Is There Really Such a Thing as a “Calm Puppy”?

I recently came across a discussion about finding a “calm puppy,” and it made me pause for a moment.

In reality, there is no such thing as a truly calm puppy.

If you’re hoping for a young puppy that will quietly lie on the floor, go outside on command, avoid chewing, and never bark — you may be in for a surprise.

Puppies are not calm any more than young children are calm. Asking a 7-year-old to sit quietly and never test boundaries is about the same as asking that of a young dog. There are moments of stillness, of course — but they are just that: moments.

What Breeders Mean by “Calm”

Now, I have described puppies as “calm” before. But what I mean — and what a new owner may hear — can be very different things.

When I say a puppy is calm, I’m speaking comparatively. I’m referencing other litters, other energy levels, and experience over time. I have a framework in mind.

A new owner may not.

What a breeder considers “calm” might still feel energetic, busy, and demanding to someone who hasn’t raised a puppy recently — or ever.

Expectation matters.

The Natural Stages of Development

Australian Labradoodles are wonderful companions. They are affectionate, intelligent, and people-focused. But they are still dogs — and young dogs at that.

Puppyhood leads to adolescence.

Adolescence leads to testing boundaries.

Around two years of age, maturity begins to settle in. Much of the impulsive puppy behavior fades with consistent training and structure.

Calmness is far more a product of age, leadership, and training than personality alone.

What Actually Matters When Choosing a Puppy

If you are considering adding a puppy to your home, it’s important to recognize that you are committing to a multi-year journey. The goal isn’t to eliminate all challenges — that isn’t realistic — but to reduce unnecessary ones.

Here are three ways to do that:

1️⃣ Choose Health-Tested Parents

Responsible breeders conduct health certifications on breeding dogs to evaluate structural soundness and reduce breed-specific risks. This proactive approach helps improve long-term outcomes for puppies.

2️⃣ Choose Genetic Testing

Genetic testing identifies whether a parent dog carries specific inherited conditions. A dog can carry a recessive trait without being affected, but pairing two carriers can produce affected puppies. Proper testing prevents avoidable genetic disease.

3️⃣ Commit to Training and Exercise

A bored puppy becomes a destructive puppy. Structure, training, and exercise create freedom. Dogs that are trained and mentally stimulated are given far more opportunity and trust than those without guidance.

Healthy dogs are the result of thoughtful breeding, consistent training, and time.

The Honest Truth

If you’re looking for a perfectly calm puppy, you may want to consider an adult dog.

If you’re ready for growth, energy, boundaries, laughter, frustration, learning, and eventually deep companionship — then you’re ready for a puppy.

And that journey, while demanding, is worth it.