What I've Learned After 3 Weeks of Raising Elphie (Spoiler Alert: Puppies Are Tiny Chaos Goblins)

Three weeks ago, Elphie arrived and turned our lives upside down in the best possible way.

Now, before anyone says, "But Valarie, you're a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with over 11 years of professional experience!" Yes. That's true. I also have over 25 years of living with dogs and have fostered more dogs than I can count.

And yet...

Puppies still humble you.

No amount of education, certifications, experience, or confidence can fully prepare you for sharing your home with a tiny creature whose life goals include biting your ankles, eating leaves, and peeing five minutes after you just took them outside.

Here's what I've learned after three weeks with Elphie.

1. Knowing What To Do Doesn't Make It Easier

One of the biggest myths about dog trainers is that our dogs are perfectly trained from day one.

Absolutely not.

I know how to potty train a puppy. I know how to prevent behavior problems. I know how to build confidence. I know how to teach a puppy to love their crate.

That doesn't mean I don't have to actually do the work.

Puppy raising is a marathon, not a sprint. Success comes from doing the boring stuff consistently every single day.

You don't get a magically house-trained puppy because you own dog training books.

Trust me. I've checked.

2. Crates Are Amazing (But Puppies Don't Read The Manual)

Crate training is one of the most valuable skills a puppy can learn.

A crate provides safety, helps with potty training, prevents destructive behavior, and teaches puppies how to settle and rest.

But here's the thing...

Most puppies don't immediately say, "Why yes, Mother. I shall now calmly enter my crate and enjoy a refreshing nap."

Instead, they often have opinions.

Lots of opinions.

Elphie has done wonderfully overall, but crate training still requires patience, consistency, snacks, and realistic expectations.

The goal isn't forcing a puppy into a crate and hoping for the best.

The goal is helping them learn that the crate predicts good things and that being alone is safe.

Like most things in dog training, we build the skill gradually.

3. Potty Training Is Mostly About Managing Humans

People often think potty training is about teaching the puppy where to go.

It's actually about teaching the humans to pay attention.

Puppies have tiny bladders and even tinier warning systems.

If you're waiting for a formal written request before taking your puppy outside, you've already lost.

Successful potty training usually looks like:

• Taking the puppy out frequently

• Supervising closely indoors

• Rewarding outdoor potty trips

• Preventing accidents whenever possible

The puppy isn't trying to be difficult.

They're just a baby.

A very cute baby.

A very cute baby who somehow needs to pee every 17 seconds.

4. Puppy Biting Is A Lifestyle

Nobody warns new puppy owners about how much puppies bite.

Actually, that's not true.

We warn them all the time.

They just don't believe us.

Puppies explore the world with their mouths. They bite when they're excited. They bite when they're tired. They bite when they're playing. They bite when they're overstimulated.

Sometimes they seem to bite because they woke up and chose violence.

Elphie has been no exception.

The key isn't punishing puppy biting.

The key is giving puppies appropriate outlets:

• Chew toys

• Food enrichment

• Rest breaks

• Redirection

• Appropriate play

And sometimes?

You simply acknowledge that the tiny land shark needs a nap.

Many puppy owners are shocked to learn that overtired puppies often become bitey little monsters.

Sound familiar to anyone who has ever met a toddler?

5. Sleep Is The Real MVP

If I could give every new puppy owner one piece of advice, it would be this:

Your puppy probably needs more sleep.

A lot more sleep.

Young puppies need a tremendous amount of rest each day. When they don't get enough sleep, they often become zoomy, bitey, barky, and generally chaotic.

Many behavior problems magically improve after a good nap.

Honestly, the same might be true for some humans.

6. Progress Isn't Linear

Some days Elphie feels like a genius.

Other days she appears to have forgotten everything she's ever learned.

That's normal.

Learning isn't a straight line.

There will be great days and messy days. There will be breakthroughs and setbacks.

The important thing is looking at the overall trend, not a single day.

Puppy raising is a long game.

7. The Relationship Matters Most

Yes, we're working on skills.

Yes, we're working on manners.

Yes, we're building foundations for future sports, service work, and life skills.

But at the end of the day, the most important thing we're building is our relationship.

Training isn't about creating a perfectly obedient robot.

It's about creating trust, communication, and a partnership that lasts a lifetime.

Everything else grows from there.

Final Thoughts From The Puppy Trenches

After three weeks, Elphie has reminded me of something I tell clients every single day:

Puppies aren't giving you a hard time.

They're having a hard time.

The world is brand new. Everything is exciting. Everything is confusing. Everything is worth investigating with their mouth.

Raising a puppy can be exhausting, frustrating, hilarious, and incredibly rewarding—sometimes all within the same five-minute period.

And while Elphie may currently be powered by chaos, sharp teeth, and questionable life choices, she's also curious, brave, smart, and deeply loved.

So we'll keep celebrating the wins, laughing at the chaos, and remembering that every well-adjusted adult dog starts out as a tiny, bitey gremlin.

Even the really good ones.