In-depth research is a habit of mine, carried over from my years in academia to my  work writing the Waterside Kennels mystery fiction. That’s why I spend a lot of time online and face-to-face with kennel owners, dog trainers, groomers, veterinarians, and rescue groups. Now, after adopting a 14-week-old puppy from the local animal shelter, my focus has shifted from collecting general information to applying that knowledge to real-world situations.

Because it’s been years since I raised a puppy, I relied on experts to help me understand and appreciate a dog’s early years. Puppies can be sweet, shy, funny, curious, or playful. Some are content to snooze under your chair when you’re working, while others are happiest when in full-scale play mode. If left unsupervised, though, any puppy is capable of getting into all sorts of mischief.

In the two weeks that Penny’s been part of our household, I’ve seen her demonstrate all sorts of typical puppy behaviors. One of the best descriptions I’ve heard is that puppies explore the world with their mouths. As Staci Lemki shared in her Manners for Mutts podcast:

Behaviors like biting, chewing, play, fighting, barking, and whining are all normal unless taken to extremes. Puppies under four months of age are usually very active and full of energy and curiosity. They will be curious about everything, sniffing around and investigating new sights and sounds and smells. They put everything in their mouth. That’s how they learn about the world.

Since Penny isn’t yet fully vaccinated, her playspace is currently limited to the house and backyard. I’ve puppy-proofed the ground floor, making sure to block access to everything from kitchen trash to cords to antique furniture, and keeping her crate (with door open) available for naps and help her feel secure in her own space.

Outdoors is a whole new world for this non-stop bundle of energy who loves having lots of space to run zoomies!  The yard is secured with a locked gate and a fence constructed in shadow-box style, but Penny is still small enough to stick her muzzle and paw into the gaps between the boards. The eastern border is the most tempting; our neighbors have two Labrador pups just a week older than Penny. Being Labs, they’re much bigger than my ten-pound munchkin, and so far they’ve avoided getting too close. (It helps that our pups are always supervised.)

Neighboring dogs aside, there are plenty of other things a curious pup can get into, including the raised-bed garden, shrubs, and landscape beds with bark mulch. The   trees in our yard produce an endless supply of sticks which Penny finds and carries off for a private chew-fest. For my part, I’m grateful for Kong balls and teething toys I toss as a distraction. As you might imagine, leave it and drop it are on the training list! In the meantime, I remind myself that puppies explore the world with their mouths, teething won’t last forever, and she has a lot of toys to keep her mentally and physically stimulated.

If you’re contemplating bringing a new pup into your own home, check out the AKC’s tips for puppy proofing your home and yard. If you want a more detailed list, check out Rover.com’s suggestions for puppy-proofing your house indoors and out.