Why Your 3 Month Old Puppy Doesn’T Listen (And What To Do)

Is your adorable little furball suddenly not so adorable? If your 3 month old puppy has stopped listening to you, you’re not alone. The terrible twos – or should we say threes – are a rite of passage for puppies and their owners.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Provide plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement to get your puppy back on track with training. Be patient, consistent, and avoid scolding during this trying but temporary phase.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the developmental changes happening in your puppy’s brain, reasons for their sudden unruliness, and most importantly, how to nip this stubborn stage in the bud using science-backed training techniques.

Why Puppy’s Don’t Listen During the ‘Threenager’ Phase

Fear Period and Testing Limits

Around 3 months of age, puppies enter a developmental stage nicknamed the “threenager” phase. During this time, they become more independent, curious and even defiant. Several factors contribute to this behavior shift.

Puppies around 12-14 weeks old experience a fear period where unfamiliar sights, sounds, people or other stimuli can make them suddenly cautious, reserved or timid (American Kennel Club, 2022). They withdraw and seem to “forget” prior obedience training.

This is temporary and part of normal development rather than true stubbornness. Be patient and use positive reinforcement training methods during this phase.

The threenager stage coincides with teething, so puppies tend to chew and mouth more. They explore new textures to soothe sore gums. Direct this chewing urge towards appropriate toys and praise your pup for using them. Rotate novel toys to keep their interest.

Lack of Mental Stimulation

During the threenager phase, your puppy’s brain grows rapidly, nearly doubling in size (Dodman, 2022). This fuels their innate drive to investigate, manipulate and interact with their environment. If you don’t provide sufficient mental enrichment activities, your pup will take matters into their own paws!

Make sure your pup gets chances to use their nose, puzzle out treat toys and play games that engage their budding mind. Take training sessions beyond basic cues to teach new behaviors and tricks. Seek novel sights, sounds, surfaces and stimuli on walks and outings.

Mentally tired puppies behave better.

Rebelliousness and Independence

Around 12-16 weeks old, puppies push boundaries to see what they can get away with, much like human toddlers. They might ignore well-known cues, run off with forbidden items to trigger a chase game or demand play at inconvenient times.

Set reasonable rules and structure for your young pup, but allow appropriate outlets for play and investigation needs. Reinforce wanted behaviors more than scolding unwanted ones. Remain patient, flexible and positive. This phase shall pass!

Physical Development

During the threenager phase, puppies gain strength, speed, coordination and new physical abilities practically overnight! This fuels their confidence and inclination to test limits.

Adjust your supervision, enrichment and training activities accordingly as your puppy grows. Puppy-proof your home during this curious, exuberant and mouthy stage!

How to Get Your Puppy Back on Track

Provide Plenty of Exercise

Puppies have a ton of energy and need regular exercise and playtime to stay physically and mentally balanced. Aim to provide your 3 month old puppy with at least 30-60 minutes of activity every day. This could include walks, playing fetch, tug of war, or allowing them to run around in a securely fenced area.

The exercise will help your puppy burn off excess energy so they are less likely to act out with unwanted behaviors.

Increase Mental Stimulation

In addition to physical exercise, puppies need mental stimulation too. Bored puppies often get into trouble by chewing, barking, or ignoring commands. Make sure your puppy has interesting toys to play with and rotate the toys to keep things exciting.

You can also use puzzle toys or hide treats around the house for your puppy to find. Providing mental challenges will engage your puppy’s brain and curb problematic behaviors.

Stick to Positive Reinforcement

The most effective way to train a puppy is through positive reinforcement. This means rewarding good behaviors with treats, praise, or playtime. Punishing or yelling at your puppy can damage your bond and is not an effective teaching method.

Be patient and consistent with positive reinforcement training. Your puppy will learn faster and be eager to listen to you if you make training a fun, rewarding experience.

Remain Patient and Consistent

Raising a puppy requires a lot of patience! It’s normal for a 3 month old puppy to test boundaries and not listen sometimes. Stay calm and consistent with training. Set clear rules and stick to them. Be patient when your puppy makes mistakes – they are still learning.

With time and consistency, your puppy will understand what you expect of them. But you need to give them the chance to learn at their own pace.

