[00:00:00] Staci Lemke: Hey there and welcome back to the Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast, the show for puppy parents who want to raise a well-mannered happy dog using kind, effective training that actually works. Today’s episode’s gonna be another big one. We’re tackling a common belief that shapes how people think about puppies.
[00:00:18] Staci Lemke: And that is that they are all blank slates, and you’ve probably heard that before, maybe from your vet or your breeder, or a well-meaning friend. It’s the idea that puppies come to you as empty vessels or raw lumps of clay and that everything they become is based on how you raise them. But is that really true?
[00:00:39] Staci Lemke: Spoiler alert. No, it’s not true. Puppies are not blank slates. They are already someone when they arrive at your door. And in this episode, we are gonna break down where this belief came from, including a little philosophy, what puppies come preloaded with before you even meet them, how humans actually designed dogs to act in certain ways.
[00:01:02] Staci Lemke: What is and is not under your control as a puppy parent, and how this perspective helps you train with more clarity and compassion. Welcome to the Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast. I’m Staci Lemke, certified professional dog trainer, registered veterinary technician, and proud owner of Manners for Mutts dog training.
[00:01:22] Staci Lemke: With over 20 years of experience, I’ve helped countless dog owners just like you, build stronger, happier relationships with their furry friends. From private lessons to online courses, I’m here to help make life with your dog easier and more rewarding. I believe in training that is kind. Fun and scientifically proven positive reinforcement is at the core of everything I do because it’s the most effective way to teach your dog while strengthening your bond.
[00:01:51] Staci Lemke: Whether you’re tackling basic training, solving behavior challenges, or just looking for tips to keep your pup thriving. You are in the right place. So let’s dive into today’s episode and take the first step toward having the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of. So let’s get started. Where did the blank slate idea come from?
[00:02:13] Staci Lemke: To understand why people believe puppies are blank slates, we have to go way back to the 16 hundreds to a man named John Locke. Locke was a British philosopher who introduced the concept of Tabula Raza. Or blank slate. He argued that people are born without any built-in mental content and that all knowledge comes from experience and sensory input.
[00:02:38] Staci Lemke: It was revolutionary at the time, and it laid the groundwork for modern psychology and education. Over time, that idea filtered into how people think about behavior in general, including dog behavior. And you’ll still hear things like, there are no bad dogs, only bad owners. It’s all in how you raise ’em.
[00:02:59] Staci Lemke: And if your dog is acting up, you must have done something wrong. Well, the idea is comforting in a way because it suggests total control. If everything is up to you, then you can shape your puppy into the perfect dog. But here’s the problem. It’s not entirely true. Yes, experiences matter, but so does biology, which brings us to the concept of nature versus nurture, and what does that really mean?
[00:03:28] Staci Lemke: Well, in simple terms, nature is what your puppy is born with. Genetics. Instincts, temperament, and even the impact of prenatal development. Nurture is everything that happens after birth. How your puppy is raised, trained, socialized, and cared for. And here’s the real kicker. It’s not one or the other. It’s both.
[00:03:51] Staci Lemke: Always think about this. You bring home a puppy who’s nervous around new people. You’ve socialized them carefully, used positive reinforcement, taking your time, and yet they still hang back. That’s not your fault. That’s temperament. It’s part of who they are. And if you’re a regular listener of this podcast, you’ve heard me talk about my dog Rowdy, who came to me as a puppy and was very shy and cautious with new people.
[00:04:18] Staci Lemke: And that’s never changed. It’s part of his personality and his innate temperament. So rather than me working to try to change him, I worked with the temperament he gave me, and over the years he’s gotten to the point where he doesn’t actually seek out. Attention from strangers, but he tolerates it and he knows that he can just walk away whenever he’s done interacting.
[00:04:42] Staci Lemke: Or maybe you’ve got a super bold, energetic puppy who’s into everything even as a baby, they were bouncing off the walls again, not your fault. That’s hard Wiring puppies don’t all start in the same place. That’s why one size fits all training advice can be so frustrating because it ignores where your individual dog is starting from.
[00:05:04] Staci Lemke: So let’s explore what puppies bring with them when we bring them home. You got a puppy dreaming of fuzzy snuggles and sweet puppy breath. But instead, you and all your possessions are full of teeth marks. Sound familiar? What if I told you raising a puppy doesn’t have to be like this? Join me in my online course.
[00:05:25] Staci Lemke: Help My puppy is biting me to get step-by-step instructions on how to teach your puppy what’s appropriate to bite and chew on and save your hands and arms. Don’t sacrifice another pair of your favorite shoes. Go to manners for mutts.com/puppy biting to sign up. Now, your puppy didn’t arrive as a blank canvas.
[00:05:49] Staci Lemke: They arrived with a whole set of traits already baked in. Things like genetics, just like people, dogs inherit traits from their parents, and it’s not just how they look. Things like their energy levels. Their sensory sensitivity, their motivation and focus, their sociability and their resilience to stress.
[00:06:10] Staci Lemke: So you’re hurting breed mix. Who stares at anything that moves? That’s instinct, not disobedience. Your retriever, who absolutely must carry a sock or a toy in her mouth. Yeah, that’s built in your livestock guarding puppy who isn’t interested in making new friends at the park, totally normal for that breed.
[00:06:29] Staci Lemke: The prenatal environment is also important, and it’s one thing that people don’t think about what uric puppy experiences in the womb before they’re even born. Studies show that puppies born to stressed mothers are more likely to have a heightened stress response themselves. So if mom was anxious, underfed, poorly housed, constantly startled, her puppies may enter the world a little bit more sensitive than usual.
