Five Months Old… Is Anyone Listening?
It’s hard to believe our puppies are already approaching five months old! It seems like just yesterday they were little bundles of fluff, and now they’re growing into lanky, playful puppies with personalities of their own.
If you’ve noticed your puppy becoming a little more independent lately, you’re not alone!
Around this age, puppies are starting to gain confidence, explore their surroundings, and sometimes decide that listening to you isn’t nearly as exciting as whatever else is going on around them.
Welcome to the next stage of puppyhood!
A Little Selective Hearing?
Remember when your puppy came running every time you called? Or when they were doing so well with their basic commands?
You might be noticing that those same commands aren’t getting quite the response they used to.
This is completely normal!
Your puppy hasn’t necessarily forgotten what you’ve taught them. They’re growing, becoming more curious, and discovering that the world is full of interesting distractions.
This is where consistency really matters. Keep practising those basic commands, reward the behaviours you want to see, and don’t assume that because your puppy knew something last month, they’ve mastered it for life.
And remember, short training sessions throughout the day are often much more effective than one long session.
Everything Goes in the Mouth!
By now, teething is probably in full swing.
Those sharp little puppy teeth are making way for adult teeth, and your puppy may suddenly seem determined to chew everything in sight.
Shoes, furniture, blankets… nothing is necessarily off-limits in their mind!
Make sure your puppy has plenty of appropriate things to chew on, and continue supervising them when they’re out exploring the house.
This is also a good reminder that just because your puppy is doing well with house training doesn’t mean they’re ready to have free rein of the house.
That crate you’ve worked so hard to make a safe and comfortable place? Keep using it!
A Little More Independence
At five months, your puppy is likely becoming more confident.
You may notice them wandering a little farther away, becoming more interested in other dogs or people, or simply being less concerned about where you are.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, but it also means we need to continue building good habits.
Practise recall regularly, especially in areas with distractions. Use a long training leash when necessary, and make coming back to you something your puppy genuinely looks forward to.
One thing I always encourage is rewarding your puppy for checking in with you on their own. Those little moments when they look back at you or come over without being called are worth acknowledging.
We want our puppies to learn that paying attention to us is always a good thing!
Don’t Forget the Mental Exercise
As our puppies grow, it’s easy to think they need more and more physical exercise to burn off all that energy.
But mental stimulation is just as important.
A few minutes of training, a sniffing game in the yard, or working for part of their meal can be surprisingly tiring.
And don’t underestimate the importance of rest!
Sometimes what looks like a puppy with endless energy is actually an overtired puppy who needs a little help settling down.
Keep Up With Grooming
By five months, your Sheepadoodle’s coat is continuing to grow, and regular grooming needs to be part of your routine.
Even if your puppy’s coat seems easy to manage right now, don’t let brushing slide.
Practise handling their paws, ears, and face. Make brushing a positive experience, and keep up with regular professional grooming appointments.
The work you put into grooming now will make life so much easier as your puppy gets older and their adult coat begins coming in.
You’re Raising a Dog, Not Just a Puppy
One of the things I really want families to remember is that puppy training doesn’t end when house training is going well or your puppy knows how to sit.
Those first eight weeks we spend raising our puppies give them a wonderful foundation, but the months that follow are just as important.
Keep setting boundaries. Keep rewarding good choices. Keep exposing your puppy to new experiences in a positive way.
And most importantly, enjoy this stage!
Yes, there will be days when you wonder if your puppy has forgotten everything you’ve taught them. There might be a chewed-up shoe or a moment when you call their name and they look at you like they’ve never heard it before.
But there will also be those wonderful moments when you see all your hard work paying off.
At five months old, your Sheepadoodle is still very much a baby, just in a bigger, fluffier body!
Be patient, stay consistent, and remember that you’re building the habits that will carry into adulthood.
I’d love to hear how our puppies are doing! Are you seeing a little more independence? Some selective hearing? Or perhaps you’ve got a puppy who still thinks you’re the most interesting person in the world?
I’d love to hear about it and keep the pictures coming too!
Heidi
True North Sheepadoodles
Picture below of Rory (now Marley)
