When Do Puppies Get Easier?

When do puppies finally get easier?

When you first got your puppy, you were probably super excited. After all, he’s so cute, and playing with him is so much fun.

But it doesn’t take long to get to all the stressful parts of owning a puppy. There’s trying to stop your puppy’s biting habit, for one thing. Plus, learning to deal with puppy witching hour is never fun.

Maybe you thought having a puppy would be all fun and puppy kisses, but the reality is much different!

Take comfort in the fact that all puppy owners have been there. It’s hard to anticipate all the work that raising a puppy entails, and the puppy blues are very real.

To help you get through this time a little better, I’ll show you when puppies get easier in this article. Don’t worry, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed in the beginning. But it will get better, trust me!

When Do Puppies Get Easier?

Let’s start with your burning question. When do puppies get easier? Well, it depends on a few factors.

Do Puppies Get Worse Before They Get Better?

Maybe when your puppy first came home, he was quiet and peaceful. You might have thought that you’d magically avoided all of the hard parts of puppy ownership since he already came to you an angel!

But then your puppy started acting out more. Maybe you’re wondering why your puppy is so hyper now, and what exactly went wrong.

Sometimes it can feel like your puppy is getting worse and worse instead of improving. And this can be really disheartening!

But the truth is that more likely, your puppy was just shy when he came home. It was probably his first time away from his mother and littermates. You’d probably feel pretty timid in that situation too!

But as time goes on, he gets more confident and maybe starts testing you a little more. So it’s not really that your puppy is getting worse. He’s just getting more comfortable testing the limits!

The First Few Months Are the Hardest

You’re having such a tough time with your puppy, and it feels like you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life!

And what if this is the way your puppy stays forever? A hyper, chompy, crying mess?

Don’t worry—that’s not going to be the case.

The truth is that the first few months are the hardest. Your puppy will start to get easier to deal with once he reaches around 4 or 5 months old. This is when he’ll be potty trained (at least for the most part) and will have a longer attention span for training.

Until that point, you’ll probably be dealing with your puppy peeing in the house, chewing everything he can get his mouth on, and maybe having trouble sleeping through the night.

This is the kind of situation where you need to practice a lot of patience. And that means patience for both yourself and your puppy!

And even though the first few months are the hardest, bear in mind that if you can get through this, you can get through anything!

Training and Patience Will Accelerate the Process

You may be wondering at what age are puppies most hyper? When is your puppy going to start settling down?

Well, it really depends on the puppy and the situation he’s in. Over time, your puppy will calm down. But how long it takes depends a lot on you.

If you want to help your puppy become easier to manage, then training and patience are of the utmost importance.

One thing you need to understand about puppies is that they are very bad at self-regulating. They need your help to show them the right ways to behave!

Training takes a lot of work, but it’s definitely worthwhile. The more you train your puppy, the faster you’ll find that he’s easier to manage!

Here are a few related articles that will help with some basic puppy training issues:

• 5 Tips to Calm an Overexcited Puppy Quickly
• When Do Puppies Stop Biting?
• How to Calm a Puppy from Crying
• My Overtired Puppy Won’t Sleep—What Can I Do?

How Long Do the Puppy Blues Last?

I mentioned the puppy blues earlier.

Many people who are first-time puppy owners experience a lot of anxiety surrounding their choice to get a puppy. Some may even get quite depressed. If you’re experiencing the puppy blues, you may be wondering if you made the right choice. You might even be considering bringing your puppy back.

The important thing to understand is that you are not alone!

Most first-time puppy owners feel this way. Owning and raising a puppy requires a lot of work. And that means emotional work too!

Plus, having a puppy can result in a lot of sleep deprivation. After all, you need to wake up in the night to make sure your puppy relieves himself outside.

If you’re working on crate training your puppy, then the first little while at night might be really challenging for both of you.

Sleep deprivation can affect you in a lot of ways. It can make you feel fatigued during your waking hours and can make you very irritable too.

All of this is very normal, so don’t beat yourself up for having the puppy blues. Talk to any fellow dog owner and they’ll probably tell you they felt the same way when they got their puppy!

The puppy blues can last up to a few months. For many owners, they go away sooner. Most first-time puppy owners start feeling better once they see their puppy progress in their training.

Just be patient. In time, your puppy blues will go away. And once they do, you’ll be so happy that you stuck through them!

Do Puppies Get Easier When You Walk Them?

If you’re looking for ways to manage your puppy’s energy, then you might be considering taking him for walks to help keep him calm.

Walking your puppy is really great for a few reasons. First: yes, walking your puppy can help manage his energy levels! Walking is also a good low-impact exercise for both of you.

So how much exercise should a puppy get? The general rule is you should walk your puppy for about 5 minutes per month of age.

Also, remember that you need to wait until your puppy has been vaccinated before you start going for walks. This is to protect your puppy, as well as other dogs in the area!

Check out Puppy Vaccinations Schedule, a Complete Guide for more information.

What Age Are Puppies Most Difficult?

All puppies are different, so it’s hard to pinpoint the exact age at which your puppy is likely to be the most difficult to manage.

Young puppies can be hard because they need to be potty trained, and they’re starting to learn their manners.

However, you can expect your puppy’s dreaded “teenage” phase to hit at around 6 to 18 months of age. During this time, you might find that your puppy is challenging you and acting out more.

Just be patient and stick with your training during this challenging stage.

When Do Puppies Get Calmer?

If you’ve got a super hyper puppy, then you’re probably asking when do puppies calm down?

Puppies need a lot of sleep—about 18 to 20 hours a day. But during his waking moments, your puppy may seem like an endlessly energetic terror!

Once puppies reach around 10 to 16 weeks old, they tend to experience a big boost in energy. The world is so new to them, so they’ll probably be super excitable.

From around 16 weeks to 6 months, your puppy will likely still have a lot of energy. But by 6 months, although he’ll still be energetic, he’ll have a better handle on training. In general, he should at least be more well-behaved by this point.

When Do Puppies Become More Independent?

Your little puppy relies on you for a lot. Even as an adult, he’ll still need you to feed him, house him, and of course give him lots and lots of love.

But by the time your puppy reaches around six months old, you’ll find that he’s a little more independent. Consider this your puppy’s teenage stage. He’s learning a lot about how the world works at the same time he’s reaching sexual maturity.

By the time your puppy reaches a year to 18 months old, he can be considered an adult and will be much more independent.

Conclusion

Having a puppy can be seriously challenging—there’s no denying that! And most first-time puppy owners experience the puppy blues, which can make you question a lot of your decisions.

If you’ve found yourself with a difficult puppy and the puppy blues, just be patient. In time, your puppy will become easier. The first few months are always the hardest. But once you get through them, you’ll appreciate everything that your puppy taught you. And you have a relationship that’s going to last a lifetime.