A lot of people think that when they bring home a puppy they're starting from zero like a total blank slate, clean canvas, fresh start. But that's not really how it works. Your puppy has already been learning long before they ever set foot in your house, long before they ever set foot in your house. Genetics, prenatal environment, early social experiences all of that shapes who they are before you even meet them. And if you got your puppy at eight to 10 weeks old, that's two whole months of brain development, stress, exposure and learning that you didn't control. So no, puppies aren't blank slates, and that's not a bad thing. It just means we have to pay attention to who they are, not just what we want them to be. For example, some puppies show signs of being more sensitive right away. They might flinch at sudden noises, take longer to recover from surprises or seem hesitant in new environments. That doesn't mean they're broken, but it does mean you need to be more intentional about building confidence With low pressure exposure, quiet praise and not flooding them with too much at once. Other puppies seem bold and fearless, but they get easily overstimulated. They bite harder, they jump more. They struggle to wind down after play. That's not just puppy energy, that's a puppy who needs help learning impulse control and how to settle, not just more playtime or stimulation. You might also see early signs of frustration behaviors A puppy who barks when they don't get their way or throws a mini tantrum when restrained. Again, not bad behavior, just big feelings in a little body that hasn't learned to cope yet. Those puppies do well with short, structured training sessions and lots of opportunities to succeed. And then there's body handling.

This one gets overlooked a lot. If your puppy already hates having his paws touched or growls when you try to clean his ears or pick him up, don't ignore it. That's not something that they'll magically grow out of. That's something that you want to gently work on. Lots of rewards, short sessions, pairing touch with calm and safety, so it doesn't turn into a bigger issue later on. Even things like sleeping patterns, noise, sensitivity or how your puppy responds to being alone can give you clues. Are they confident when they're exploring or do they cling to you like Velcro? Can they nap in a crate, or do they scream the second the door closes? These early behaviors are messages. They're telling you about your puppy's nervous system, their comfort zone and what kind of support they need. So no, your puppy isn't a blank slate, but they are a sponge, soaking up everything every day. That means your job isn't just to train behaviors, but to guide emotional development. You're helping shape not just what they do, but how they feel about the world, and that's way more powerful than a blank slate anyway.