Puppy Training: What Instagram Doesn’t Show You

By Samantha Scarborough

A Dog’s Life Inc.

Let’s talk about puppies—and not the kind you see on Instagram wearing bandanas and sitting perfectly in a coffee shop.

We’re talking about real puppies.

The kind that bite your ankles, cry in their crate, pee on your rug, and look you straight in the eye as they swipe your sock and sprint across the house like a little land shark.

Yeah. That puppy.

Instagram makes puppy life look like a cozy highlight reel. But if you're in the middle of raising one, you're probably wondering why your sweet little fluffball is turning into a gremlin by 4 PM.

Here’s the truth:

Puppies are a lot—and that’s completely normal.

They’re figuring out how to be a dog in a human world. And that means chewing, barking, testing boundaries, and needing way more structure than social media shows.

So before you start questioning your life choices (or Googling “puppy returns near me”), here’s what Instagram won’t tell you about raising a well-behaved dog:

1. Puppies don’t just grow out of bad behavior

If your puppy is jumping, nipping, barking, or ignoring you—it’s not a “phase.”It’s behavior that’s being rehearsed. And the longer it goes on, the harder it is to untrain later.Start now. Be consistent. Give them clear feedback. You’ll thank yourself later.

2. Over-socializing is a thing

We get it—your vet said “socialize them early.”But dragging your puppy to every brewery, playdate, and Home Depot run isn’t socialization—it’s sensory overload.

Quality matters more than quantity. Focus on calm, controlled exposures, not chaotic free-for-alls.

3. Calmness is a skill

Most people accidentally reward crazy puppy energy with affection or attention.Here’s a secret: calmness is taught, not inherited.Reward the good stuff: lying down, chilling in the crate, following you without pulling.

Ignore the chaos—or better yet, redirect it into structure and purpose.

4. Puppies don’t need 24/7 entertainment

They need rest. Like… a lot of it.Think 16–20 hours a day.A tired puppy isn’t always a well-behaved puppy—sometimes it’s just an overtired one throwing tantrums.Crate time, naps, and low-stimulation activities are your best friend.

5. You’re not doing it wrong

If your puppy is driving you a little crazy, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.It means you’re raising a baby animal who’s learning how to live in your world.

You’ve got this—and we’re here to help.

Struggling with biting, barking, stealing, or chaos zoomies?We made a free guide just for you:

“The Unwanted Puppy Behavior Guide”It breaks down what’s normal, what needs attention, and what to do right now to build better habits.

[Download the Free Guide]

Because training a puppy doesn’t have to feel like survival mode.Let’s make it easier—and actually kind of fun.