typical behavior?

Question
Was wondering, when my 16 week old puppy sees another dog (he's a cairn terrier), he runs up and starts to jump up, no matter what the size of the other dog... is this normal/ok, and what can i do to stop it if it not playing? thanks!

Answer
Dear Jeffrey,

Yes, this is typical behavior and will likely continue until he is about 6-8 months old.  At that point his openness to other dogs will start to shut down.  He is playing, no doubt about it.

It is extremely important that you let him do this with friendly dogs only!  Many adult dogs will not tolerate "puppy shenanigans" for long, so watch the interaction carefully and pull your pup away at any sign of the other dog getting frustrated.  Signs of this include:  a tail that seems "wirey" or goes straight up, any growling, lip lift, staring, stiffness.  In cases where you don't know the dog:  Even if you don't see these things, pull pup away after a minute or so just to give the other dog a break.  

Even though a quick corrective nip from an adult dog will not change your pup's behavioral development or attitude toward dogs, it might be safer to just pull him away before he wears out his welcome.  On the other hand, if you know that the other dog is a pup under 6 months without any baggage, let them play to their heart's content.  If the dog is 6-12 months old, they're probably fine too, but check wtih the owner if the dog on the dog's temperament is over a year old.  

This may sound like a lot of managing and monitoring but the fact is your puppy NEEDS to meet and play with as many other friendly happy dogs and puppies as possible before he gets to be 6-8 months of age.   That's why my facility actually offers a free weekly Puppy Socialiation Party for all pups under 7 months.  Look for one in your area but if you can't find out, do research on dog parks or reputable cage-free daycares where your puppy can be proactively socialized.

You'll be on your way to having a wonderfully even-tempered (non-snappy) little dog!

Good luck and thanks for writing
Suzanne Harris, BSc, CPDT
http://www.dogdaysUSA.com