Puppies: Land Sharks & Learning Curves
In Part 1 of The Recall Room’s Dog Development series, we’re discussing puppies. In future episodes, we’ll learn about adolescence, adulthood, senior dogs, and grief.
Puppies are adorable, chaotic, exhausting - and developing faster than we sometimes realize.
In this episode of The Recall Room, we’re kicking taking a closer look at what’s actually happening during puppyhood. From critical socialization periods and rapidly developing brains to biting, chewing, fear, and those seemingly endless bursts of energy. We’ll explore the science behind some of the behaviors that can make raising a puppy both fascinating and overwhelming.
We’ll also talk about what puppies really need from us during this stage, why socialization is about much more than meeting lots of people and dogs, and how the experiences we create now can influence the adults they become.
Whether you’re currently surviving the puppy stage, preparing to bring one home, or simply want to better understand how dogs develop, this episode is a reminder that puppy behavior isn’t just something to “get through” - it’s communication from a brain that’s still figuring out the world.
Because when we understand what’s happening underneath the behavior, we can respond with a little more patience, a little more intention, and a lot more curiosity.
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Any questions or topics you’d like to see in a future episode ?
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Resources, References & Further Reading
This episode was informed by current research and the work of leading experts in puppy development, canine behavior, learning, and socialization, including:
• Dr. Patricia McConnell – The Puppy Primer, The Other End of the Leash, and For the Love of a Dog
• Dr. Ian Dunbar – Early puppy development, bite inhibition, and socialization
• Dr. Sophia Yin – Resources on puppy socialization, canine body language, and low-stress handling
• Dr. Karen Pryor – Don’t Shoot the Dog! and foundational work in learning theory and positive reinforcement
• Dr. Bonnie V. Beaver – Canine Behavior: Insights and Answers
• Dr. James Serpell – The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People
• The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), including the Position Statement on Puppy Socialization
• The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB)
• Fear Free® – Educational resources on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress during early puppy development
The Recall Room is an educational podcast designed to help dog owners better understand canine behavior through current behavioral science and positive, evidence-based practices. The information shared in this episode is intended for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized veterinary or behavioral advice.
