Prevention card 01
Swallowing non-food objects
Why it happens
Strong mouth and retrieve drives make picking objects up highly likely during puppyhood. If an item is swallowed, the situation may require urgent veterinary care.
Early signals
Repeatedly scanning the floor, rapidly grabbing small objects, moving away to keep them, attempting to gulp, or an item going missing after mouth contact.
Prevent it now
Clear puppy-access areas, secure rubbish, supervise new spaces and practise Leave it and Drop only with safe objects that cannot be swallowed.
If it has started
For an object still safely in the mouth, avoid pursuit and offer a calm trade. If swallowing is known or suspected, contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary service immediately; do not wait for symptoms or attempt home treatment unless directed.
When to get professional help
Any known or suspected ingestion needs immediate veterinary contact. Arrange qualified reward-based training help as well if repeated scavenging cannot be safely prevented.
Prevention card 02
Food theft and rubbish raiding
Why it happens
Food motivation is a strong training lever, but each successful theft or rubbish raid also reinforces the access route and the behaviour used to get there.
Early signals
Hovering near food preparation, following dropped food, checking bins, pushing into storage areas or disengaging from people when food becomes available.
Prevent it now
Use firm lids, closed storage and gates; keep counters and floors clear, and reinforce moving away from food before the puppy reaches it.
If it has started
Remove the access route rather than adding punishment. Rebuild Leave it at an easy distance and reward disengagement from managed food setups.
When to get professional help
Seek qualified help if food access creates guarding, growling, snapping, conflict between household members or a safety risk the home cannot manage.
Prevention card 03
Excess weight and joint load during growth
Why it happens
Excess puppy weight adds developmental load, while food rewards and repeated high-impact retrieving can increase the burden without improving training quality.
Early signals
Training food is added without being counted in the feeding plan, body condition is not being reviewed, or exercise is built around repetitive fetching and fatigue.
Prevent it now
Include reinforcement food in the planned ration, use sniffing and problem-solving as outlets, limit repetitive impact and ask the veterinarian to review growth and body condition.
If it has started
Do not add punishing exercise or make an abrupt feeding change. Pause repetitive impact and ask the veterinarian for an individual feeding, body-condition and activity plan.
When to get professional help
Consult the veterinarian for concerns about weight, growth, gait, pain or exercise tolerance; these are not issues to diagnose from a training manual.
Prevention card 04
Jumping and pulling toward people
Why it happens
Social contact is rewarding. If jumping or pulling reliably produces eye contact, touch or a greeting, those behaviours become the route to people.
Early signals
Speeding up on seeing a person, tightening the lead, lifting the front paws, vocalising or losing the ability to respond before a greeting.
Prevent it now
Begin at a distance where the puppy can respond, reward four paws on the ground and allow the greeting only while the lead and body remain controlled.
If it has started
Pause the greeting, create distance and mark the first grounded, responsive moment. Do not push the puppy down or let pulling reach the person.
When to get professional help
Seek qualified reward-based help if the household cannot safely manage the puppy's size and pulling, someone may be knocked over, or the puppy cannot disengage at a workable distance.