[00:06:57] Staci Lemke: And it’s not something you caused, but it is something that you’ll need to work with. The first eight weeks of a puppy’s life are incredibly formative, and most of it happens before they ever come home with you. A puppy raised in a loving home, handled regularly exposed to household sounds and safe people is a puppy with a strong foundation.
[00:07:20] Staci Lemke: A puppy raised in an isolated environment with minimal interaction may arrive already playing catchup. They need more time, more support, and a gentler pace as they learn that the world is safe. Another consideration is what we as humans designed dogs to be. Let’s zoom out and look at the big picture.
[00:07:41] Staci Lemke: Dogs aren’t the only species that we’ve selectively br. Humans have shaped the genetics of horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and numerous other animals for thousands of years. But dogs are special because we bred them not just for looks or size. We bred them for jobs, and those jobs required specific behaviors.
[00:08:04] Staci Lemke: We created dogs to chase and herd livestock, retrieve game from water guard property, hunt small prey, or curl up quietly in our laps. Let’s look at some examples. Border Collies were bred to stalk and move sheep. That laser focus and tendency to chase joggers or herd kids, it’s not a flaw, it’s a feature.
[00:08:26] Staci Lemke: Terriers were bred to hunt vermin. Their digging barking and intensity aren’t bad behavior. Their job skills, retrievers, like goldens or labs were bred to retrieve that obsession with carrying things around the house. Yep. That’s instinct. Livestock, gardenings, like Great Pyrenees, were bred to think independently and be suspicious of outsiders.
[00:08:49] Staci Lemke: That aloofness or stubbornness, that’s literally in their job description. We as humans designed these dogs to do specific things, and now we expect them to live in apartments, walk nicely past squirrels, ignore visitors, and hang out at breweries. So when those instincts show up, it’s not bad behavior.
[00:09:10] Staci Lemke: It’s your dog doing what they were meant to do. And the goal of training isn’t to erase that. It’s to give those instincts healthy outlets and channel them into skills that work in the modern world. So what is under your control? If puppies aren’t blank slates, what can you shape? What is your responsibility?
[00:09:32] Staci Lemke: Well, quite a bit actually. For one, your puppy’s emotional resilience. You can help your puppy learn to cope with new environments, frustration, mild stress, or surprises. And this happens through thoughtful socialization, positive experiences, and helping your puppy feel safe while they explore. It’s up to us to teach our puppies life skills and manners.
[00:09:54] Staci Lemke: Your puppy isn’t born knowing how to walk nicely on a leash, greet visitors politely. Stay calm when you leave, or come when called. These are learned skills and they take time, consistency, and practice. Now, the other thing that you have complete control over is your relationship with your puppy. The trust and communication that you build through daily life, playing, training, and predictability creates the foundation for everything else.
[00:10:19] Staci Lemke: Your puppy is learning who you are, what to expect, and how to feel safe in your world. That’s what training really is. Not just commands, but connection. So why does all this matter? Because believing that puppies are blank slates sets you up for disappointment, guilt, and frustration. When we assume it’s all how we raise them, we start blaming ourselves when things get hard.
[00:10:44] Staci Lemke: Why is my puppy barking so much? Why does he hate strangers? What did I do wrong? The truth, you probably didn’t do anything wrong. You just have a puppy who needs something different than what you expected. Understanding that behavior comes from both nature and nurture lets you set realistic goals, stop blaming yourself, train more effectively, and most importantly, meet your puppy where they are.
[00:11:08] Staci Lemke: You are not shaping a robot. You are raising a living creature with their own instincts, fears, preferences, and joys, and that’s a beautiful thing. So our puppies, blank slates not even close. They come with instincts, temperament, and early experiences that shape how they see the world. But you can still teach them, support them, and raise them into incredible adult dogs.
[00:11:32] Staci Lemke: You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to raise a perfect puppy. In fact, there is no such thing. You just need to guide your puppy with patience, consistency, and a plan that fits your lifestyle. That’s how you raise a dog who listens, fits into your family, grows into a calm, confident companion. In short, a dog who’s a joy to live with.
[00:11:53] Staci Lemke: So before I wrap up, I wanna ask you all for a quick favor. If you’ve been enjoying this podcast, if you’ve picked up a tip that’s helped you survive puppy biting or felt more confident about socialization or training, would you take a minute to leave me a rating or review? And here’s why this matters.
[00:12:11] Staci Lemke: When you leave a review, it helps more dog lovers like you find the show. And it also tells me what’s actually working, what you find helpful, and what topics you wanna hear more of, and what makes a real difference in the day-to-day life with your pup. So if this podcast has helped you even a little bit, please go to Apple Podcasts and drop a review.
[00:12:33] Staci Lemke: Then come right back here for more actionable puppy advice. A sentence or two about your favorite episode helps more than you know. Thank you for listening, for training with kindness, and for being part of the Manners for Mutts community. I appreciate you more than you know. Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to help your dog become a more well-mannered mut.
[00:12:53] Staci Lemke: If you’ve got questions about today’s episode or an idea for a topic you’d love to hear about, let’s connect. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram at Manners for Mutts. Also, be sure to visit manners for mutts.com for links, resources, and more. If this episode helped you and your pup, I’d be thrilled if you left a review on Apple Podcasts.
[00:13:16] Staci Lemke: Your feedback helps me create even more content to support you and your furry friend. Talk to you next time.
