Do Puppies Try to Get Revenge?

by Heidi Atwood

“My puppy was mad at me, so he peed in his crate.”

“My puppy looked right at me and pooped because he doesn’t like his pen.”

“My puppy ate my shoe to get back at me for leaving him.”

Revenge behaviors are a common misconception. In reality, puppies live in the moment and do not have the cognitive capacity to seek revenge or plot against us. Behaviors like potty accidents or chewing on furniture are typically signs of infrequent potty breaks, boredom, and being allowed too much freedom.

Puppies do what works for them, and they often can’t make the best decisions on their own. We need to help them learn to go potty in the appropriate place and not to eat things they find on the ground or use the kitchen chair leg as a teething chew. This is why it’s helpful to prevent unwanted behaviors when possible, redirect the puppy’s attention to a better choice, and reward the behaviors we want to continue.  

Determining the reasons the undesirable behaviors are happening is most important. If your puppy has accidents, make sure you are offering scheduled potty breaks, removing access to soft surfaces such as bedding, and helping the puppy understand that going in the appropriate area is best and also most rewarding. Make positive connections to your puppy’s safe and cozy crate so you can rely on it as a resting place where a puppy is less likely to soil. If the puppy has room to have an accident in the crate and then move away from it, tighten up the space until they are fully house-trained.  

If a puppy is becoming destructive, they have been given too much freedom. These behaviors can become everyday habits if allowed to continue. Many years ago, before crates were considered a “normal” puppy training device, I made the mistake of allowing my puppy a lot of freedom, even when I wasn’t at home. I tried to “puppy-proof,” but they managed to find things that I didn’t think a puppy would become interested in, including items that could become dangerous if a puppy happened to ingest them. There was damage to woodwork, table legs, books, plants - you name it. I began using a crate, and the difference was immeasurable. I taught the puppy to love this space by offering several positive crate sessions throughout the day for napping and general acclimation. I gave them mentally stimulating stuffed kongs and similar items to keep them busy and encourage rest. It was with joy rather than dread that I returned home, knowing that my house wouldn’t be in shambles and my puppy would be safe. 

Using a crate or pen to prevent wandering, chewing, and accidents is best. If you use a pen to contain your puppy, be aware that some puppies learn to climb out of a pen, making it no longer a safe option. Even if the pen is escape-proof, it is helpful to keep the puppy acclimated to their crate because we never know when we may need to limit freedom due to a medical problem, when traveling, or for separation from people or other pets. To me, puppies simply settle down to rest better in a crate. 

Keep in mind that puppies may initially seem calm and timid when we introduce them to their new homes. As our puppies grow and move past their initial "fear phase," their confidence and curiosity increase. This often results in puppies trying to create their own entertainment, and in my experience, that has never been a good thing! We often need to limit freedom more to prevent these behaviors from becoming long-term habits. This will help your puppy learn to handle more freedom in the future. For more information on the benefits of reducing freedom, check out this blog post: https://www.baxterandbella.com/post/new-dogs-freedom 

Address boredom by offering appropriate entertainment. I love the calming effects of a frozen stuffed Kong or lick mat, food puzzles, and other items that challenge and tire a puppy’s brain. Alternate short play sessions with training sessions, leash walking practice, and body handling to prevent the overstimulation that can result from exciting play. 

The work we do now makes the future with our puppies much easier, safer, and more enjoyable, leaving them with no reason to “get revenge!”