Is This Normal? A Guide to Canine Behavior for New Paw-rents
Let’s be honest: fostering or adopting a new dog can be stressful (especially when that dog is a young puppy). It’s not all kisses and cuddles!
Within our Muddy Paws community, we noticed that a common source of stress with new fosters and adopters comes from not knowing normal canine behavior—aka, what warrants a vet visit and doom-scrolling on Google, and what is simply… your pup being their normal, goofy selves!
We spoke with our Pack to compile a list of common—and completely normal—canine behaviors, many of which are super prominent in young puppies but can present themselves at any point throughout the course of a dog’s life.
Bodily Functions
Hiccups and fast breathing, especially in puppies
While sleeping: heavy twitching, kicking legs, growling, crying, opening eyes
Scratching their backs on furniture
Bathroom Habits
Green poop after eating Greenies, Oravet, green veggies like kale and peas, or grass (consult with vet if they haven't consumed any green items)
'Marking' while peeing (and when they're young: peeing several times in several places, even inside)
Being perfectly potty trained for days straight… and then sudden accidents in the house
Accidents in new spaces or refusing to use the bathroom in new environments—aka the 'pee/poop strike' (consult with vet if frequent potty trips persist to rule out any UTI or digestive issues)
Puppies peeing a LOT—they have not yet developed proper bladder control
Diarrhea in puppies and adult dogs: due to the stress of new environment, new food, and potential worms in their stool before deworming meds take effect
Diet
Puppies eating their own poop, aka coprophagia
Sensitive puppy stomachs—this requires finding the right foods and treats!
Playtime
Zoomies (especially after getting wet!)
Dog play and play noises that seem 'aggressive' but are normal
Showing teeth as a sign of submission
Occasional tail chasing, especially in puppies
Personalities
Staring… into your soul
Doing well being left alone then suddenly showing signs of separation anxiety
Resource guarding—not all dogs trust right away, but they can grow and/or be trained out of it!
Regression: doing well in one particular area (like training commands) then suddenly halting progress or taking steps backward; this is very common in new puppies and adolescent/teenage pups
Not being immediately cuddly or affectionate
Older dogs: there is usually a 2+ week ‘honeymoon period’ where they are on their best/mellow behavior before their real personalities come out
Urban dwellers: adjusting to the city! Being scared on walks is totally normal and something that you may need to work on with your dog to help them feel safer and more comfortable
Teething (Puppies)
Puppies will lose their baby teeth and grow adult teeth generally between the ages of 3-6 months
Swollen or bruised gums; blood on bones and toys from teething
Nippling/sucking on toys and blankets (likely mimicking nursing behavior)
If you feel that any these behaviors are severely affecting your dog’s quality of life and health regardless of how ‘normal’ they may be, do not hesitate to consult with your vet or a certified trainer for professional help.
And remember: experiencing stress and even the puppy blues is completely normal! As always, you can reach out to the Muddy Paws Pack with any questions and to seek support. Welcoming a new furry friend into the family isn’t always easy, but we’re here for you every paw print of the way!
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