Adjust Expectations

At 3 months old, most puppies don’t have the attention span or self-control of an adult dog. It’s important to keep your expectations realistic for your puppy’s age. Puppies will naturally be excitable, energetic, and curious.

While you should start training early on, understand that it takes months of repetition for commands to become ingrained. Don’t expect perfect obedience from such a young puppy. Stay positive and focus on progress, not perfection.

When to Call the Vet or Trainer

Signs of a Serious Behavior Issue

Puppyhood is a crucial time for socialization and training. Puppies start learning right away, so it’s important to address any concerning behaviors as soon as possible. Here are some signs that your 3 month old puppy may need intervention from a veterinarian or professional trainer:

• Aggression such as growling, snarling, or biting when petted or handled
• Extreme fearfulness and skittishness around people or other animals
• Excessive chewing, destruction, or self-mutilation
• House soiling or urination/defecation inappropriately
• Hyperactivity, inability to calm down or focus
• Obsessive compulsive behaviors like constant tail chasing or face licking

While some puppy antics are normal, consistent problematic behaviors usually indicate an underlying issue. If your puppy shows these signs, consult your veterinarian to rule out health problems. Then, partner with a credentialed dog trainer or behaviorist to get an assessment and customized training plan.

Working with a Professional

Here are some tips for working with vets, trainers, and behaviorists to address your puppy’s concerning behaviors:

• Get references and confirm credentials. Look for trainers certified by respected organizations.
• Clearly explain behaviors and challenges. Videos can help capture the issues.
• Follow through on recommendations for vet visits, training, management, and other interventions.
• Be patient and consistent. Most behavioral changes require steady effort over weeks or months.
• Keep notes on progress to share at follow-ups. Track what’s working and not working.

According to the American Pet Products Association, up to 10% of dogs have separation anxiety. Working with professionals early on can prevent anxiety from becoming ingrained.

The right trainer will use positive reinforcement and avoid punishments that could worsen behavior. Some warning signs of an unqualified trainer include use of choke collars, prong collars, or shock devices, as well as recommendations to alpha roll or physically dominate your puppy.

With early intervention from veterinary and training experts, most puppies can overcome behavioral issues and grow into happy, well-adjusted dog companions. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help training your headstrong but loveable 3 month old fur baby!

For more tips, check out AKC’s puppy training timeline.

Puppy Training Tips and Tricks

The Power of Treats and Praise

Using treats and praise is one of the most effective ways to train your 3 month old puppy. When your puppy does something good, immediately give them a small treat accompanied by praise like “Good dog!” or “Great job!”.

This positive reinforcement helps your puppy understand which behaviors earn rewards. High value treats like small pieces of chicken or cheese are best. Alternate giving treats with just verbal praise so your puppy doesn’t become dependent on constant treats. Keep training sessions positive and fun!

Keep Sessions Short and Sweet

Puppies have short attention spans, so keep training sessions to 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times per day. Try to end sessions on a positive note with your puppy successfully completing a simple skill so they gain confidence.

Short, frequent sessions are more effective than one long session where your puppy gets bored and distracted. Be patient and remember puppies have limited bladder control – take potty breaks as needed.

Train One Skill at a Time

While eager to please, puppies can easily become confused if you try to train too many skills at once. Choose one skill like “sit” or “stay” and focus training sessions on mastering that single cue. Once your puppy reliably responds to a cue, you can gradually add a new one to work on.

Building one skill at a time prevents your puppy from becoming overwhelmed. Be consistent with your verbal cues and hand signals.

End on a Positive Note

Always try to end each short training session with your puppy successfully performing a simple skill like “sit.” This ends the session on a positive note so your puppy gains confidence. If you see your puppy getting bored or frustrated, redirect by playing a fun game or giving belly rubs.

Training should be fun, not stressful. Puppies have short attention spans so keeping things positive ensures they associate training time with fun!

Conclusion

The ‘threenager’ stage can be frustrating, but with knowledge of normal puppy development and proven training techniques, you and your pup will get through it. Stick to a routine, provide adequate physical and mental exercise, use rewards-based methods, and be as patient as possible during this temporary phase.

Your furry friend will be back to their sweet, obedient self before you know it!