Creating a Calm Puppy: Teaching the Skill That Changes EverythingEveryone wants a calm puppy, but calm is not something puppies magically grow into. It is a skill that must be intentionally taught, reinforced, and protected.In this episode of Barks to Basics, we break down what calm actually means from a behavioural and scientific perspective, and why many well meaning owners accidentally create overstimulated and overtired puppies by doing more instead of doing better.You will learn why calm is a nervous system state (not a personality trait), and how early experiences, sleep, routine, and reinforcement shape a puppy’s ability to regulate themselves long term.This episode covers: • What calm really is (and what it is not) • Why more exercise often makes puppy behaviour worse, not better • How sleep deprivation and overstimulation drive biting, zoomies, and meltdowns • The role of stress physiology and arousal in puppy behaviour • How to build calm through daily routines, decompression, and predictability • Practical training skills that teach puppies how to settle and self regulate • Capturing and reinforcing calm behaviour in real life • How to use mat training and structured relaxation to build an off switch • Socialisation done correctly (without overwhelm, flooding, or forced greetings) • Why observation based socialisation creates calmer, more resilient dogs • Real life examples of common puppy struggles and how to troubleshoot them • A full daily calm puppy blueprint you can implement immediatelyThis episode is grounded in modern canine learning science and behaviour research, with a strong focus on reward based methods, emotional regulation, and long term welfare (not quick fixes or suppression).Whether you are raising your first puppy or working with a young dog who struggles to settle, this episode will help you shift your focus from managing manic behaviours (biting, jumping up, zoomies etc) to teaching calm as a life skill.Because you do not need a perfect puppy.

You need a puppy who is learning how to regulate in a busy world.