In my 15 years of training, I’ve not yet run into a stubborn or hard-headed dog. So use very clear cues, not only a word, but also a specific tone of voice and a physical gesture. They can be taught these behaviors through reward-based training sessions that utilize treats, praise and play to encourage good manners. Thank you for the A2A. Come your puppy’s fourth month of age, you’ll find her obsessed with gnawing on everything in sight with the teething stage in full bloom. By the time he is 9 months old, he may have reached between 80 and 100 percent of his full adult size and weight. Solve problem behavior like chewing issues; get the best toys for teething puppies; and prevent fears from developing. 4 Months Old Your puppy may be start exhibiting more independence now. At this age, your puppy’s diet should consist of high-quality food specifically formulated for puppies, Dr. Murray says. Essential info about dog health, training, sports and more. This is a very high period of growth for your puppy, making them a little clumsy as they explore their environments. He absolutely WILL NOT listen to me. Training your puppy to come when called is a basic command that all dogs should learn. Training your dog is a great idea but first you have to learn how to train a dog before you can actually do it. If you find that your new puppy is fearful or aggressive towards new people, other animals or in different environments, don’t try to force them into these situations as it can make the issue worse, Barlow says. Do you want a well behaved dog but don’t know where to begin? “Sit,” “stay,” “no,” and “come” are obvious choices; but also remember “leave it” (for when you want the dog to ignore something or leave it alone), “no bark” (for when you want him to be quiet), and “drop it” (when you want him to release whatever is in his mouth). During this period of physical development, your dog will mature sexually. Remember that you’re teaching him cues for the puppy behavior you want. He’s hearing words and human speech all day long, and it may be hard to separate out the command from the rest of it. She’s undisciplined jumping and not listening. The puppy doesn't listen? https://www.akc.org/subscription/thank-you. For many breeds, now is when your puppy will do most of his physical growing. And I don’t think that’s because I’ve figured out how to screen the stubborn or hard-headed dogs out. Reward him lavishly every time he gets it right. She is on my heels all day long, sometimes I even hit her face when walking. We have some guidelines to help you and your pup communicate effectively. At about six months the Yorkshire terrier’s chest and body should be already formed. Don’t give up! They’ll still need to eat more frequently than an adult dog, but not as often as when they were very young. Think of how the parents and other adults sound in the “Peanuts” movies — like an indistinguishable yammering. Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. It takes time and repetition for your 4 month old puppy to learn what are legal chew objects and what are not. By 5 months, your puppy’s house training should be well established, and she should be able to wait longer between trips outside. Some commands, like “come,” can be life-saving if, for instance, he’s about to chase a squirrel onto a busy road. I really don’t know what to do. … For a dog, listening has more to do with reading your body language and understanding physical cues than it does with verbal language. 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