the behaviour instantly, teaching the puppy that boundaries are non-negotiable.
The house line is your prevention plan. It stops your puppy from self-rewarding by practising behaviours you will later spend months (and money) trying to untrain.
The Hard Truth About Changing Bad Habits
But what if the damage is done? What if you have unintentionally taught your dog to be a menace, and you now need professional help?
This is where the real work begins for you, not just your dog.
When you hire a professional trainer, you are paying for their expertise and a clear, objective path to change. What you do with that advice is what determines your success. We have seen countless owners pay for training, agree enthusiastically, and then go home and do nothing.
If you truly want change, you must:
Listen to the advice you are paying for.
Implement the plan consistently.
A trainer might be with you for one hour a week. You are with your dog for the other 167. You cannot expect one hour of training to override 167 hours of practising the old, bad habits.
At Off-leash Obedience, our philosophy is built on this truth. We are not here to coddle you or simply agree with your feelings. You are paying us to be straight with you, to identify the problem, and to give you the solution.
Your dog's behaviour is a direct reflection of consistency, boundaries, and leadership. If you are not prepared to implement the changes your trainer advises, you are not ready for a different dog.
The Bottom Line
Don’t wait until the "cute" 5kg puppy problem becomes an "unmanageable" 30kg dog problem.
Start today. Manage your puppy’s environment. Stop them from practising bad behaviour. And if you are struggling, hire a professional and be prepared to listen really listen and do the work.
Your future dog will thank you for it.
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