Just A Funny Story!

So, a client called me over the weekend to thank me for helping her with her puppy several months back. I thought it was nice of her to follow up and let me know they were doing well together. I love when clients do their follow up as with those who don't, I'm left to wonder...did everything work out?  Did they get frustrated and give up?  Is their pet running the house now and restricting their access to the phone and computer?!  Just kidding.  

Anyway, she somewhat sheepishly told me that they'd really done very little that I had suggested beyond one thing.  They made that puppy take naps four times a day, in her crate, no exceptions.  I laughed because this isn't the first time I've had a puppy client tell me that those enforced naps were a game-changer. But the ONLY thing that I told them that they actually followed through with and did?  Mind boggling!  She said those daily naps basically solved the problems they were having with mouthing, self-control issues, etc.  Well, I'll be darned.  That was easy!

See, here's the thing.  None of us do very well when we are sleep deprived.  While humans vary in the amount of sleep each person needs, dogs are pretty straightforward.  Adult dogs sleep 12-14 hours a day, with elderly or ill dogs needing more sleep. And puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep each day for proper growth and brain development.  Adult dogs will just nod off wherever they are, or will take themselves to another room to rest when they need to.  Puppies, on the other hand, need to be taken to their napping area and confined there for best results.  While a puppy might fall asleep at your feet, on your lap, or on the couch, none of these "catnaps," so to speak, will replace an actual nap in their crate, in a room, alone.  You want them to get deep sleep and REM sleep (the time when dreams occur) and that won't happen when you or other pets are around.  Just like toddlers resist naps, so will your puppies, but you still make them do it for their own good...and your peace of mind and sanity!

So, while I always hope pet owners will follow all of my advice, I guess it's good to know that they follow at least some of it and definitely take to heart the important stuff like sleep for a puppy.  Though now it's got me thinking I need to bullet point what really is critical when I'm working with clients, just in case they aren't going to do it all!

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me. 

Now that Henley is no longer a puppy, I don't have to worry about enforcing his naps, he just takes them on his own.  Though he usually takes a toy with him.